Hen hold her tail down

[HilBoston]

Hello, I'm new to the forum. Reading through some of the other queries I'm sure there is someone out there who may be able to help me with one of my ladies. My daughter & I have 8 ex-batts on our allotment (did have 10 but two just didn't wake up one day). They all seem lively and are enjoying there new found freedom except one, who eventhough she is eating and drinking okay holds her tail down. She doesn't seem in pain. Doesn't mind being picked up either. Her poo looks normal and in every other way seems fine.
I'd be grateful for any suggestions as to what might be the matter. I might add we are novice hen keepers, just in case this is something very common.
that we should know about, eventhough I haven't found any info. in my books.
Thanks
Hilary

[moola]

tbh I think with exbatts it's a case of 'who knows?' They have been through so much in their short lives it is inevitable that there are going to be some problems here and there. As long as she seems happy and not in pain, I'd let her get on with it and see how she goes.
If she stands around all day, hunched up, you need to be concerned - although if her tail is down this is often a sign of her starting to be poorly. sorry Keep a close eye on her.

[Nicos]

Oh dear- it means she's not happy

You'll need to do a 'shelock Holmes' and try and work out what's the problem!

I've no had ex-batts- but they have been 'abused' to be productive egg layers....thank goodness you've taken them on and are concerned for their health!

..Welcome to the Vine!!

[HilBoston]

Thanks for the replys so far. We'll keep an eye on them. Yes they are doing very well since we got them. My husband has built them an indoor, a covered outdoor and an outdoor run (fox proof) so they can come and go as they please. They are turning from nearly oven ready to having some lovely feathers coming through, it's taken time though, we got them in August. We feed them food specially formulated for exbatts, it's expensive but worth it. There are quite a few "posh" birds on other allotments but ours are the only exbatts and are quite a talking point. They get loads of visitors and treats (mainly fruit, spagetti & lettuce), but I don't think they have been fed anything which would make our hen poorly.
I'll give her 'till the weekend and then contact a vet if she still looks awkward.

[Suechooks]

If she's laying she may be going to lay a soft-shelled egg. They take longer to come out and do seem to make them unhappy. They can exhibit the classic signs of being egg-bound (ref your books!) but I've had this happen occasionally with my girls. If it carries on or she starts to look unwell I'd take her home and stand her in a washing up bowl of warm water and gently get her back end down in the water for about 10-15 minutes. Dry her off (I use the dogs drier! - quieter motor than mine!!) and leave her for a couple of hours in a warm dry place. She should manage to lay the egg if that's the problem. Try to get her back with the others at bed-time and all should be well. Ex-batts are quite frail health wise so it may not be that but it's worth a try. If that doesn't work then a visit to your vet is probably the best route to go.
Welcome to the forum!

[MaureenHall]

I was going to say the same thing Sue Sounds as if she might need to lay a "softie". Once she's got that out of her system she should perk up. But like the others have said, it's a waiting and watching game I'm afraid

[Bramble-Poultry]

To be honest, ex-batts can be a bloody nuisence for the novice keeper as once they are off the antibiotic laden glop they feed them in the battery sheds, their immune system is open to all bacteria etc to try and nail them. The issues it causes novice keepers is that you can often get multiple symptoms which can confuse a diagnosis.

It sounds to me like your hens is just "BOS" (bogged off syndrome) and with a good diet and interaction should pick up. chuck in a handful of worms when your digging the allotment and see the look of joy on their faces!

Having said that they can be a pain i think ex-batts are fantastic, and i still have one of my original ex-batts, and this will be her 7th winter with us!

I think i know the feed you are giving them, its the smallholder range of Ex-Batts feed? Its not surprising that you get that feed as if you pick up your hens from the BHWT you will be prompted to buy some. This isnt just because it has the extra bits and pieces for the ex-batts, but Smallholder also sponser the BHWT i believe so its mutaully beneficial. And who would begrudge a few pence each time to the BHWT?

Personally, i tend to make sure that the battery hens have a good quality layers pellet, with a handful of corn in it as a treat and marmite on toast each day for the first week or so. The B Vitamins in the marmite seem to really help the birds.

I also (now this will sound cruel) place them in a small restrictive run, around 2' square house with a 2' outdoor run, for the first week, then this is extended each week by a couple of feet until they are running around happily.

