Sick chicken

[the-gnole]

Well one of our chickens has been a bit off colour, I don't have much to do with them during the week, so when I went to do my bit yesterday morning and "Sheila" was not looking too happy. Head in, comb not very red, and looking like a puffed up ball of feathers, went over to check on her and gently nudged her, she just fell over and didn't make any effort to upright herself.

So, on with the gloves and into the shed she went, where she was humanely despatched. Not an easy to do operation as we have had her since last August, she was until a few months ago a good layer, then she started pecking her own eggs, not the other twos, just her own. Then she stopped laying completely.

I had hoped that we would leave her until next years laying season to see how she got on, sadly that wasn't to be.

Now we have had to follow the correct way to dispose of the remains, just popping her in the bin isn't the way to do it, so a two foot hole and some lime is the way we went.

The other two are happily laying still, just as they did last winter, all the way through as well.

[Carrot Cruncher]

I know practically nothing about chickens but do you use artificial light to encourage them to lay during the winter ?

[the-gnole]

I know practically nothing about chickens but do you use artificial light to encourage them to lay during the winter ?

You can do, but they are meant to stop laying as much in the winter months as it gives them a rest, which is meant to be best for them.

We have a light in the run so we can check on them if necessary, but it disturbs them from their roost when they see the light on. They tend to get up and start moving around when they should be tucked up and asleep

[Brambles]

It's not a nice thing to do, Gnole. I've done it myself.
My girls don't have light either. I get one or two eggs a day from the three of them, so I'm not without. Can't beat a fresh dippy egg.

[diamond lil]

Yea mine are still laying too. I give them a spoonful of cod liver oil every other day in their mash and some corn with mealworms at night.

[Carrot Cruncher]

Is the reason she didn't go in the pot because she had an illness or are egg layers not so good to eat ?

Ok, it may be a numpty question but if you don't ask.....

[the-gnole]

Bit of both really as she had been below par we thought it best not to eat her, also there isn't really a lot of meat on laying birds,

Meat birds I have seen weigh in at over 10lbs dressed, as they are fed loads and exercised little, ours are fed basic rations (as we were instructed to) and have lots of room for running around and exercising.

[Bladerunner]

Now we have had to follow the correct way to dispose of the remains, just popping her in the bin isn't the way to do it, so a two foot hole and some lime is the way we went.

I know exactly how you feel. I did the same with the first wife except I went for a six foot hole.