April 25, 2014
Which predator?
I’m having a problem with my Pekins and mixed race small chickens and some cockerels who live in a shed at night. There don’t seem to be any holes for rats to enter, but every…
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Poultry
April 25, 2014
Your poultry questions answered
Oct 17, 2012: Every month one of Britain's leading poultry vets, Victoria Roberts, answers readers' queries in Vet's Forum in Country Smallholding's Poultry magazine. Here is a typical question and answer:
April 25, 2014
Cockerel has no feathers under wings
I have a cockerel of four months old, an Araucana. He has no feathers at all under his wings and back half. They just never grew. The skin is smooth with no stubbs and no…
April 25, 2014
Mismatched couple?
One of my ducks was quite badly injured recently by the old gander they live with. The injuries are around her head and beak. The vet put her on Terramycin powder in her water and…
April 25, 2014
Toxins and poisons that are dangerous to poultry
Poultry are affected by many toxins and poisons. Prevention is, as always, best as there are few antidotes available. Keeping birds away from potential toxic materials is sensible, but better still not to use anything…
April 25, 2014
Vets Forum – Unsuccessful hatching
I’ve had two appalling hatches of chicks so far this year, quite the worst ever but I’m not sure why. On both occasions I’ve used youngish but mature (two to three year old hens) cocks…
April 25, 2014
Worms
I’ve had three Black Star chickens since June last year and they’re very friendly and laying every day. They get well fed and are able to browse around the garden on an evening, but when…
April 25, 2014
Stone the crows
My young poultry are growing nicely in the warm weather, but I’m plagued by black birds. Are these crows? Someone said they might be rooks. Some of them are smaller and have grey heads. How…
April 25, 2014
Solving scaly leg
Q- I entered my cockerel in a show but the judge said he had scaly leg. What do I do about this please? James Farrow via email
April 25, 2014
Why does my drake show no interest in mating?
I bought a trio (two female and one male) of Abacot Rangers. Apart from two eggs when they first arrived, I have had no other eggs. After talking to other duck owners, I gather this…
April 25, 2014
Broody, or what?
I have four hens that live together in my garden. One of the bantams will do anything to find a particular plastic box and sit in it for hours on end. We presume she’s broody…
