We’re cautiously optimistic that Charity is better … we’ve not been able to watch closely in the maelstrom that is exam season in this house this year, but whenever I look out of the window, she’s up and about, with head and tail erect, unless she’s eating! I’ve not been able to pick her up [...]
All posts in category Hen Health
Cautiously Optimistic …
Posted by LB on May 25, 2012
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/cautiously-optimistic/
A little better?
Yesterday, I separated Charity from the others in the Eglu for a few hours, and left her with a bowl of mash, including some mealworm, oats, pellets, natural yoghurt, cod liver oil, limestone flour and Epsom salts! A little bit of everything – yummy! She did drink a little water, but wasn’t really interested in [...]
Posted by LB on May 15, 2012
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/a-little-better/
Not looking so good …
… later in the day. This is a perfect illustration of a poorly hen, droopy tail, head withdrawn, apart on her own, even if there are goodies available elsewhere While at the other end of the Hen Garden …
Posted by LB on May 12, 2012
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/not-looking-so-good/
Charity gets a bath …
Charity was looking down in the tail today … still able to run for a handful of corn, but quiet and in a corner. Not like herself at all. I’ve been keeping an eye on her rear end for signs of a broken egg or a runny poo … nothing obvious today but her feathers [...]
Posted by LB on May 12, 2012
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/charity-gets-a-bath/
Now we are six …
… because our dearest hen Bridget is gone. I was out in the garden and noticed a sudden kerfuffle amongst the girls who were all gathered round Bridget and I thought perhaps she was ill, but by the time I reached her, she was already gone She was well over four years old, one of [...]
Posted by LB on April 28, 2012
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/now-we-are-six/
As the clocks go forward …
… the light comes. But not because sunset has moved! Our neighbour must have had a word with the tree surgeon who did some work for us a few weeks ago, and as a result, the large conifer at the north west corner of our garden is gone It will take some getting used to. [...]
Posted by LB on March 26, 2012
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/as-the-clocks-go-forward/
Worried
We’ve had a run of broken eggs … it can’t just be Bridget, so I’ve added extra limestone flour into their feed, along with crushed eggshell and some mixed grit. But today, DH disturbed Charity in the nest box, only to find that she had laid a soft but broken egg herself – most unexpected. [...]
Posted by LB on March 18, 2012
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/worried/
Sudden moult
Bridget is still with us and seemingly rather better. But she’s not laying, and maybe more importantly, she’s no longer top hen. No-one is pushing her around, but she’s content to let others fight for the treats (she’s wise enough to know that she will eventually pick up a titbit or two as they scatter [...]
Posted by LB on October 20, 2011
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/sudden-moult/
Lavender Straw
I cut back the lavender today, and as last year, have given the straw to the hens. It’s not that they like it particularly, but when they scratch around, it does raise a lovely scent! We desperately need to replace the woodchip, but I need to know that DH will have the time to help [...]
Posted by LB on October 14, 2011
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/lavender-straw-2/
Keeping an eye on Bridget
Bridget is now the only ex-batt hen of the four that came to us on 31st August 2009. So in ex-batt terms, she is quite an elderly lady. Her only problem until now has been that of laying soft shelled eggs. It doesn’t matter what we give her to strengthen them, they remain paper-thin and [...]
Posted by LB on October 11, 2011
http://henkeeper.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/keeping-an-eye-on-bridget/
Hen Pics
