Anyone wanting a free chicken coop with large fox proof run? We have never had redmite or any other health problem with our hens. All four have lived a long and healthy life, but we recently rehomed our last hen to a neighbour as we didnt want her to be alone. All the others had passed away over the...

I HAVE A SOLID COOP WHICH WOULD SUIT 4 LARGE HENS OR 6 SMALL BREEDS, AND 2 LARGE FOX PROOF RUNS, EACH WITH A STURDY FULL SIZE DOOR/GATE. THERE ARE TWO LARGE AREAS FOR EACH ADJOINING RUN, THE SMALLER IS ABOUT 6FT X 10FT AND THE LARGER ONE ABOUT 8FT X 12FT. THEY HAVE A CORRUGATED ROOF THAT ALLOWS THE ...

Is there anyone in the Stockport area who would be willing to home an old hen who is left all alone by the death of her little chicken friend on Christmas morning? She is sweet and good tempered and about 7 years old. I hate to say goodbye to her, but although we are giving her everything she needs,...

I havent posted on this site for a while due to family illness. My four lovely old girls had a good life - a lovely coop and run, the best bedding, food and company. Through good and bad times they've been such lovely companions to me and Jim. Sadly, we lost two last year at about 7 years old. The o...

Betty left us during the night and went over the rainbow bridge. She was the littlest of all our hens, a feisty columbian blacktail, who was always the first to ask for dried worms, the first to claim the perch and the most balanced, reasonable little hen. She would follow me about and seemed to hav...

Is there any sign of an ear infection or injury around the head area. Is there an avian vet near you? For your other hen with the extended belly, the fluid can be drawn off by a vet and tested for infection. Antibiotics could be an option together with anti-inflammatories, usually administered with ...

The only thing that would worry me is drainage. Any kind of bedding without good drainage is going to get sludgey if there's heavy rain and no roof - so thats something to bear in mind.
Sheila

This last one looks as if shes the lowest in the pecking order - getting her bum plucked by the others! Sudacrem must taste pretty bad, so perhaps put a bit of this on or some antipeck spray (I never found the spray very useful though) and they might stop pecking her.
Sheila

You get it off the net - I think lyte so Fancy may do it. A tube lasts a long time if you only have a few hens.
Sheila

You should be using Flubenvet powder twice a year in their food. The instructions are on the pack. This kills worms. I wonder if she has gapeworm as this sits in the throat and irritates them a lot. Using Diatom powder sprinkled liberally in their bedding will deter worms and mites, as it breaks dow...

Try using a torch if its dark. Hens will always follow a slow moving torch beam as the light makes them feel safe. When they get near the coop, put the torch inside the 'bedroom' so its lit up and they'll go in. Just move the torch very slowly as they are birds of very little brain!!!
Sheila

I think Maggie may be right. The flowers are all over the top of the rose just as they should be. I have been trying to keep the rose well nourished, as it was in such a poor state to start with - I was probably over compensating. I had no idea you could over feed. Its certainly doesn't appear to be...

I have a standard rose 'Deep Secret' which has never been very healthy - not suprising as it was in the 'for sale' bin at the garden centre. It is in a plastic pot about 2ft 6" dia, and I have fed and mulched it for the past two years. It has pelleted chicken manure twice a year and a mulch of ...

Poor little Roxy. She's been back and forth to the vets over the past 2 years and has really suffered from just about every illness and problem including being picked on by the other big hens. Last night she decided to leave us. We found her lying still in her nest box with her friend Betty watching...

Apparently, prepacked salad has 27 times the amount of Chlorine that you would find in swimming pool water! Which makes it extremely unattractive!