Recent content by kitty

Last couple of weeks I've noticed my oldest blackrock walking sideways occasionally as if she is afraid of something. Although she seems fine otherwise, she's about 4 and a half years old and laying,eating and looking well, but although it is still occasional,it seems to be slightly more...

Hi all, looking for some advice as one of my hens has injured her leg this morning. While I was cleaning the run I heard my blackrock appear to crash land after flying off the top of the run (which is about 4/5ft high) making a squawking noise. Since then she has been able to stand on one leg...

As per title, I was wondering whether or not it is ok to use crushed egg shells in place of grit or oyster shells for my chooks?

Hi again, One of my hens that is currently in moult has started to be feather pecked by another and has now actually drawn blood. At the moment I have no means of segregation, so can anyone advise me what other options are available? Thanks in advance

Hi all, haven't posted in a while, all going pretty well here apart from the dreadful summer. Just a couple of problems which, I hope someone can help me out with, the first of which is all of my 4 chooks now appear to be sleeping in the nest boxes instead of roosting. it really started when...

Hi all, looks as if I'm going to lose the 3rd of my original batch of 4 chooks. Our first blackrock hen died in June for no apparent reason, she just seemed to lose strength day by day until she finally expired one night. Now it looks as my 2nd Blackrock is going the same way, she hasn't laid...

Following the loss of 2 of my chooks a few weeks back, i thought I'd show a pic of one of my replacements, a silver sussex which is coming on leaps and bounds. She reallly is a big girl and she is about half the size again of my other birds 2- blackrocks and a speckledy. Can someone tell me if...

The third of my original flock of 4 chooks a speckledy is showing identical signs to my blackrock, which died about 6 weeks ago. She has become more and more lethargic over the last 3/4 days and is hardly eating or drinking at all. She has come out of the house today but is walking very slowly...

Hi all, I am concerned about one of my speckledy chooks which appears to have a breathing problem is making a rasping sound. She does not have bubbly eyes or a runny nose and is alert, eating, moving and laying well. Due to a lack of space and having just the one chicken house, I am unable to...

Hi all, I have to be away for the whole day tomorrow so I will be unable to make sure that my chooks drinking water will not freeze over as I currently have to do so about 4/5 times a day. Last winter I did try the addition of glycerine, but found that it had little or no effect. Can anyone give...

Hi all, not sure if this should be in the chickens health forum or not,but as per title one of my speckledy's has been broody for 5 weeks now and shows no sign of letting up. I've tried locking her out of the coup for her to eat and drink but always let her back in after a couple of hours after...

I've noticed one of my speckledy hens a coupleof times pecking my one of my black rock's head near the comb on top of the head and in so doing has created a very small bald patch. I've noticed It happens when I put some treats down (but may happen at other times too) and she obviously wants to...

Hi all, I'm off on holiday in a couple of weeks and my daughter will be looking after my 4 chooks. I normally get up at about 6.30 a.m. and let them out immediately and when it gets to dusk / dark lock them up. They have free range in the garden at the rear of the house which is completely...

I'm thinking of get a couple more p.o.l. chooks to go with my 4 hens which i bought last november (again p.o.l.) will they be readily accepted by the existing flock or would I need to take any special measures like keeping them separate for a while?

Pleased to say after the snow has finally disappeared, that the chooks got through it fine even though the snow was up to a foot deep for quite a number of days, although they did get a soaking with the rain we had yesterday. I just think they were glad its all gone and just wanted to stay...