Recent content by Luvmy9hens

You and I think the same way. I can't stand to see the chickens that may be "different" bullied by the others. I would have adopted them , too! Ellie's egg laying has stopped for the time being. Her comb is shrinking and the feathers are dropping. Hopefully, it will not be as bad as last year's...

Yes! Here she is at 39 days old caring for some chicks that hatched 3 weeks after her. I was not sure if she would accept them but she has and to this day she protects them and cares for them!

Hi Kimberly! I hate to see them suffer too : ( How is Big Fatty doing? Have your hens been laying with the change in temperature? Molting yet? I read that you have new hens added to the flock! Would love to see some pictures. Mimi (the hen with the bad leg) still has the leg. She is accepted by...

The Calcium really helps. What threw me off was Ellie laying 2 eggs within a week. I can usually tell when she is getting ready to lay (tail straight out, back humped). I gave her 1/2 doses of calcium but should have given a full dose. I am giving the 1/2 doses daily until I see a pattern in her...

So happy to hear that Ella's shell was hard. Ellie is back to laying eggs at least once a week or so after having gone the summer eggless. She laid 2 very soft shelled eggs so I upped the calcium hoping that would fix the problem. I was giving her the supplement once a week but have increased it...

My hen Ellie is an Old English Bantam. Purely "ornamental" (1.1 lb). Born 8-28-2012, she went through her first molt in November 2013. That's when the problems began. She was treated at that time for laying a shell-less egg (just yolk and egg white) which included a 3 day stay with the vet. She...

They were given to me by a friend who ordered 25 mixed bantams but only wanted to keep 9. I received them at about 5 weeks of age. They are now 2 years old. Favorite characteristics: Pretty birds Cons: They have dominant personalities, must be confined to a covered run, and are difficult...

Backyard chickens is a wonderful community of people who come together to support and help one another. I am so glad that I found this site. Thank you so much for taking the time to write about your experience with spaying. As I have said earlier: It seems as though too many of us are having...

So sad that you lost Sweetpea . Such a beautiful girl... It's a shock to lose a hen suddenly and takes quite some time for the rest of the flock to adjust to the loss as well. I can't understand how (if she was doing so well after the surgery) she would just "drop dead" from a seizure. No oral...

Poor Anastasia sweet girl was trying but evidently the shells never formed as they should have. Since this problem is recurrent with Ellie, I have to keep an eye her. The Cal-Nate and full spectrum lighting have helped immensely!

As daybreak is occurring later as the months advance toward autumn, I notice that Ellie is beginning to drop a few feathers here and there. Molting "season" is right around the corner! Last year, Ellie went through a hard molt in mid September.

The full spectrum light was advised by the veterinarian. It could be any type of full spectrum light. I bought the aquarium light with a specific wavelength. The lights look exactly like standard fluorescent bulbs. Reptile bulbs are not recommended and can be harmful to chickens. So far, Ellie...

The lack of vitamin D from sunshine resulting in the lack of calcium absorption was the cause of thin-shelled eggs... and a near fatal infection from the membrane remaining inside Ellie for about a week. I have been told that indoor chickens need full spectrum lighting. I also give Cal-Nate as...

Ellie is still laying but not too frequently. I have her body posture down to a science so that I know about a day and a half in advance when she will be laying. At that time, I give her 1/2 a dose of the Cal-Nate and the other half the next day. Yesterday morning around 5:30am. I actually...

Yes! I have read the importance of large pieces of oystershell remaining in the crop for a slower, steadier absorption BUT... there are hens who will not touch it regardless of its availability. I was also told by my vet that bonemeal is another alternative for calcium supplementation but have...