Love all your videos. This is slightly off-topic but: A German Shepard got our chickens when we lived in the country. Unfortunately, the dog’s owner turned out to be our neighbor who also was the Dean of my department at university. So, farewell chickens!
@@EnglishCountryLife thank you - I will, although your chicken videos have been very helpful already, just giving us the confidence to confirm we’re on the right track. 😉
Question what do you do when your hens are to old to lay anymore eggs like Gannet will you just keep them as a pet like Gannet or will you do something else with them?
Good question. Gannet is my pet however we are a smallholding and essentially the chickens are livestock to provide income, eggs or meat. Normally when hens have reached the end of their 2nd year of laying we put them up for sale. They have not yet failed to sell. They normally go as pets to new homes.
Hi Fiona, One of our 3 hybrids (speckleyGold) has not laid for over 3 weeks and yes she is also molting however on top of that she also has diarrhea very watery mustard coloured poo no sign of blood. she is still feeding layers pellets/drinking water with cider vinegar and late afternoon treats of seeds with corn along with the other 2 girls. she also seems out of sorts. any ideas please.
If there's no other symptoms it's probably just moult. She's eating, she's drinking, she's not lethargic or having difficulty breathing or discharge from her eyes, nose, break or vent then it may well just be moult taking a toll. If you have any concerns, as I said in the video, please isolate her until you're sure there is nothing communicable. If you have any concerns please consult a veterinary specialist. I hope she recovers soon.
I’ve watched this just in time. I had a fox go right up to my chicken’s run yesterday- luckily they weren’t free ranging. 2 hens were hiding in the coop. 4 were out there ready to get at that fox. I went out and chased off the fox. They’re past laying age but haven’t laid yet. One in particular has been making nests and calling the egg song, etc. every day in the nest box for two weeks. She’s a cream legbar! I’ve been so excited waiting but now I’m wondering if this will halt them from beginning to lay? Even though some ran right up to the fox aggressively? 😂
There's probably a bit of stress from seeing the fox and there will be an impact with lack of daylight hours. Hens that haven't come on to lay can be delayed until daylight hours increase. This video might help as it's specific for hens that have not laid yet ruclips.net/video/c-N1uTkqkmA/видео.html
Do you know what way is best to clean a woodchip covered run? The rain has soaked the ground and left them all muddy. Im worried that using any chemicals to sanitise them might affect the hens health as they dig for worms and such.
If the mud has covered the woodchip it's the mud that's more of a problem than the woodchip. at this stage it might be worth either moving the run, adding more woodchip (hardwood only , not bark) or buying some range protectors from Feather & Friends (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZPCDD9M/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_YlQXFbVWMKC99?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 ) All of these solutions will minimise the risk to your hens. Woodchip should not be a problem to your hens unless it is very wet, includes pine or softwood or has a lot of bark rather than woodchip.
@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks for the advice, Unfortunately the run cant be moved (garden is too small) and the soil/ mud leaks in from the sides too. Ill see if there is anything next spring. Cheers!
Hi my chicken has stopped laying, started losing her feather and sleeping on the groun. At first i thought she was just moulting but today i found her lying on her side in the middle of the floor. She is also not moving much and when she does she wobbles from side to side. Any thoughts on what might be wrong with her because i really dont know.
James, your hen sounds very sick. I'm sorry but I might be able to advise on common minor complaints but this is outside of my scope of expertise. I would advise that you isolate her immediately in case what is going on is transmissable to the other flock members and a contact a veterinary specialist as soon as possible.
Another one of my chickens hasnt layed an egg yet and she is much older than 12 weeks. She seems very sleepy and dopey. She also gets bulied. Any ideas on why she may not be laying?
@@jameshall21320 Hi James. I have another video related to young hens to explain why they haven't started laying yet. ruclips.net/video/c-N1uTkqkmA/видео.html However given you are describing another listless and lethargic chicken I'm very concerned you have a communicable illness in your flock. I urge you isolate both ill birds immediately so they can't transmit the problem to your other chickens and to seek veterinary advice ASAP. Clearly I'm advising from a distance and can only advise based on what you have told me.
