Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Merry belated Christmas everyone! It’s been raining today and everyone was trying to keep out of the rain. My sister’s two Schijndelaar cockerels will be headed to a farm in a couple of days. They’ve started crowing so unfortunately they have worn out their welcome. The farmer has a breeding program and is interested in their genetics, so hopefully they will have a long and happy life there.

@Shadrach and those more experienced chicken keepers on this thread, I’ve been trying to figure out what is best for Cordelia, my girls with the ongoing crop problems. Her crop balloons on the days when I take off the crop bra so she can get a proper dust bath. When I put the bra back on, it helps keep the crop a manageable size, but she still holds herself upright and I see her frequently readjusting her crop. I was hopeful that she’d recovered while she was molting, as she didn’t have a ballooning crop then, but it was probably because she wasn’t eating as much. After molting, the crop problems returned and I’ve been trying to decide if there’s anything I can do to improve her condition. I got back to fermenting my feed about three weeks ago, which everyone seems to love. She’s had diarrhea the past few days, though none of the others seem to have it, so I’m unsure if it’s a new bag of feed (lower protein as everyone has pretty well finished molting) or just her system having more problems. Ongoing crop problems are generally an indicator of other issues that are less noticeable, correct? I’d love any advice or insights people can give on what they would do in this situation.

Tax:
One of the cockerels, Saoirse with her two chicks (Zelda and Wren), Cordelia and her best friend Peanut.

Fudge had a pendulous crop. It wasn't a bad case.
The problem as I had it explained to me is if the crop sinks much below the opening to the proventriculus, the food may sit at the bottom of the crop and rot rather than being fed down to the gizzard. Apart from this I don't know of any sickenss directly attributable to the problem.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm really concerned with not seeing @Ribh for such a long time, has anyone had any contact with her?

Not for a few weeks.

 

[Marie2020]

Fudge had a pendulous crop. It wasn't a bad case.
The problem as I had it explained to me is if the crop sinks much below the opening to the proventriculus, the food may sit at the bottom of the crop and rot rather than being fed down to the gizzard. Apart from this I don't know of any sickenss directly attributable to the problem.

I use canesten when the crop swells, other methods have failed

 

[Marie2020]

Not for a few weeks.

How was she the last time you heard from her? I haven't seen her since she was due in hospital

 

[Marie2020]

How are you feeling @BDutch ?

 

[Marie2020]

Good night

 

[BDutch]

Awful weather. It rained all day. Wind gusts of 40mph.
C had fed them and cleaned the coop out.
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C had fed them this afternoon. Pellets under the old coop and I'm not sure what was in the tray under the new coop. I added some pellets. A few ventured out for a few minutes.
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Henry went in with his hens. The five that should have gone were still there. I don't know anymore than that.
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C want’s everythin nice for a visit tomorrow?
And the chickens look healthy and well fed?

 

[BDutch]

How are you feeling @BDutch ?

Getting stronger every day!

Hope Ribh, turns up again real soon!

 

[Shadrach]

How was she the last time you heard from her? I haven't seen her since she was due in hospital

I think she's got a lot on her plate.

 

[Shadrach]

C want’s everythin nice for a visit tomorrow?
And the chickens look healthy and well fed?

Maybe.
I haven't weighed any for a while but they look better overall than they did in the summer. Having 5 less has made a difference and I think it's this and C changing the bedding in the old coop and not getting the roost bars fixed in properly that finally made Henry decide to move.

Roosting time is more peacfull with Henry in the new coop.
Next step is to stop using bedding on the floor of the new coop and just use it for the nest boxes. I think this may be a hard sell to C. They will all roost on the bars although one or two sleep in the nest boxes on and off.
In the UK climate the hens are damp to wet a lot when they go to roost. The shredded paper tends to soak this up. A bare plastic floor should mean faster evaporation and less moisture held in the coop. A coop floor mat would be handy as it would provide further insulation and be removable for cleaning. I think Solway do one.
Even after all the rain we've had the coop inner walls remaind free of condensation but the bedding felt slightly damp. Fix that and the rest of the bits and pieces would be further improvements.