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thiebert

thiebert

In the Brooder
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Hi there. Upon looking in the classifieds for a rabbit hutch I came across a chicken coop with 2 laying hens. We've always wanted to try looking after chickens and we're excited about the idea of the kids waking up in the morning to fresh eggs. It's been two weeks already and we've gotten 4 eggs:( When we picked up the coop the hens were already in boxes, once released at home we noticed that one was missing her feathers on her back end. Tonight we checked her for mites and found a huge black whole on her back between her wings. It's the grossest thing I've ever seen. She's obviously picking at it because it's a old healed wound. What I'm asking is if it's the reason why we're not getting eggs? But it doesn't explain why the other chicken isn't producing?
 
Is the wound dry or does it smell like rotting flesh? You may want to post in detail at "emergencies, diseases, injuries, cures " thread. Photos would help a great deal.

The thing about second hand chickens and coops etc. is people like to dump things they don't want to care for. Like attending to the wound when it first occurred, etc. How crafty of them to put them in boxes so you didn't get to see her injury. People like that make me
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When anything stressful happens to chickens they can react by not laying eggs. Moves are especially stressful. The eggs you got when they arrived were all ready "under construction" before you took them home. But, the stress is why you haven't gotten any since. In can take weeks until the hens feel secure enough to lay again.

Meanwhile I would check them for worms and mites/lice etc. I doubt their previous owners bothered with any of that. The injured hen may have infection going from her untreated wound and that could put her off. If you have an avian vet it would be good if he took a look at them.
 
Defiantly an old wound. But it's bothering her because she's pulling out her feathers around the area.
 
Sorry your first chickens are poorly. They're probably happy to have someone care about them. There is tons of good information on this site and several knowledgeable people. Welcome to the forum.
 
Thanks. I did post in the link mentioned. I messaged the lady and she responded that she had a roaster that picked on her often. Didn't realize that a roaster could do that much damage. She said she didn't find any wounds! Must of not checked them over
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