Re-Homed Hens. help please...

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Rhi0982

Rhi0982

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Hi Everyone!

I need a little help please.

I have kept hens before (until the fox ate them).
Bought them from a farm from quite young.
Loved having them, they were very sociable and would often come in for a cuddle with my children.... Soppy I know........

Anyway we have recently moved house and desperate to get some more hens I searched on gumtree.
I've managed to find and re home just last night 5 hens from a lady.

Two black rocks, Two brown in colour, and one bluey/grey.
I have no idea of the proper breed.

Anyway I'm a bit concerned.
She told me then were approx 12-15 months old.
Although they look quite big too me.

They're strange little things.
Look a bit tatty compared to our old ones, looks as though they've been taking feathers out of each or heads, and looking at their feet they look as though they've only roamed in thick mud.
They get pretty agitated when we go into the pen and definitely do not like to be touched..
(I probably sound like a soppy sod and this is normal so please tell me).

I had told myself that with a bit of TLC they will be fine and that we can eat their eggs, once I have wormed them, gave them some good quality feed etc.
But do you think I should not eat any of the eggs until I know what I have fed them is in their system?
We woke to one very soft egg this morning with a speck of blood on it.
I'm assuming this will be corrected with grit?

Any advise will be greatly appreciated.
 
I wouldn't be overly concerned about the condition of the birds unless it seems to negatively impacting their habits (they don't move about/seem drowsy etc).

We bought three ex battery hens to add to our flock and they weren't in the best condition, which is common due to the fact they are only kept for in mass for eggs. However, after a year they are looking great and their feathers have improved tremendously. This was down to some extra attention along with the likes of apple cider vinegar in their water and mite dust in the coop. I would worm the chickens if I were but it is not always a necessity (your call).

As for the eggs, you are right in saying that grit will help toughen the eggs up - as will an improved diet. Moving from one coop to another can also be stressful and can impact laying habits but I reckon after a while you should be fine, good luck!
 
enola said:
Grit will not make egg shells harder. Calcium will. Chickens do need grit to grind up what they eat though.
Click to expand...


Grit does contain calcium though in the form of oystershells. In addition people, like myself, often add cooked egg shells from the chickens into the grit as they are full of calcium as well.
 
Hi, welcome to BYC!

Give your new girls some time to adjust to their home, once they know you are the bearer of all things good to eat, they'll warm up to you. I don't think you sound like "a soppy sod" at all...just a concerned poultry owner wanting to do right by their birds. Proper housing, mite control, worming (I would) and a good diet and they'll be looking great.

If you would like some help identifying their breed, you can post photos of them here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

Good luck to you and your new girls, hope you enjoy them!
 
Thank very much everyone....
That was just what I needed to hear.

I have just been out and purchased some good feed, grit with the oyster shells and some worming stuff (vermex).

I'm going to sprinkle some red mite powder on them later, under their feathers and around their neck apparently?
Just to be sure...

I'll keep you posted on the eggs production.
 

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