Thanks for all your ideas guys. She was much worse this morning - couldn't stand up or get out of the roost, (and she smelled really bad..) so my wife took her to the vet. He said it was some sort of Virus - could be marek's, no way of telling, but that there was no real hope, so he put her down. Ju...

Yes - it shouldn't be, because she's too old (25) weeks, and in theory was vaccinated, but I am worried it's a possibility. Also - it's not really paralysis - it's more like she's drunk - sort of wobbling and stumbling, and swearing at everyone (OK - I lied about the swearing). She's eating though, ...

May I ask what the outcome of this was?
(One of my Girls, an Amber Star, is showing the same symptoms...)

Thanks

Martin

Thanks for your messages everyone - feel a bit better...

I did report it to the police to see if there was a spate of them, but they didn't think there was...

Especially as I'd gone to so much trouble to make the pen (so far successfully) fox proof!

I hadn't really considered making it human scum proof.

(you can tell I don't think too highly of the perpetrators...)

Actually - if anyone has any advice on alarms, it would be much appreciated.
I was thinking of something like this:
http://www.ultrasecuredirect.com/acatal ... ystem.html

Yes - a mate of mine had his stolen a few months ago, but they were fancy breeds I think.

I'm pretty sure they were taken overnight - the pen is in the front garden, and although not too obvious from the road isn't exactly hard to get at.

I'm thinking of a wireless alarm and lock for the door too.

Can't quite believe it! Some low-life **** stole my 3 hens last week. Definitely wasn't foxes (high latches undone, and doors removed and leant up against the side - no feathers/blood/guts) Deciding what to do about re-stocking - obviously need to up security first though. Why would someone nick 3 c...

Here's mine. I basically made it up as I went along, measuring against the width of the mesh (1"x 1/2"). I painted it green to blend it in a bit (the neighbours were a bit surprised to see it pop up!). The mesh is dug down underground, even under the door, and the coated wire roof secure t...

Update! Finally stopped her being broody (5 weeks!) If it's any use to anyone else here having the problem, in the end I had to shut all the girls out of the coop day and night. Luckily our pen has proved (touch wood) fox proof so far, and the they didn't seem to mind sleeping in a sheltered corner ...

Great - thanks for the re-assurance!

One of our black rocks has decided to get broody - found her sitting on the eggs today. As a relative novice, this is the first time so not sure what to do! She looked pretty annoyed when I lifted her off to get the eggs - do I just keep taking the eggs away as soon as they've been laid by the other...

I just ordered from Flytes of fancy - £7.99 delivery for 25kg (£33.19 +VAT)
Seems reasonable enough (and I ordered other bits and pieces without the postage increasing)

Yes - I was going to ask if there were any negatives with stalosan? Presumably it is some sort of chemical, which could get into the food chain? (ie my scrambled eggs!)

Yes - I'd read elsewhere on this forum that sleeping on the floor rather than perching could lead to bare underneaths - sort of makes sense....