Hi all
Thanks for a great forum - I have been using it and learning all year! I adopted 4 hens last year, all with issues, but all have overcome them.
However I adopted 3 more today and they were kept inside a dark barn with a few hundred others and living in filth.
One is totally covered in filth, not many proper feathers and, even after 3 gentle baths is still smelly but getting better (bathed in epsom salt, oregano oil - anything else recommended?). Her feet are awful - bit bumpy but no noticeable cuts, she isn't happy walking far. So I covered them in a salve I make from oil and beeswax but any recommendations would be appreciated. I have already separated the new hens from our current group but had to isolate this one as she was attacked and terrified.
The other 2 actually seemed ok considering! However when I held them they were rasping during breathing. I assume this is due to living with excrement and ammonia. Is there anything I can do to assist other than give them plenty of fresh mountain air?
No idea of breed (red/orange colour - usual European egg laying hens) - assumed about 1 year old.
I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks very much.
Annabelle
Thanks for a great forum - I have been using it and learning all year! I adopted 4 hens last year, all with issues, but all have overcome them.
However I adopted 3 more today and they were kept inside a dark barn with a few hundred others and living in filth.
One is totally covered in filth, not many proper feathers and, even after 3 gentle baths is still smelly but getting better (bathed in epsom salt, oregano oil - anything else recommended?). Her feet are awful - bit bumpy but no noticeable cuts, she isn't happy walking far. So I covered them in a salve I make from oil and beeswax but any recommendations would be appreciated. I have already separated the new hens from our current group but had to isolate this one as she was attacked and terrified.
The other 2 actually seemed ok considering! However when I held them they were rasping during breathing. I assume this is due to living with excrement and ammonia. Is there anything I can do to assist other than give them plenty of fresh mountain air?
No idea of breed (red/orange colour - usual European egg laying hens) - assumed about 1 year old.
I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks very much.
Annabelle
