Recent content by drawlins

My two buff Orpingtons are sadly locked in their coop and run rather than free ranging because here in the uk we have to lock them up by law due to a nationwide bird flu outbreak. So they’re spending more time in the sandpit... or should I say about 90% of their time! They’re swimming...

Thank you, it really helps to hear that. The other two girls seem fine and are sticking close together which is good to see.

Thank you. Yes I really hope it wasn't that. I'm going to have a phone consultation with an avian vet this week to get any advice they have on what it might have been and also have a plan in place if something similar happens.

Thank you - We are feeling a bit better today. It's lovely to see the other two fit and healthy and they are sticking together so that's good. When the time is right we will probably get another one or two to keep them company.

I just wanted to give an update. The last couple of nights I’ve slept next to Victoria while she was in the kitchen. Her violent head flailing got progressively worse until the early hours of this morning when it was continuous except when I held her head still. I had her laid next to me on my...

Thank you ChickNanny. I did wonder if it was a vitamin deficiency - but their diet is quite good I think - a full mix of pellets and grains/kibble/oyster. They have granite grit available separately. The pellets have been fortified with vitamins including E (VermX layers pellets). I slept...

I'm really worried about one of our three buff orpingtons. She has been broody for about a couple of weeks, all normal - but tonight when cleaning the coop I noticed her sitting in the nest box and whirling her head in a circular motion. At first I thought she was clearing an irritation either...

Thanks for the reply - I think I'll try the cage approach. Bit harder with the CV19 lockdown, but some pet stores are still open here, so I'll look for a cage with the right bar spacing and size. We got them just at the point of lay - so they are currently about 14 months old. Their feathers...

After getting our three Buff Orpingtons last October, we've fully settled in to being hen servants chicken owners and have become accustomed to their behaviours and personalities etc. They seem very happy with all normal behaviours except a couple of things that have popped up. 1) About 4 weeks...

Thanks for the info - sounds like floor roosting might be the way they stay. If so, so be it as long as no nibbles from mice should they ever get in. I'm poop scooping every day, its so quick and easy with the linoleum floor I put in the coop - and since I'm already changing the water etc it...

Thanks for the advice! The door is just behind the camera. I have a bulkhead light on the ceiling which can be changed to any colour and brightness - so can easily set it to super dim. I've done a bit more handling, and they seem to respond better to both hands on the wings than the "proper"...

Thank you for the advice :thumbsup

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll stick with the fresh bed for now, they seem to love rolling in it, especially when I've dusted it with diatomaceous earth. :)

The separate tray I provide has proper grit - flint and granite.

Thank you for your advice - I agree a shortways bar would be better and free up some space. Will there be issues with a single roost bar level do you think - i.e pecking order?