[diamond_lil]

Hi y'all. Sorry to have been away for such a long time but developed M.E. and can't sit at PC for longer than 10 mins. However, highlight of my day is the walk around the duck pond feeding all the fowl (11 ducks, 13 chickens and 16 guinea fowl).
We have a problem with a couple of hens laying eggs with very thin shells. Any ideas what the cause could be? They are mostly Warrens or Warren crosses apart from 2 rather elderly Wellsummers and Mad Myrtle the Marran.
We also have a bit of bullying. (At least I think that is what it is.) They are free range but we don't let them out until about 10 so that they lay in the shed. One hen (known as Bag Lady) has large bald spots where she has been pecked and another has a bald neck. I have checked them for mites around their vents but they seem OK. One of the books suggested boredom, so I have hung some CDs from string for them to play with.
Any other ideas?
Many thanks
Diamond Lil

[Aunt Sally]

They might need a CD player  

They would probably like some food hung up to peck at too.  Cabbage etc.

If the house is bit enough give them some things to climb on, branches, straw bales that sort of thing.  I presume when you say "Keep them in" you mean in a run, not in their house.  It's light at about 4am just now so if in their house that's 6 daylight hours of lock up, could give the best of chooks the hump  :evil:

Thin eggs are caused by insufficient calcium in their diet.  This often occurs with free range chooks as they don't consume pellets all day which contains all the calciumthey need, and may not get sufficient in their diet.  Make sure crushed oyster shell is available forthem to snack on whenever they want it.

[diamond_lil]

Thanks Aunt Sally. We only have 11 hens and they live together in an old loose box so there is plenty of room for them to run until we let them out. They have lots of perches and 6 splendid nesting boxes. However, I think maybe hanging up the odd cabbage is a good idea.

I will also try the oyster shells.

Thanks for the help.

Diamond_lil

[peggyprice]

They would probably like some food hung up to peck at too.  Cabbage etc.

I've been using a couple of those bird feeders that you hang apples up in - the wild birds have always ignored them completely, but I cut a small slice off the apple (so they get straight to the tasty bits) and my chooks really, really REALLY love pecking at them.

[pushrod]

piles of rotting logs provide a lot of interest for hens as do piles of soil and holes in the ground.
Crush up your old egg shells and give them back to your birds. - it will help with the thin shelled eggs (as will the grit and oyster shell mix)

Do you have a cockerel? - if so a lot of the feather damage could be down to him.

[diamond_lil]

Many thanks for the suggestions. The apple has gone down a storm and I put a ripe pear in as well which also vanished petty quick. So did the crushed up egg shells.

We have put a few old logs in so I just wait to see if the feather pulling stops.

I'm on the look out for some reasonably priced oystershells as well.

Now, if I could just stop that flaming magpie from sneaking in and getting the eggs before I do.....

DL

[Ruby Red]

You must provide crushed oyster shell, its isnt an option really. You can buy big bags of poultry grit and oyster shell combined. Also a capful of apple vinegar in the water helps with calcium absorption.

[diamond_lil]

They've been on oyster shell and grit for a week and now have lots of toys to play with and fruit to peck at. Shell quality much improved and most of those with feathers missing are starting to look a better.

It's just Bag-Lady who is obviously bottom of the pecking order and looks a complete wreck! I reckon, however, from looking at the business end of her, that she is a pretty good layer so she doesn't seem to mind. Comb looks good and eyes bright. I just won't be taking her to a show in the near future!

Many thanks for all the help.

DL

[kattcottrell]

Hi D.L

Sorry to hear that you have developed M.E, has that come on all of a sudden or have you been ill for a while and its taken for ever to diagnose?

I have SLE (lupus) so I know how frustrating the tiredness and fatigue is, everyday is a struggle to get out of bed in the morning.

Don't know about you but since having my chickens I find they help me get going in the morning, I have to sort them out in the mornings so am forced to get out of bed (unless I'm particulary bad then Mr. Katt has to tend to them ) I would go as far as saying that they are a great help in keeping the depression at bay. Hope your chickens have helped you, even in a  very small way

[diamond_lil]

Hi Katt.

Really sorry to hear about your lupus. I gather it's another of those hard to diagnose diseases. Are you on medication? Is there a cure or is it a matter of learning to adapt your lifestyle?

I had my appendix out in 2006 and came home to lambing! You can't tell a ewe she has to cross her legs till you get better so I did too much and have slowly deteriorated since then until they finally diagnosed ME last November. However, I do seem to be improving a little at the moment. We found out that I was very sensitive to the WiFi network, cordless and mobile phones. So we have now taken the lot out and I am a lot better though still lacking in energy.

The birds are a real boon, I agree. My exercise for the day is to walk around the duck pond. Feeding the ducks and chickens and watching their antics keeps my spirits up no end.

I can't do a lot towards maintenance and He Who Must Be Obeyed does the hard graft but I put them to bed and wash the eggs and stuff.

Are you sensitive to different foods as well? I have had to give up dairy, wheat and sugar. No more chocolate - disaster!

Thanks for the message anyway.

DL