I was able to spend some time looking over the dead hen today and found a good deal of bruising on her upper breast area, around the right wing, around the joints of where her feet connect to her legs, and near the back of her underside leading up to her vent area. This is the area of her breast...
Hey all—
Came home this evening to a dead mama hen (buff Cochin if that matters) and her only chick (hatched out 10 days ago) is missing. She was in the back corner of the coop (a corner the chickens never go to) behind the nesting boxes, facing the wall—she was already stiff and cold. No...
Just wanted to update—
The flock is settling down a bit from a few days ago. The roosted has mounted at least one of my buffs. The coloring of the Cochin hen has definitely improved! I couldn’t believe what a difference in her comb and waddle until I looked back on pictures from when I brought...
Here are a few photos of the austas and buffs (these are a week old so they have grown a bit and their combs are slightly more mature), the chicks, and the rooster and cochin hen.
I’m going to copy/paste my above reply here too for you.
I added 3 (three) day-old chicks (just born). I brought them home and kept them in our secluded brooder for two weeks and then moved them to a secluded fenced area near the coop to allow them and the flock (and dog) to become acquainted...
I added 3 (three) day-old chicks (just born). I brought them home and kept them in our secluded brooder for two weeks and then moved them to a secluded fenced area near the coop to allow them and the flock (and dog) to become acquainted and introduce the chicks to our environment and begin to...
I have assumed a lot of this is because of the rooster and the coincidental age of the hens being near to laying themselves. I truly hope the new Cochin is not egg bound and am praying she lays on her own soon otherwise I will contact our vet. Any tips on how I can check for a stuck egg?
I had an established flock of ten hens (5 buff orp and 5 black australorps). They are approximately 20 weeks old and have not started laying yet though I expect them to any day (they all appear healthy with bright growing combs except for one buff). They are extremely docile and quiet with...