Oh, no, snow!

[ilovehens]

My poor chickens are just sitting in the coop looking miserable

They didn't even venture outside to eat their rice and sweetcorn.

My cochin is moulting and my orpington is absolutely terrified of the snow - it's her first year, so she hasn't been through a winter before.

How are your chickens coping with this weather?

I have found that some warm ready brek or porridge cheers them up. Add some cheap mixed fruit for flavour.

They are indeed, Miss They lure you in with their prettiness, and then growl at you. I admire that.

meh - no eggs today.
I have only two left - haven't had to buy any since I got my hens in Feb.

Well bless their little feet. Father jack the araucana has laid her very first little egg today - a lovely green one! She was very thirsty and somewhat confused, but after the coldest night in ages, well done love!!

The legbar has made herself hoarse by hollering about it - she spent the entire 'labour' walking around the cube making her nesting / egg laying noise!

Congratulations
Do you have a Father Dougal and a Mrs Doyle too?

Thank you.

Yes, we have a Mrs Doyle - she is an enormous fat blue cochin.

I wanted to call the light sussex Father Dougal, but my son insisted on Sheila

rofl. Sheila is a good name for a Light Sussex, but then again, mine is about as intelligent as Father Dougal.

It suits her - she's a great snuggler. I tend to think that the legbars are the brains of the operation in my coop, Sheila will provide the muscle.
We're getting an egg a day, or none, always in a random colour between about 4 hens.

Oh great thread! I've 3 - 2 are laying about 6-9 eggs a week between then, the other hen (Orp) hasn't laid in weeks and weeks. She looks really unwell - is mid-moult (it's her first winter) and has been standing hunched and shivering for the last 3 days. I thought about bringing her in but decided against it incase she doesn't integrate again. She ate some corn for me today - I haven't seen her eating since before the weekend and she wouldn't touch corn all weekend which is most unlike her. She's my favourite hen (shhh!) so I hope I don't lose her. And I won't start on the shape of the orchard where the henhouse and run has been for the last 8 weeks - OMG, it's a mess! And it was -7.5 here last night (eek), poos are frozen solid and hens won't come out of henhouse unless I forcibly throw them out. Made them porridge yesterday and they picked at it - except the Orp. They're not really into treats except corn.

I am facing an eggsistential crisis. No eggs today yet either.

Shells started laying today. The shame of father jack being first in laying eggs must have kick started her. No sign of crching from the Cochin though.

I'm a little worried about the ones in the nest box freezing if they're there all day in the cold - what do others think?

Sheila, not shells!

Not sure Brambles but good for Sheila!

I've had one egg a day for the last few days. Orp doing better - scoffed chopped spaghetti and corn today but she still looks hunched and cold.

Millie, try worming her with flubenvet. Also, check for external parasites such as lice. Is her comb pale and floppy?

Do the worm thng, but also bear in tmind th they do feel q bit pants when moulting. I give mine tuna in oil with w bit of poultry spice on top to boost them when moulting.

my cochin is moulting and she looks very sorry for herself she has no tail whatsoever now.

ILH - I must worm them, you're right.

Do you know what, I've just noticed she has no tail and I hadn't realised that they lose their tail in a moult until I read it on here! Anyway, I think that's what's making her look hunched. She's out eating this morning and scoffed her spaghetti when I brought it down.

Must order Flubenevet now and get it done with - thanks!

okay, she does sound like she's moulting, but it's always a good idea to worm if any hen is looking off colour - just to be on the safe side really.

If there's such a thing as reincarnation I want to come back as one of bramblebook's hens :). You always have thought of that little bit extra for them BB.

Aw bless, thanks salty - you could just come and live in the cube anyway, it's large enough :)