[cbv8]

Hi All,
After my 3 OAP Lohmanns died    i bought some new (POL) Hens 1Light Sussex 1Copper Star 1Cuckoo Maran and 2 a little younger 1 Copper Star 1 Cuckoo Maran i have had them a few weeks now and they are all laying and getting on quite well with the odd peck now and then lol  Anyway my problem is that they have had a few coughs and sneezes lately so my daughter got me some antibiotics from the farm she works at which is slowly working. I now find that when i get up close to them there is an awful smell coming from them which one/s i dont know but the smell reminds me of an animal that has died in the hedgerow and is rotting away the smell is that bad it makes me gag any help or advice very much appreciated   

[Prod]

Hi  I am unsure what the problem is , unless it is 'poo' related? or is there a dead rat/mouse around the coop area? Funnily enough I was going to post about the pair of Buff Orpingtons that I have (but I thought people would think me odd, then I realised they probably already do so here goes) which are the opposite. They actually smell nice, almost perfumed. I thought it was just me but I ask my partner, who reluctantly did a sniff test, and my neighbour and they both agreed that they do smell sweetly perfumed. A bit weird eh???

[Aunt Sally]

If you believe the hens rather than something in their environment are causing the smell then they have a bacterial infection that the antibiotics you have self administered are not dealing with. 

You'll need to consult a vet !

[ANHBUC]

I agree with Aunt Sally that it is better to consult a vet when they are already unwell.

Once treated if the smell persists you can try bathing them in luke warm tea.  You will have to do it over several days but it has natural antibacterial properties so should help.  It worked for Helenaj's hen last year take a look HERE   

[cbv8]

Thanks for the replies other than the odd sniffle and the stink they seem very spritley and happy/cheeky  i will seek professional advice thanks again i like the Tea idea PG or Typhoo or i could try my daughters Earl Grey i suppose 

[ehs284]

Even if they're spritley , I'd give them a very close examination for wounds or maggots and then a bath. Hens should smell of feathers.

[Aunt Sally]

Hens should smell of feathers.

Oh yes !

I've never heard it described that way