One of my ex batts has had a stroke 2 weeks ago. She's made a fantastic progress so far. At first she wasn't eating or drinking and her co-ordination was extremely poor. She's now eating and drinking, co-ordination is back to normal and she's fully alert and has put on weight. however, it has left h...

Hi Mo. She's an ex commercial hen and ive had her about a year. I dont think the egg breaks as such because its not properly formed. Ive seen a small amount of discharge ( like water ) come from her behind, and then she passes the shell-less egg ( also doesnt look fully formed ) and then she passes ...

Hi Mo. Yes the shell, which in no way resembles a shell is a runny, stringy wobbly thing, which is the last bit to pass from her.
Sometimes its still "dangling" from her behind when she's finished passing the egg, and my other girls rush to her to eat it

Thanks for this Manda. Ive had the odd soft shell before, where ive used cod liver oil and limestone flour, but nothing like this. Even the shell is runny if that makes any sense.

I wonder if someone could help me please. For the third time yesterday evening i noticed one of my ex batts take herself away from the others and stand hunched up and still. After 10 minutes or so she passes a runny egg and shell. She then seems to go back to her usual self. She eats and drinks well...

Can anyone please help me with one of my girls? She was one of my rescue hens from September of last year who had a large pendulous crop when I got her. The rescue lady told me that there was nothing wrong with her, and that when she'd feathered up I wouldn't even notice. This was not the case thoug...

Hi. She's definitely a girl as she lays every day. I think she's bigger than the others due to her breed. She's the least friendly in my group, with me and my other girls, even though she came from a pet home (there was a fox attack and she was the only one that survived)

Hi. I have a mixed small flock of ex batts and unwanted hens. My youngest hen, I think about 7 or 8 months old has started to mount some of my other girls. She's the biggest hen I have, although not top of the pecking order. Im concerned because some of my ex commercial hens are still pretty bald an...

Thanks for that Jackie. I must look again at Frontline. I was looking at prices of around £20-£30, so I must have been looking at the wrong thing.
Thanks again x

Ive found what i believe to be lice on one of my girls, so chances are the others have them as well. I just wondered what other people use? I use D.E in the nest boxes and dust baths but this is obviously not enough? Ive read about people using Frontline for cats. Is there a cheaper alternative? Tha...

Ive recently taken on two more girls that were unwanted as they had stopped laying. One is a Warren and one a Black Rock.
The Warren's comb is a very pale pink, and is tiny compared to those of my existing ex-batt Warrens.
Is this an indicator of age or something else?
Thank you in advance

Chookmike, thank you so much for this. Youve been a great help. Much appreciated
Karen

Hi. I read somewhere that when it gets really cold you need to put Vaseline on the girls' combs for protection from the frost. Is this so?
I have 7 beautiful ex batts and this is my first winter with them
Thank you
Karen

Wendy and secret squirrel thank you very much for your replies. I'll start and scatter the grit as well as in the hopper and will now go and research food stuff suitable for chickens high in vitamin D. Thank you again
Karen

Hi all. I wondered if anyone could give me some advice please I re homed 7 ex batts on 7th September, so im really new at this but im enjoying leadning and am loving the girls more than I thought possible. This morning I let them out as usual and noticed that one hen went and stood in a corner and w...