New hen owner!!

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JenJohno

JenJohno

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Sep 4, 2015
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Liverpool UK
Liverpool lady here - Hello fellow chicken owners! I am brand new to looking after chickens, a week ago I got a Warren hen, a Blackrock Hen and and White Sussex hen. My fiancé built the most amazing coup and they are treated like Queens. But, Lady GaGa who is the white Sussex has been coughing and has raspy breathing. Her Poops are also very runny. I have been feeding them pellets which is left in their coup in a feeder but I've also been feeding them natural yoghurt with sunflower seeds for breakfast. I feel like they all hate me to be honest! The Blackrock won't come near me, the white Sussex eats out of my hand but will not let me touch her. I can pick up the Warren but I can tell she doesn't want me to. Only the Blackrock lays eggs, weve had 4 eggs off her which is quite good considering she's only settling in. All 3 are between 5-6 months old. My fiance wants to take the Sussex back to the farm because she is sick, but I really like her. Can anybody help and give me any tips?? Thank you in advance!!! Jen xxx
 
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Hi :welcome Jen

Glad you could join the flock! Congrats on your new hens. I'm sorry to hear you have a sick one :hugs She could have a respiratory infection with the rattling you can here. Depending if it's viral or bacterial you may need antibiotics for her. I would seperate her as this will more than likely spread to your other girls. As for your girls not liking you this is just because they are new to you. They can take some taming but slow and steady works well. Feeding them treats and sitting in with them helps. Not all chickens like to be held or picked up. I have some flock members who love being held and to sit on laps. I even have a couple of pirate parrot ones who love shoulders. Others are not so fussed and like to keep themselves to themselves. I would just give them more time.

Wishing you the very best of luck and enjoy BYC :frow
 
Thank you! I was worried that she may have a respiratory infection, we only have one coup so cannot separate her from the other hens :/ which is quite worrying. My Blackrock bullies the white sussex, and maybe she does this cz she knows she is sick? Are u allowed to give them treats every day?
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Yes possibly she realises this and sees the Sussex as a target. Could you give them more room under the coop? Add a run possibly? The more room they have the less bullying you should have. Yes they can have treats as long as it's not more than 10% of there daily intake. Mine don't get any treats until the afternoon that way I know that have had their fill of the pellets and are not just eating treats. They have fruit and veg and some mix corn to scratch about with in their runs.
You could give your Sussex some scrambled or hard boiled chopped egg while she is under the weather. Eggs are full of goodness for them.
 
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To be honest the majority of daylight hours they are free range, we let them out at 6am for a couple of hours,then my fiancé is back early afternoon and they stay out until they take themselves off to bed. Thanks for the tip, that may help them to get to know me more if I only give them treats in the afternoon! Lady can have an egg tomorrow! Will let u know how we get on.
 
Looks like Yorkshire coop already answered your questions so I just wanted to pop in and say, "Welcome to the BYC flock and we are glad to have you here! Good luck with your new hens and I hope your sussex gets better soon!"

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