My Interesting Hens

[xLennyx]

-I have 5 laying hens; 2 black australorps, 2 red stars, and 1 New Hampshire red. I had lost the other new Hampshire red to an unknown illness that I assume would be egg peritonitis, on presidents day of this year.

-The Hampshire red has been acting different. She seems to just sit in the corner alone for a long time making a quiet motorboat like chirping for a while after she has ate some. She will eat, but she won't eat as much as the others are. When the other hens are eating like no tomorrow, before night time, she will do this. I don't know if she is sick or not, she has had a sneeze for a long time and seems to take a while to swallow her food. During the mornings and afternoons she seems fine. Could she be depressed from the loss of her friend?

-I have also noticed that all of them eat their eggs right after they lay them..is there any way I could prevent them from doing this? Is it bad that they are eating their eggs, could it make them very sick?

-I have tried to look this up, but never found anything about it..Is it normal that my chickens faces will go very pale to very red throughout the day? They have been doing this for a long long time..I am just curious as to why this happens and if anyone would happen to know..

-I would be very grateful for help,suggestions, or tips! Sorry if it seems like a lot..

 

[kemclaughlin]

It sounds like a possible nutrition deficiency. What do you feed them? Maybe they need more protein and calcium.

 

[xLennyx]

I feed them layer mash. I have been giving them some calcium, adding some oyster shells into their mash.. I watch them a lot to make sure that they are eating. Luckily they have cut down on eating them. I will try to find something filled with protein and see if that helps...Thank you so much! c:

 

[Msperson4]

You could try dried meal worms for protein.

 

[xLennyx]

:3 Thank you. I will!!