Before you all shoot me down, remember that these birds have been cramped up in very tight accomodation for 9 months so their leg muscles arent as strong as they should be. Its a shock to the bird to discover that there is an outdoors, let alone a whole world of it and they cant walk very well at first, so i restrict their movements until the muscle tone builds up. Physiotherapy if you will.

I remember the first night that we had Ellie, she spent the whole night stood outside looking at the stars. If it had been raining she would have got soaked and caught her death. So from now on we phase their intorduction to the "new world"

If they are still "oven ready" with these cold nights coming in yo umight consider getting them some jumpers to keep them warm. sounds daft but there are a few patterns on here somewhere for knitted or fleece ones.

Hope all turns out well, and please feel free to post questions - no matter how daft you feel - as someone out there will no the answer and someone else out there will be thinking the same question!

[Hans Mum]

Can't really add to any of the above, all good advice, but if you want some jumpers, Ive got some from when I got my girls which I am happy to send on if you PM me

[HilBoston]

Once again thank you to everyone for your help.

Hansmum, thank you for the offer of jumpers. At the moment in Devon the weather isn't too bad, a bit wet but not cold, so the "baldy" girls seem okay. If by the time we get our cold spell, usually about Feb, they haven't fluffed up I'll take you up on your offer of jumpers.

Suechooks & Maureenhall, with ref. to the soft shelled eggs. We have had some soft shelled eggs and as a novice I thought because they had been laid the hen had sorted the problem out herself, could this be an ongoing problem with this hen then? Obviously I don't know which hen is laying softies, but it is most probably her. Does that make sense? I think I'll bring her in and do the warm water bath business anyway. It won't do any harm will it.

Bramble-Poultry thank you for all your advise. When we got the hens we introduced them gradually to their new "palace" as each section can be closed off. They were extremly wary of the grassed outside section which they were happy to eat through the fence, but wouldn't walk on when we let them in after about two weeks. Needless to say when one got her confidence they all started to explore and have now settled in beautifully. They are much stronger now, than when we received them, but we still haven't replaced their perches. To give them exercise we have built clay plant pot mounds they can climb up and down on rather than jump about, as they are all still a bit unsteady on their legs. I love the idea of Marmite on toast, I hadn't heard of that. Another tasty treat to add to the growing list.

Many thanks to everyone for your concern and help. I'll let you know how I get on.

[Eco-Chic]

Hil,

I'm a newbie chook slave and when I'm a bit more experienced will be looking to rescue some ex batts (I already have a 2nd coop waiting to be assembled) so I'm following your thread with interest.

Were the beaks cut on your ex batts? Have they grown back?

[Bramble-Poultry]

if the beaks have been trimmed (very common on Isa Browns, not so common on Lohmann Hybrids) they will not grow back. the bird is debeaked but cutting the cuticle with a hot wire which kills the growing point.

This cruel technique is used to help prevent feather pecking by the birds when in their cramped cells. My lohmanns havent had their beaks trimmed but my ancient Isa has. She gets on with life fine with a shortened top beak. In some lights you could mistake her for Sammy Davis Jnr!

Point to note, if you have a hen that hasnt had access to the ground, her top mandible can grow too long. This can be fixed by trimming the beak back very carefully with nail clippers to the correct length. Always have some styptic powder or corn flour with you incase you nick the quick, and you can then dab the powder or flour on the cut to encourage clotting.

A better alternative is (if the bird is friendly enough) to use a nail file to gently rub away theexcess beak. some birds hate it, others find the gently rubbing action soothing and fall asleep!

Of course, the best method is prevention and allow the birds to scratch about in the ground and they will naturally keep their beaks trimmed to the correct length

[Eco-Chic]

Thanks Bramble.
Mine are filing their beaks to hard points ~ all the better to peck me with

[HilBoston]

To everyone who kindly posted helpful advise about my chicken a who was holding her tail down. I took her to the vets today and she was diagnosed with a growth in her intestines, which from the feel of it was causing a major blockage, so I had her put to sleep

[Eco-Chic]

Ah, that is sad news.

I'm glad she isn't suffering but I'm sorry for your loss Hil♥

[lettucegrow!]

Oh,so sorry. You obviously did all the right things for her,but she was very poorly. Hard though that must have been, that must have been the right thing to do.Hope eVeryone else is OK.xxxx