Would you say the Buff Orpington is the best broody hen? I would like to have one breed that will hatch and raise her own chicks, and protect them from the other chickens. I hate integrating chicks I've raised, even though I keep them in a open pen in the chicken run and the hens are able to see them right through to integration. Still the older hens pick on them. I'm concerned about the Orpington being able to handle our southern heat and humidity. Even chickens bred for our climate have a rough time with the heat. I keep frozen bottles of water in their waters and I have a fan I can run on the hottest days. They have a open ended coop with plenty of air circulation, still they pant.
All chickens pant, like dogs, they lack sweat glands so pant to lose heat. Orpingtons from the right strain are fabulous broodies raising two or occasionally three clutches a year of 12 or more (if you let them). I can't say how they would do where you are, but they do great here
When u said the fox,my fr8end here in ireland a fox came the other day and killed 6 hens the day after that all the hens and ducks started back laying🤷♂️🤷♂️
You're absolutely right. It can happen that way. Chickens can go off lay when they perceive a threat then come back onto lay to lay when the threat is gone i.e. an attack has happened. Stress with chickens is a strange thing and it can happen or not happen at all with predators around. I think it's just a good idea to check for predators if they go off lay
Your video are so rich with lot of information. 👌👌👌🔥🔥🔥 On point. Loved them.
Thank you!
Love all your videos.
This is slightly off-topic but:
A German Shepard got our chickens when we lived in the country.
Unfortunately, the dog’s owner turned out to be our neighbor who also was the Dean of my department at university. So, farewell chickens!
How amazingly upsetting! We hope the Dean was mortified and put things right ?
Good info Fiona for us as relatively new chicken owners - thank you.
I'm really glad it's helpful. Drop me a note if you have any questions 👍
@@EnglishCountryLife thank you - I will, although your chicken videos have been very helpful already, just giving us the confidence to confirm we’re on the right track. 😉
@@geoffanddebshipton6797 That makes me very happy to know they are helping 😊
@@EnglishCountryLife definitely! We are both learning so much from both of you - it’s a great channel. Keep on doing what you’re doing! 👌
Informative, many thanks, sweet corn is our saviour during the Bulgarian winters.
How cold does it get Trev?
@@EnglishCountryLife where we lived before @ -20 C, lowest was -26 C. Not sure about our new location yet as in a different region.
@@bgtrev That's very cold!
@@EnglishCountryLife Strangely it does not feel it, the damp weather when it hovers just below freezing is a lot worse.
@@bgtrev I admit I prefer cold to hot
I appreciate your informative videos. I’m a new subscriber as well. Thank you so much ☺️
I'm really glad you're finding them useful thanks for joining us as a subscriber 👍
I observed that a hens egg are bit smaller the 1st season.. As compared to the 2nd season eggs.what do u think??
They certainly do get larger as a hen matures
@@EnglishCountryLife thank you-i to had similar problems with my hens ...your vedios are really helpful
@@subhamrai7519 I'm very glad
Question what do you do when your hens are to old to lay anymore eggs like Gannet will you just keep them as a pet like Gannet or will you do something else with them?
Good question. Gannet is my pet however we are a smallholding and essentially the chickens are livestock to provide income, eggs or meat. Normally when hens have reached the end of their 2nd year of laying we put them up for sale. They have not yet failed to sell. They normally go as pets to new homes.
Hi Fiona, One of our 3 hybrids (speckleyGold) has not laid for over 3 weeks and yes she is also molting however on top of that she also has diarrhea very watery mustard coloured poo no sign of blood. she is still feeding layers pellets/drinking water with cider vinegar and late afternoon treats of seeds with corn along with the other 2 girls. she also seems out of sorts. any ideas please.
If there's no other symptoms it's probably just moult. She's eating, she's drinking, she's not lethargic or having difficulty breathing or discharge from her eyes, nose, break or vent then it may well just be moult taking a toll. If you have any concerns, as I said in the video, please isolate her until you're sure there is nothing communicable. If you have any concerns please consult a veterinary specialist.
I hope she recovers soon.
