5th Jan 2008
I have two hens. They were about 2 years old when I got them and Daisy bullied Bella by eating her feathers. I had to put a ring in her beak which stopped most of it.
2nd Feb 2008
They have discovered the cat flap and can't understand why the cat can come and go as he pleases but...
My first 2 hens did not get on together very well as the one bullied the other badly. The bully used to go to bed in the coop and the other in a rabbit hutch which they used as a nest box. During the day they used to avoid each other. I was not too sad when the bully died.
Warm water sounds the least painful way of cleaning up.
I snip away dirty feathers as well.
Do be careful if you use scissors on them if you faint at the sight of blood!
Thanks all.
The hen in the avatar is Daisy, who was Bella's companion for 6 months until she became poorly. Daisy was a blood thirsty little monster as although she was a lot smaller than Bella she used to bully her cruelly and eat her feathers and draw blood. Poor Bella used to keep out of...
My dear old hen, Bella, died this afternoon at 4.5 years of age. She had been running around the garden all afternoon, eating well and enjoying the sun, so I was surprised to find her lying on her side at 5pm when I went out to put them in their pen. She died half an hour later. She had been...
I had a couple of eggs like that a few months ago, but none since. It gives you a shock to see the blood if you have never seen it before. My hens tend to fly up in the air when they see me at the door and if I open it too quickly they drop down and bang their undercarriage on the step. I was...
Have you thought about how you are going to feed and water these birds?
Imagine what would happen if someone spills a bag of corn with no gravity! The seeds would get everywhere including into vital equipment.
How will the birds cope in no gravity? They could not perch.
You might have to turn...
I don't know the answer, but Noah took 7 of each clean bird. I think it means 7 males and 7 females, but am not sure on that.
I would imagine that if you took pedegree birds, which are inbred to give them their characteristics, you would need more, but if you could take the original wild birds...
Thanks to those above who answered my question. Very useful information.
I wanted a closer look at my little roo yesterday so I stooped down and held out my hand to encourage him closer so that I could grab him. He did his dance and when he got near enough I made my move. He is so quick that I...
What does it mean when a rooster comes at you sideways? I have only had my rooster for a month and thought that it meant that he wanted to tread me! He is only a bantam and very tiny so I just put out my hand and try to pat him. Is this a mistake? He does give me a little peck sometimes. He is...
I keep a list of who lays what on a callendar. My 18 month old has laid 390 eggs since she started and my 16 month old has laid 335. Both are goldlines. My 4 year old has laid 40 eggs this year but has not laid for a few months now. She is really a pet now.
I also note when I open a new bag of feed.
update
Bella is nearly 4 now and showing her age. She walks very slowly and does not eat much. She has laid 42 eggs so far this year with several long breaks in between laying bouts. She seems happy most of the time.
I think that her 'symptoms' are just old age. I have never had an old hen...
Are they getting enough calcium in their diet? They need layers pellets and oyster shell. One of mine used to eat eggs but she only ate the insides, not the shells.
They may lay anywhere they think is safe and comfortable, Dustoff. It's worth looking around just in case.
Sunshine, They should lay only once per day, but it could be morning or afternoon. If you look at the size of a hen and the size of an egg, it must be quite a strain on the body to make...
When one of my hens was about 3 years old the feathers on her head fell out. The rest followed during the next few weeks. She was only moulting and the feathers were replaced starting at her head.
I don't know about the poop though. Does she get too many treats?