My point of lay gals' pale combs...

[commonorgarden]

Picked up three today from a local farm.

I am clueless about chickens (novice owner). Their combs seem a bit pale and not the bright ruddy red I expected. Is this because they've not started laying yet? One seemed to have quite runny poo (not sure which one as was in the house and I didn't see who it was). Could this be nerves or should I be treating for some horrific parasite already? We have rescue dogs who all seem to have a runny tummy through nerves at first.

The man went and got them out of a blimmin crowded shed with no natural light. Everyone seems to get theirs from there round here.

I'm charmed by them already - so inquisitive and friendly!

They are gorgeous creatures. You will be entranced. Their combs will get bigger and redder as they come into lay - then pinker when they moult.

Keep an eye on the poo, but runny poo can be natural. If you google it, there are a few handy charts out there ... Not that I know anyone who has done that ever ...

Ah, thank you.

They've got a big run and had a little potter in it this afternoon. I'll keep an eye out for the runny poo and try to identify which one did it.

The place we got them from seems to have a good reputation locally but I was a bit surprised at what seems to pass for a decent standard of chicken living. My neighbour was a bit hmm about it but she had some odd birds from there a few years ago; she seems to be the exception though.

Hehe re. the poo charts! We have ex working rescue dogs and I was OBSESSED with their poo for months. Quite unhealthy really!!

Thanks again.

Just googled. It's definitely watery poo, which comes up as stress or Bronchitis. They all seem healthy respiritorially (?) so I guess it's prob. stress.

Great tip re. the poo charts. My new special subject!

Enjoy! Make sure you get some flubenvet in to worm them with. I have 9 ladies at the moment, in various stages of moult and broodiness. Just one blue egg today from Derek, bless her.

Will do. The chap at the farm was, erm, not very informative but between my neighbour, the Haynes Manual and here I think I'll be fine!

Thanks again. Hurrah for Derek!

Ours are Stacey, Jean and Mo. (Slater gals, Eastenders, natch)!

Yes. Move along here nothing more to see. Apart from Derek. Derek is working out how to get through the chicken deterrent netting and eat the flowers.

We have EGG! Already!

We stood around worshipping it. The whole family.

Yay.

Have you weighed it? Not that I know anyone who did ...

It was quite little. And pale. It's on the worktop in the kitchen looking self possessed.

Weighing it, eh…

Nope. Don't know anyone who made notes either.

So we cracked the egg (had another in the nest box today) and it was a disappointing pale yellow yolk.

The shell was pale too. I want big orange creamy ones - this was a really lemony yellow colour and not very appetising.

Do you think they need more greens? Kale/greens type stuff etc? I guess, nutritionally, they're still on their last place (which wasn't too pretty really). I'm happy to feed top notch pellets too - think I'll ask at our country store later in the week what they recommend.

They are really used to us now - when we come up to the run they come and say hello! Especially Mo. Who is a thug and pecks my feet when I go in to feed them.

Egg didn't taste nice either. Not odd, just not very flavoursome.

I am greedy.

Ah bless em, they're just getting going. Yep greens are good. I feed mine on layers pellets, a handful of corn as a scratch feed a couple of times a day and leftovers from cooking.