Recent content by shirechickens

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    New aggression in flock

    Thanks so much for your email and wise advice. Fortunately everything has almost completely calmed down on its own but I am looking at a new coop. The original girls have never slept in the coop even when it was just the two of them (I suspect because the perches in the run are much higher up...
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    New aggression in flock

    Thanks for your reply! Here are a few pictures. The older hens are nearly four. The pullets are both beginning to lay but not regularly yet.
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    New aggression in flock

    About three months ago I introduced two new pullets to my two existing (now quite elderly) hens. The pullets were definitely the underdogs but they integrated without any significant problems. About three weeks ago we had an escalation of aggressive behaviour from all the hens to the ones...
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    Should I worry about the way my chickens are dying?

    Thanks so much for the information. Unfortunately she's going downhill fast so I will do what I can for her but suspect I'll need to put her down soon.
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    Should I worry about the way my chickens are dying?

    Yes that exactly it - I'm just wondering if this is normal or there's something else amiss, and also whether there's a risk of anything infectious that may put the chicks at risk when I move them into the area. I am seriously considering moving to heritage breeds if I can find a source - not...
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    Should I worry about the way my chickens are dying?

    I've mostly had RIR crosses - I've bought from two local breeders in the past. They basically lay non-stop for about 18 months, then slow down and stop laying very rapidly. And then a year to 18 months later I lose them.
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    Should I worry about the way my chickens are dying?

    Thanks very much for your reply - I just cleaned out the coop and found a lash egg, so I suspect you are right about salpingitis. I wish hybrids weren't bred for such ferocious egg production - I'd much rather they lived longer and laid less! Poor girl.
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    Should I worry about the way my chickens are dying?

    Sorry, I forgot to add - I have a run that’s 6 feet x 12 feet and during the day the chickens can also roam in an area that’s about three times the size of the run. The run has wood chippings in it, and the larger area is bare soil.
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    Should I worry about the way my chickens are dying?

    So I currently have two hybrid pullets (and some chicks in the house!) One of the girls is about three and a half and I think she's on her way out - she's slow, is retaining water around her abdomen, has a reduced appetite and has green diarrhoea. This is the way my hens typically (not always...
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    Cream Legbars?

    Thanks for the advice everyone! Very helpful.
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    Cream Legbars?

    Thank you, I hadn't thought of that. I'm trying to deal with a feather pecker at the moment so it could be problem.
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    Cream Legbars?

    I have two hybrid hens and want to add two more chickens, and I’m wondering if cream legbars will do well in my setup as I’ve heard they like to range. I have a run that’s 6 feet x 12 feet and during the day the chickens can also roam in an area that’s about three times the size of the run (so...
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    Feather eating

    It's definitely become a habit, so the pinless peepers may have to be a last resort. Thanks for the advice.
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    Feather eating

    That's interesting about the feed, thank you. They have access to oyster shell already but I might try changing the feed.
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    Feather eating

    Doh! Meant to post this in chicken behaviours, so sorry.
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