New Hen owner

simplesimon ^ | 11/19/2011 | simplesimon

[simplesimon]

We just recently purchased 6 Buff Orpington hens that are getting ready to turn 8 months old and were already laying.

Yesterday I noticed one of the girls has a black diarrhea.

Not sure if it's a "stress" or if it's food or illness causing it.

We currently give them layer crumble and have recently given them stale bread ( OMG They're like my labs with food , when it comes to stale bread lol ) and some cabbage leaves.

Just was wondering if anyone has had experience with black diarrhea in your hens and could offer some tips.

[Ole Okie]

Someone has rung a ringer in on you. That’s a buff in the background, but appears to be a dominecker in the foreground.

Keep the black stool hen separate if possible, and don’t eat her eggs so long as this condition exists. Black chicken do sometimes is caused by internal bleeding.

I raised buff orphingtons in my youth. Word of advice: Keep the dog from having access to the nests. Nothing worse than an egg sucking dog around layers.

[Mad Dawg]

So maybe they’re dehydrated a little?

[philman_36]

LOL! Good one!

[Fiji Hill]

Here is an authoritative website on poultry diseases from Mississippi State University:
http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/dissymp.htm

[simplesimon]

Gorgeous dog ~! Is that a buff orp I see or what breed(s) do you have ?

Yeah, my labs and the cats all want to eat the extra’s I am giving the hens..... they’re all a bunch of gluttons LOL.

I told dh the other day that they’re all going cause us to go broke with the feed bill ROTFL, because they’re PIGS and seems to never get enough. hehe

[simplesimon]

Dunno because I’ve never heard a chicken fart to be quite honest.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

LOL

[simplesimon]

clarification please ~

[simplesimon]

Well, it’s not formed at all... just globs of wet looking black poo’s. And quite gross I must say. EWW.

I assumed because the wetness or sliminess was urine mixed in ?????

[simplesimon]

Only one really has a name so far LOL... one is known as Ruby. My 5 year old decided on that because of the bunny cartoon Max & Ruby. He wanted to name one Max as well but I told him that’s not a “girl” name for a girl chicken.. Although Maxine wouldnt be bad LOL........

And one of the big robust girls is known as “ you big fat B!tch” because she’s not so nice compared to the others... just a nickname of course ! lol

I really am enjoying them. I have two favorites though. The two smaller girls who love to jump up on my lap to get petted.

[simplesimon]

ROTFLMAO ~

[Alice in Wonderland]

Trying to make a long story short . . .

My neighbor - 2 properties over - is a former K-9 LEO from the mid-west. He brought three dogs with him when he moved to Florida. He's now a traveling horse dentist, often away from home for weeks on end. My grandson feeds the dogs when he's on the road.

I guess the dogs got lonely being by themselves day after day after day. A couple of years ago, Greta, the female GS, discovered a way to escape and one night I found her in my yard. I brought her back and she returned to my property by morning. This happened over and over and over. Finally, my neighbor said I could keep her. One day I found her with a hen in her mouth and I yelled at her. The hen was stunned but okay otherwise and Greta never bothered them again. She and the cat have become good friends.

About six months passed before Rhone, the male GS shown with the chicks, discovered an escape route. My neighbor tried to keep him contained . . . electric wire along the ground, barbed wire strung on top of the fence . . . with no luck. So Rhone joined my household too. He never displayed any interest in the chicks but is curious about the cat who wants no part of him. My neighbor's third dog has never tried to escape.

What's interesting is that I never close my gate. So when my neighbor comes home from a trip, Rhone will often go over and spend the night with him before returning here. Both dogs know my grandkids ride the school bus and stand by the gate to greet them each afternoon.

[Auntie Mame]

Oh, I love Max for a name for a chicken. Could be short for Maxine. ?????

My little brother named all our chickens. There was Pete, Pete, Pete, Pete, Pete, and Pete.

I’m sorry, can’t remember if you said... are you getting eggs yet?

Our neighbors complained about our chickens (as we lived in the suburbs), until we shut them down completely by giving them all a dozen eggs every once in a while. There’s nothing like really fresh eggs. I remember being so incredibly surprised to find that the yolks of our fresh eggs were bright orange.

We fed our chickens all our kitchen scraps plus, of course, regular chicken feed. I believe it better to give them a wide variety of stuff where they can pick and choose.

[momtothree]

Beautiful story! Seems to me that Greta and Rhone wanted to be in YOUR pack! I’ve found with our GSD that he needs to be with people. If the kids are home, he is with the girls no matter what. If one is in the tub, he guards her. If one is watching television, he guards her. I have the feeling that is what Greta is doing with your kitty.... guarding her. Looks to me like the kitty doesn’t mind at all and has a buddy. Good for you!

[simplesimon]

That is the neatest story ~

And what wonderful beautiful dogs too.

I have a kitteh that looks just like the one in your photo. His name is SimonKitty LOL and he’s such a sweet cat but so stoopid LOL

[simplesimon]

That’s what I thought too when I was posting... Max for Maxine ~

Pete, pete, pete is too cute and too funny.

Yes, we’re getting eggs. Average 4 a day with just 6 hens.

The bad thing though, is that I’ve only ever caught one girl on her nest and actually saw the egg come out. It was pretty neat I must say.

No complaints and we shouldnt get any complaints because we’re out in the country.

Hubby wants to let them free range for a little bit each day but I told him that we couldnt really do that because the neighbor on the north doesnt have their dogs confined and they’re always coming onto our property to harass my dogs who are in a kennel.........sigh.......

[DJ MacWoW]

Did You Know?

The Current FReepathon Pays For The Current Quarters Expenses?

Now That You Do, Donate And Keep FR Running

[Sacajaweau]

Chicken farts are more like the toot of a clarinet....Roosters usually toot right after eating. Hens seem to digest it better and it’s more like a flute toot.

[blueunicorn6]

You know “experience” is usually a good thing. When you’re building a house, you want an experienced carpenter. When you go in to have your gall bladder taken out, you want an experienced surgeon. But I draw the line on someone who has experience with black chicken poop.