Hi I'm new here, I already feel ok about being new as you all seem friendly and welcoming.
I've got a problem or two with my 3 ex batts, 2 have dirty bums - this has been the same since I got them on 28 Dec 07, luckily they seem not to mind having a warm splash around while I use a sponge to clean them then I trim their feathers - but why is their poo all watery and sometimes, like today it comes out white and frothy? They don't seem to mind at all though.
I feed them layers mash but have recently bought some mixed food containing layers pelletts, wheat, oyster shell and corn. Also I give them things like the odd piece of granary bread sometimes with marmite and cores of apples/pears and they love melon! They go free range for while most days and eat whatever they come across.
One has been laying though I don't know which but it has almost stopped now but the other day I was startled to find a soft egg along with a piece of rubberish type 'meat' though I think it can only be an egg that has remained inside and all the water absorbed back out to the hen again, it was a light pink and smelt horrible, a fishy smell. All the hens seem fine in themselves, one often sits for ages and has this rythmic motion as though wanting to go to the toilet (or lay an egg) but can't, I've seen her do this often but every egg has been laid in the hen house so I don't know if it's her or not.
Anyway, just to let you know I adore my girls and I don't care if I never get another egg from them though it is special when I do. I can see that very soon I may have to increase my little feathered family.
Hope someone can help, I think I may have to go to the vet but walked out of my job recently when I was required to falsify records for an inspection so money is a bit tight :? . Hope to hear from you soon, bye for now.
