new black rocks arriving tomorrow

[Gro-Bag]

But it does get a bit soggy in the rain if the run isn't covered over.

[scotty1971]

just noticed one of my black rocks has a bent toe,she is showing no signs of being lame or being in pain,should i be concerned?

thanks

scott

[scotty1971]

well went and bought hemcore instead today

[RichmondHens]

just noticed one of my black rocks has a bent toe,she is showing no signs of being lame or being in pain,should i be concerned?

thanks

scott

No. Bent toes are a common in incubator raised chicks and usually straighten out as the bird matures. I'm not quite sure why they come out bent - possibly a temperature/humidity blip - but it shouldn't cause your hen any concern.

We had a Welsummer cock who hatched with a bent toe once (incubator hatched). He was fine and not troubled by it at all and over time it more or less straightened itself out. We actually called him Bendy!!!

[Flummery]

well went and bought hemcore instead today

I use a hemp substrate too. It's a non-brand name thing but it's the same stuff. Really helps soak up the poo!

[scotty1971]

when should i worm my hens? i have only had them a week and i don't know if they have been wormed,and what is the best product to worm them with?

cheers

scott

[RichmondHens]

You need to worm with Flubenvet - a white powder you mix into their feed. It covers all the common poultry worms including gapeworm. You can get it on line (cheapest) or from your vet or feed merchant.

Treatment is for 7 consecutive days and there is no egg withdrawal, ie you can continue to eat the eggs while worming. I would worm your hens now as chances are they won't have been done and even if they have it won't hurt to do them again. If you are going to keep your hens in the same run all year round then you should worm them 4 times a year.

[scotty1971]

can you recommend a good site to buy flubenvet.

thanks

scott

[Suechooks]

can you recommend a good site to buy flubenvet.

thanks

scott

There are a few Vet medicine sites. Try googling Flubenvet. Can't remember where I got mine but I'm no good at posting links anyway!

[scotty1971]

still no sign of eggs

[RichmondHens]

Don't be so impatient! You haven't had them very long, and although they were sold to you as point of lay, it does not mean they are imminently about to start laying - it may take several weeks, they have to settle in and get used to the new routine. Also, young hens will take longer to come into lay at this time of year than in the Spring, as the light levels are falling daily. You will know when they are about to come into lay as their combs will get bright red, big and fleshy and there will start to be exploratory trips to the nest box although an egg may not be laid for several days. The first eggs may also be laid on the ground.

[scotty1971]

cheers for that,unfortunately i was last in the queue when patience was giving out

[Gro-Bag]

Hmmm - I often wondered about bent toes as one of my CLs has a very bent toe, another a slightly bent toe - neither seem at all bothered by it or lame, although they still have them.

[Gro-Bag]

Oops - sorry for the disjointed thread - hadn't noticed the second page that had moved on from toes ;-)

Yes patience is hard to access when waiting for those first eggs...

[scotty1971]

its been raining pretty hard up here in scotland all day,my black rocks have access to my garden all day as i leave the coop open,the thing is i thought they would prefer to stay in the coop as it has been raining,but no my black rocks have chosen to spend most of the day out in the rain and seem to be enjoying it,is this ok for them to do as i here they can catch a cold quite easily.

cheers

scott