[public health dude]

Hi, I am very new to poultry keeping and have been given 6 older birds 2@ 8 year olds  2@7 years and 2(Silkies)@6  years.  They arrived at my house on the 1st of may and I think they have settled  well. They are kept on a 30' x 30' ' bark / soil run and lay on average 3 eggs a day between them.

I have  couple of questions:

1) One of the girls has loose but formed stools - I cannot identify at present which bird is producing this and want to know if this is a problem and
2) I have also noticed that the two older birds have a white colouration to their ear lobes in comparison to the others who have crimson red lobes and are the same colour as their combs and wattles.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ged

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Ged,  Firstly, have a look at Auntie's poo guide!  it is very good.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

As to question 2, I'm no expert on chook breeds, but some breeds do have white colouration to their ear lobes.  My leghorns do, and I think the silkie cockerel I have does and the Appenzellars, so its nothing to worry about I think, unless they are a breed that should have red ear lobes but don't.

[public health dude]

Hi Grannie Annie,

Many thanks for your very prompt and informative reply. The poo is similar to the oily but not foamy examples. I actually read your blog and it helped tip the balance for me to take on these nice old birds. The cat is getting used to them but the wife is a bit scared of the bigger birds especially my favourite who has  a habit of jumping up to take food out your hand.
Ged

[GrannieAnnie]

She'll soon love them as much as you do Ged!  Good on you for rescuing the old girls!  Just hope you don't like too many eggs!!!! lol

[joyfull]

Hi, I think those with red ear lobes lay brown eggs and those with white lay white eggs, not sure about the hens that lay green eggs though. Think I must by a couple of them really fancy greeny blue eggs