NeilT Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Hi All, We have been following the forum for a while, but this is my first post. We have 4 Chickens, Salt, Pepper, Speckles and Ruby. We saved them after the previous owner was frightened of them, and they lived pretty much in a 12x6 foot run with a small coop. She was going to have them put down. The Run was taken down and moved to our garden (its about 7 foot high), and a new bigger coop bought. We let them out most days for a few hours, but need to keep an eye due to alot of foxes and 2 big local cats. We have had them about 6-8 months now, and the eggs have really improved. They even come in the kitchen and chase our own cats away from their food bowls if we don't watch them! We are still learning, but so far have had a few issues. Pepper started to just stand and stare when we let them out (this was a few months ago). She didnt eat alot, and we worried she was egg bound. We bathed her in warm water over a few days, and she slowly recovered. She seems to be the head hen now. About 2 weeks ago we noticed blood on Salt, she is the biggest hen (white) and had managed to get on top of the coop (through a gap in the chicken wire). She had a prolapsed vent. We kept he in a big dog cage that night in the kitchen, and over the past 2 weeks we have been bathing her, and applying cream. We were so close to having her put down, but it seems we may have come out of the other side. Yesterday for the first time the prolapse did not pop out again after pushing it in. She is also alot happier (she has always looked healthy). Only time will tell as we have been keeping her in darkness for 18hrs a day to stop egg production. She was producing some huge double yoke eggs before, every 10-14 days. All being well, we will introduce her slowly back to the run end of this week. Currently she only gets contact with the others when they are let out. I will post some pictures of them once I work out how Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Heres a few photos I uploaded to Photobucket. http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq191/neil_turner1/run_zpstnlojjgh.jpeg http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq191/neil_turner1/run2_zpsnkpphmht.jpeg http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq191/neil_turner1/kitchen_zpsnlt0ybzt.jpeg http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq191/neil_turner1/double%20yoke_zpsxhpq71uk.jpeg http://s447.photobucket.com/user/neil_turner1/media/sandwich_zps6ndbktvw.jpeg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Welcome to the forum and I have to say what an introduction to hen keeping you have had!! You sound like you know exactly what your doing so well done you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Thanks Are you able to tell from the photos what breeds we have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Welcome from me too. You can post photos from photo bucket once you have made 5 posts I think it is. What a start you have had but it sounds like you are doing a fabulous job. Make sure you keep us updated with how they are getting on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Well, I am so happy. My wife just text me to say Salt's vent is still normal, that's nearly 24hrs now. She's not out of the woods yet, but its looking positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Heres a few photos I uploaded to Photobucket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Thank you, Cat Tails! Welcome to the forum, NeilT I would say they are a Sussex (the white one), a Reverse Sussex (also known as a Daisybelle, when I had one), which is the black hen. The red hen looks like the Omlet Gingernut which is a Rhode Island Red Hybrid, and your other hen at a guess is a Speckledy? they all look very healthy, good news about the prolapse but you will need to keep an eye on her as they can recur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Thank you, Cat Tails! Welcome to the forum, NeilT No problemo! Welcome from me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 I should add, our run now had a black corrugated roof to keep the whole area dry, and also provides shade in the sun. What are peoples thoughts on these two points: 1. Stopping the water freezing in winter? 2. Chicken vitamins (in liquid form) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Welcome aboard. There is a thread about dealing with frozen water ~here~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Are you getting a blue-green egg? If so then I think your ginger hen is a Skyline/Columbine (same hybrid different names) - does she have a tuft of feathers behind her comb? Your white and black hens are Sussex as mentioned above, and your speckly one could be a Barred Rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Welcome . Pretty girls and a fun-filled run for them . I've never really had a problem with water freezing even in the awful winter a few years back. As long as you check the water in the morning and remove surface ice it'll be fine. A bit of protection round the back/sides of the water vessels can help stop too much ice forming. Personally I don't give mine vitamins but I'm sure there will be some that do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlover12 Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Hi All, We have been following the forum for a while, but this is my first post. We have 4 Chickens, Salt, Pepper, Speckles and Ruby. We saved them after the previous owner was frightened of them, and they lived pretty much in a 12x6 foot run with a small coop. She was going to have them put down. The Run was taken down and moved to our garden (its about 7 foot high), and a new bigger coop bought. We let them out most days for a few hours, but need to keep an eye due to alot of foxes and 2 big local cats. We have had them about 6-8 months now, and the eggs have really improved. They even come in the kitchen and chase our own cats away from their food bowls if we don't watch them! We are still learning, but so far have had a few issues. Pepper started to just stand and stare when we let them out (this was a few months ago). She didnt eat alot, and we worried she was egg bound. We bathed her in warm water over a few days, and she slowly recovered. She seems to be the head hen now. About 2 weeks ago we noticed blood on Salt, she is the biggest hen (white) and had managed to get on top of the coop (through a gap in the chicken wire). She had a prolapsed vent. We kept he in a big dog cage that night in the kitchen, and over the past 2 weeks we have been bathing her, and applying cream. We were so close to having her put down, but it seems we may have come out of the other side. Yesterday for the first time the prolapse did not pop out again after pushing it in. She is also alot happier (she has always looked healthy). Only time will tell as we have been keeping her in darkness for 18hrs a day to stop egg production. She was producing some huge double yoke eggs before, every 10-14 days. All being well, we will introduce her slowly back to the run end of this week. Currently she only gets contact with the others when they are let out. I will post some pictures of them once I work out how Neil Hi Neil, They sound like they are having a second bout of life It's amazing they will push your cat around- I found my girls very scared of our cats... Wishing you all the best with your chucks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted July 31, 2015 Author Share Posted July 31, 2015 We re-introduced Salt into the run yesterday, all was well after a few mins of Hen pecking from Ruby. I left for work early this morning, and all looked calm from the kitchen window. I guess once she starts laying eggs again will be the telling point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 Has anyone else noticed the affect having chickens also has on cats using your garden as a toilet? We always had a lot of cat poo in our garden, either from ours or other cats. Since we have been letting ours out, nothing. Not even a drop!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Might be your chickens are eating the poo... Not a good plan as cat poo regularly has worm eggs in them. I would try to prevent the chickens from getting a the cat poo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilT Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 Chickens definitely not eating cat poo. We only let them out when we are there, and we have seen no poo after a few days of not letting them out. The cats always used the same areas, so its noticeable.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
