#hens101

[hens101]

Swollen Belly Chicken Part II

In this video you can see how much fluid she has retained in her belly.  I stuck a small syringe that I got at Walgreens into her belly.

[hens101]

Swollen Belly Chicken Part I

This pretty lady had a serious case of swollen belly.  I did a bunch of research and found that most likely she is either "egg bound" or has "ascites."  

To help with the discomfort first I have her a warm bath.  This loosens up all of the muscles in her body and she was very relaxed.  I put some salt in the water to draw out any impurities.

This link from BackYard Chickens is a wealth of information 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/68731/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites

[hens101]

The yellow hens are really good mamas.  Which means that they tend to go broody easily.  Last summer in the hottest days of the year one hen passed away because she was so broody.  

Broody: when a hen thinks she is incubating her eggs

during this time they drink only enough to stay alive, don't eat, and their temperature rises as they try to hatch babies. 

To break this

-dunk them in a bucket of cold water to bring temperature down

-put a bunch of ice cubes in a plastic bag and she will try to hatch the cubes. This will bring her temp down.

- block the nesting spot by putting something in the space.  Sometimes if she can't access her favorite spot she will break her broodiness

- keep getting her up from her spot.  Put her outside, try to distract her.  

- put her in a dog crate and elevate the bottom so she can't lay down. After a few hours of this she should snap out of it. 

[hens101]

Chickens, like all birds, love their dirt baths.  My girls find the dark black dirt under the bushes and wriggle down into it.  It both cools their skin and provides them with a tasty treat.  They suffocate the bugs by laying on them so every time they move they find a new crunchy snack!

[hens101]

Without my overalls and boots I'd be quite a mess! 

Chicken Keeping Essentials (by Alison DaltonSmith)

[hens101]

so many eggs! i give them away to my neighbors.

when i started letting them go on walk abouts around the yard i noticed they were laying less eggs.  then i found the eggs in a little faux easter eggs nest!