I’ve watched this just in time. I had a fox go right up to my chicken’s run yesterday- luckily they weren’t free ranging. 2 hens were hiding in the coop. 4 were out there ready to get at that fox. I went out and chased off the fox. They’re past laying age but haven’t laid yet. One in particular has been making nests and calling the egg song, etc. every day in the nest box for two weeks. She’s a cream legbar! I’ve been so excited waiting but now I’m wondering if this will halt them from beginning to lay? Even though some ran right up to the fox aggressively? 😂
There's probably a bit of stress from seeing the fox and there will be an impact with lack of daylight hours. Hens that haven't come on to lay can be delayed until daylight hours increase. This video might help as it's specific for hens that have not laid yet ruclips.net/video/c-N1uTkqkmA/видео.html
@@EnglishCountryLife thanks!
Do you know what way is best to clean a woodchip covered run? The rain has soaked the ground and left them all muddy. Im worried that using any chemicals to sanitise them might affect the hens health as they dig for worms and such.
If the mud has covered the woodchip it's the mud that's more of a problem than the woodchip. at this stage it might be worth either moving the run, adding more woodchip (hardwood only , not bark) or buying some range protectors from Feather & Friends (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZPCDD9M/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_YlQXFbVWMKC99?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 )
All of these solutions will minimise the risk to your hens. Woodchip should not be a problem to your hens unless it is very wet, includes pine or softwood or has a lot of bark rather than woodchip.
@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks for the advice, Unfortunately the run cant be moved (garden is too small) and the soil/ mud leaks in from the sides too. Ill see if there is anything next spring. Cheers!
Hi my chicken has stopped laying, started losing her feather and sleeping on the groun. At first i thought she was just moulting but today i found her lying on her side in the middle of the floor. She is also not moving much and when she does she wobbles from side to side. Any thoughts on what might be wrong with her because i really dont know.
James, your hen sounds very sick. I'm sorry but I might be able to advise on common minor complaints but this is outside of my scope of expertise. I would advise that you isolate her immediately in case what is going on is transmissable to the other flock members and a contact a veterinary specialist as soon as possible.
Another one of my chickens hasnt layed an egg yet and she is much older than 12 weeks.
She seems very sleepy and dopey. She also gets bulied. Any ideas on why she may not be laying?
@@jameshall21320 Hi James. I have another video related to young hens to explain why they haven't started laying yet.
ruclips.net/video/c-N1uTkqkmA/видео.html
However given you are describing another listless and lethargic chicken I'm very concerned you have a communicable illness in your flock. I urge you isolate both ill birds immediately so they can't transmit the problem to your other chickens and to seek veterinary advice ASAP. Clearly I'm advising from a distance and can only advise based on what you have told me.
@@jameshall21320 age and electrolytes/vitamins may help the less ill one. Pecking order may help in others. Watch video she linked too
Would you say the Buff Orpington is the best broody hen? I would like to have one breed that will hatch and raise her own chicks, and protect them from the other chickens.
I hate integrating chicks I've raised, even though I keep them in a open pen in the chicken run and the hens are able to see them right through to integration. Still the older hens pick on them. I'm concerned about the Orpington being able to handle our southern heat and humidity. Even chickens bred for our climate have a rough time with the heat. I keep frozen bottles of water in their waters and I have a fan I can run on the hottest days. They have a open ended coop with plenty of air circulation, still they pant.
All chickens pant, like dogs, they lack sweat glands so pant to lose heat. Orpingtons from the right strain are fabulous broodies raising two or occasionally three clutches a year of 12 or more (if you let them). I can't say how they would do where you are, but they do great here
When u said the fox,my fr8end here in ireland a fox came the other day and killed 6 hens the day after that all the hens and ducks started back laying🤷♂️🤷♂️
You're absolutely right. It can happen that way. Chickens can go off lay when they perceive a threat then come back onto lay to lay when the threat is gone i.e. an attack has happened. Stress with chickens is a strange thing and it can happen or not happen at all with predators around. I think it's just a good idea to check for predators if they go off lay
Lol bet ur from Nottinghamshire
Nowhere close 🙂
based??? perhaps... redpilled?
I'm sorry but I don't understand your question. Happy to help if you can repost it. Thank you.
@@EnglishCountryLife you are doing the Lords work