[brucie]

Hello

I have just got 4 battery chickens. I have had them for about one month. For the past 2 weeks on has had a runny bottom. I have wormed them all and they are moved on to fresh grass every 2 weeks. Any ideas? I also saw today that one has a sore foot and is hopping. Do I wait a couple of days, to see if it comes right?

As you can tell I am very new to this chicken thing, but love it. Help

[babe]

hi brucie, hello and welcome,

at a month, they are still very new. it could be the change of diet catching up with them. and all the extra water.

in cages they only get layers mash and have water on them dripping things.

as long as they are still eating and drinking well, id watch them a little while longer. my ex batts went through lots of different poo's in their first few weeks of freedom. and you may have noticed that they've also realised that they have better things to do than just lay an egg.

hopefully they are just adjusting to freedom.

and well done for getting ex batts, photo's of the girlies would be nice

[babe]

oh and the sore foot, is it bleeding? if so a drop of wound powder.

and check if she's trodden on something sharp

[brucie]

Hello

I have just got 4 battery chickens. I have had them for about one month. For the past 2 weeks on has had a runny bottom. I have wormed them all and they are moved on to fresh grass every 2 weeks. Any ideas? I also saw today that one has a sore foot and is hopping. Do I wait a couple of days, to see if it comes right?

As you can tell I am very new to this chicken thing, but love it. Help

Thank you guys for your advice,  I will keep watching and see what happens, talk soon

[brucie]

Hi Brucie here again

Should I clean the chicken with the runny bottom? I have never handle chickens before!!! or will the dried up poo fall off!

Thanks

[mdueal]

Ive had problems with small chicks with dirty bottoms before and I have cleaned it off - warm water on cotton wool to soak it off. I did it cos every time they went to toilet again, it was sticking further and getting worse.

I would probably give it a go if it didnt make her distressed but I have no experience of ex battery hens so I would probably wait for advice from someone who has!! :?

[RachelO]

Hi there, I've a poorly ex-batt at the mo with a very runny bum so I've been standing her in a bucket of warm water and just wiping the muck off gently, she seems to quite enjoy this hydro-therapy spa treatment and has even dozed off part-way through! You might need an extra pair of hands to gently hold her at first though in case she gets a little panicked by the bucket.

[Aunt Sally]

Yes give her botty a wash, if it remains dirty she may become a target for pecking.

If you pick her up and tuck her under your arm with her head facing back and down she will be quite subdued, you'll also be able to hold her legs still and have the other hand free to wash her.  

[brucie]

I am off to wash the dirty bottom, wish me luck

[Aunt Sally]

How did it go  :?:

[Jellyhead]

well how did it go.................I hope no news is good news :?

[mdueal]

What time is it over there?

[Aunt Sally]

12 hous difference so about 8am over there just now.

[brucie]

Hi Guys, Well i washed her bottom, it went pretty well really, looks much better. So will keep a eye on her and hope she has no more dirty bottoms. Its 8.35am, on Friday morning, a sunny day so far.

Thanks guys for all your help.

[Aunt Sally]

Oh yes, I forgot we've on BST instead of GMT now.

Let us know how she's doing  :!: