We are having a few issues in my flock of 10 hens. 1st issue that has been happening for awhile is feather plucking. I spoke to the feed store today and they recommended switching to start and grow for added protein, changing scratch to a mix of feed and mealworms, and rooster booster. So I have started this. Will the "medicated" part of the feed hurt my eggs eatibility?
The other issue, which concerns me is that 1 hen started with poop stuck to its feathers. Now there is 4 hens with poop stuck to its hind feathers. Is this a problem? What can I do to help? Today, I dusted them with food grade DE. There coop is cleaned about every 2 weeks. They are free ranged in my whole back yard constantly, they just go into their coop at night and to lay eggs. They have ate the needles off of the lower 5 limbs on my pine tree and let's just say my small peach tree has leaves only on the very top.
So what can I do? Or do I need to worry about the diarreah at all?
Thanks,
April
Replies
April, some of the other permies currently raising hens may have some better thoughts, but I found an old thread which might be helpful.
Personally I would be worried about them eating the peach tree leaves more than the pine, but that may be solved if you have your feeding schedule worked out.
http://www.phoenixpermaculture.org/group/keepingchickens/forum/topi...