Re-homing help!

[Frana]

Hi all,

It's a long time since I have been on but I am now in desperate need of some advice/help.

I have five chucks (Warrens are the breed) and I have had them for about just over three years. They have had all relevant jabs and regularly get a few drops of cider vinegar in their water.

They are in a healthy condition - although recently I have noticed that two of them have appeared a little 'puffed up' but are eating well and lively (any advice on this would also be appreciated) - and well looked after and I am very fond of them indeed, but the girls have not laid and egg for quite some time and I am considering replacing them with some newer models.

The thing is, I am in no way at all going to do the inevitable as it is just not in my nature and after all, they didn't ask to be chickens in my pen to provide me with eggs did they!

They have been housed in a pen on my allotment that is approx eight x ten foot and fed a good healthy diet of pellets and corn with plenty of veg/fruit.

I have contacted some animal welfare services and they have been very helpful but unfortunately they are either long distances from where I live or only take large numbers of chickens.

As I really do want them to go to a place where they can live the rest of their lives in peace and comfort and let them live their natural course - is there anyone out there who may be able to point me in the right direction. I live in the West Midlands area and would be willing to transport.

If I have done this right, there should be some photos attached and if anyone can help then please send me a private message and I will be happy to give further details.

Thanks all - truly appreciated!

[Nannysally99]

Hope someone comes up with a home for them, good luck

[Glutton4...]

I would be very wary of 'giving' them away, as they'll probably end up for the chop. However, I don't know of anyone who would take non-laying Hens, as they still need feeding and looking after, but with no 'reward' for the cost.

Yes, I love to watch their antics - they can be great entertainment, but even I keep them for their eggs. Can you extend their run, and just get a couple of layers in as well? They won't live for ever.

[Scarlet]

Strange that they have all stopped laying completely. Have you ever wormed them?

[spanish_gardener]

I can put you in touch with a chicken rescue group. They are based in NI, but they will be happy to help you and they may have some contacts of rescuers and foster in the West Midlands.

[RedThorn]

Did they all go off lay together suddenly or was it gradual?

[Frana]

Hi all, I must admit I haven't wormed them as I thought the regular cider vinegar would do it. They stopped laying pretty suddenly but I did get the odd few. A couple of times the eggs were pecked and eaten if this helps.

I have put rubber and plastic eggs in the nesting box in case they are broody but to no avail.




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[Frana]

I can put you in touch with a chicken rescue group. They are based in NI, but they will be happy to help you and they may have some contacts of rescuers and foster in the West Midlands.

That would be great - can you send me some details and I will try my best


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[RedThorn]

Hmm

Have you checked the girls over for parasites?

Did they have a big fright just before stopping laying?

Are the making the I just laid an egg bwaark?

I'd hang on until the light levels improve before making a decision

[spanish_gardener]

That would be great - can you send me some details and I will try my best


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Just messaged you their contact details. Hope you find out why they aren't laying eggs. There's lots of experience d chicken keepers in the forum.

[Scarlet]

I just looked at your pics, the tail ends of the girls don't look that good, feathering missing? Have you checked for mites or lice? The third and fourth pic the girls looks very hunched up. They don't look well. Chickens need to be wormed at least twice a year, vinegar is not a substitute. If you get another set of chickens the same will happen only faster as you will have them on the same ground.

[spanish_gardener]

How are your chickens doing? I have been speaking with a friend and she recommended Flubenvet dewormed. She said chickens lay less or stop laying if they feel stressed or if they are not getting all nutrients they need too.

[Scarlet]

Hi all, I must admit I haven't wormed them as I thought the regular cider vinegar would do it. They stopped laying pretty suddenly but I did get the odd few. A couple of times the eggs were pecked and eaten if this helps.

I have put rubber and plastic eggs in the nesting box in case they are broody but to no avail.

Chickens that start to eat their own eggs are usually lacking in something. It can be boredom but my guess it that as you haven't wormed them they are trying to find extra protein. Have you picked them up, checked their breastbones? My guess is they will be very thin.

They aren't old enough to all stop laying completely. Healthy chickens lay eggs.

[Frana]

Thanks for the help folks - really appreciated!

Just a quick update. I seem to have had some developments regarding the 'puffed up' chucks who don't seem to well.

I have spoken to my local seed and poultry merchant who is a bit of an oracle on chicken stuff, and he seems to think they are egg-bound.

I followed this up with a bit of reading and they do seem to have the symptoms. He said that they may need a bit more calcium and gave me some fine grit with minerals and an aniseed smell which they seem to be loving. He also said to give them 5ml of cod liver oil on a daily basis for a few days to help 'clear them out' and this seems to have perked the old girls up!

I haven't finished treating them yet but so far so good - he said that this might do the trick for the other non-layers aswell so at the moment they are staying put!

Thanks again all - I am very grateful.

[Frana]

Hi All,

Just another quick update.

Following advice from all the good folks on here, and from 'The Oracle' otherwise known as my local seed/poultry merchant, I gave the girls some cod liver oil for a few days and plenty of extra grit and oyster shell and there has been a miraculous change.

They seem much happier, and the 'puffed up ones' are again standing proud with lovely red combs.

Looking at it, I think maybe I wasn't giving them enough calcium either but there is certainly a massive improvement.

No eggs still as yet but The girls are a few years old now, and as they are healthy again, that's Good enough for me!

Cheers all!




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