Last year we had problems with hens going off colour looking depressed,black droppings looked like tar,would eat right up to the end final hours they couldn't get up and really thin, treated for coccidioccis ,worms etc,the comb and eye of the birds remains bright,spring again and the problems here again,the outside run is covered in bark chips,replaced completely once a month the inside is wood shaving replaced every 7-10 days we feed,mixed grain,layer pellet,lettuce and corned beef 1 1/2 slice per 7 birds daily, as a treat we feed a small amount of sweatcorn,in the water we add elderberry juice as a supplement, we feel like giving up. all the heartbreak thats the first girl this year and another going the same way can anyone offer any advice what are we missing? what are we doing wrong? Thank you in anticipation

fullname: Awfully hard to try to guess the problem, But I would first question the bark chips in their run, what kind of bark?? Is there any moisture that collects in the run that would cause leaching from the bark and then be consumed by the birds? Depending upon how many birds you keep inside--do you have to change bedding so often? I do not change my cedar shavings in the coops for months at a time--always dry. Don't understand why you are feeding the corned beef, I would not feed anything like that daily! Nor would I feed any processed meats to my chickens, if I did feed meats--I don't. Store head-lettuce has no nutrition for a chicken, but maybe yours is Romaine or other? In spite of what green grociers post, I do not believe any store veggies, are spray residue free! I don't feed it to my birds. But maybe yours is from you garden? Mixed grains/sweet corn are fine in small amount. Is there a chance the elderberry juice/water could be tainted before consumed? Do you have just 7 birds? All this is guess--don't know your climate, weather or other conditions for your birds. Nothing you do sounds "deadly", I just feed and manage differently, so everything is a guess! Best of luck in finding the cause--so disappointing to lose any nice bird! Good luck, CJR

CJR, Thankyou for prompt reply we fed cornbeef as a substitute for worms as they don't get many,yes we do only have 6 birds now,would garden slugs and snails cause a problem we have lots of those that come out on a damp evening and as we live on the west coast of Scotland this is nearly every night, the hens don't go to bed early on these nights because it's like a feast to them,we thought that changing bedding regular would help keep problems away,they only have a small hut, being beginnners only last year we have been trying to get as much advice as possible from books and from people like yourself who keep birds also.I understand what you say about the lettuce that hadn't even crossed our minds we will find alternative greens for them as always any advice is much apreciated. Thanks from KERRY

fullname--Now, I know why your barkchips need replacing now and then (damp?) Are you right on the coast?--my favorite part of Scotland-- and my Grandmother's family lived on Mull at one time before heading for Canada--then New Zealand! I think it was prior to the Clearances, but we are still searching for the roots! Islay pops up in the records, we thought Kilberry was the place, but probably not--times were difficult, records interesting and require a lot of search and need other documents to verify!

Chickens love worms (and all meats), but I would be afraid of the additives, spices, salt, in processed meats as a regular diet! Chickens don't need it at all, if they have adequate protein in their commercial feeds. Earthworms are hosts for some parasitic worms in birds--don't know about yours. But my birds think they have a treasure when they bring up a nightcrawler! Some of my young birds like slugs (we don't have the huge ones here), but do not pay attention to them as they get older--maybe too gluey! And I remember it being daylight at 11pm at Oban in the early summer, took pictures! Chickens would be out much later than here! Is there a Poultry Club near you, where you might get some more local information? I know there was a Show at St Andrews last fall and a nice entry of a number of breeds. I think my friend Mike,from Cheshire judged. But that is a long distance across Scotland!! Hope all goes well for the summer! CJR

We are about 15 miles from the nearest beach, Ayr,Troon,Irvine to the west,30 miles south of Glasgow but we live in a valley, Alexander Flemming was born here we have a very moist climate even more so than people only a few miles away, it's very famous for it's lace mills they were built here because of the type of air .We are going to get them some comphrey today see how they do on that,we just have to keep our fingers crossed,the girls are very much pets all hand and shoulder tame if you let them,eg won't go out in the snow we have to clear it for them or they just try to sit on us instead. All of the clubs we here of are in England or the East Coast of Scotland, we are going to the Royal Highland Show so maybe get some info there Thanks once again and good luck in your search Best Wishes Kerry

Kerry, I have walked the beach at Ayr--miles, it seemed, past all the holiday playthings, the day before leaving from the old Prestwick Airport. Being a Welsh Cob fancier,went to the Royal Highland in 1981--long time ago, only I missed the day the Welsh were being shown, it was Clydesdales and Highland Ponies instead, but wonderful! , but it was the cattle and sheep that impressed me the most! And I did not see any Poultry.

I think the dampness and the molds that develop in and under things, could be a problem, and one with which you simply must cope. Fortunately chickens are very adaptable, but they will eat things that can be harmful and that we cannot know about. Good luck, CJR

Udate, OEG hen been hanging for weeks now not feeding well not interested in anything just sits about looking depressed won't come near us anymore has been eating a lot of earth instead of food,can only think she's lacking somthing have no idea what,have replaced the cornbeef with cat food as recommended in Katie Thea's book on keeping bantams they are going mad for it, although I can't bring myself to give them chicken flavour, replaced the lettuce with comfry and dandilion leaves not as keen for these but do eat a little, still no let up in the rain we are all getting web feet but hope our problem will ease with some dry weather.

Kerry, Sorry that no one has been able to come up with anything that is helpful. The problem with our birds is that they instinctively hide their "feeling poorly" until we can see it, and by that time, it is very hard to diagnose or treat, if treatment is possible.
Are your hens offered oystershell and grit? The grit is for the gizzard and is the teeth that chickens do not have. It is necessary for processing their feeds, besides commercial layer ration.
The hens may still be ingesting some of the bedding, and when damp, there may be some compounds released that could be harmful? Why not all the hens? Just as we do not respond to all foods the same, so with our birds.
Wish you sunshine! CJR

Finally put her out of her misery, she was now very thin and not eating at all,the other five girls are fine,thankyou for your kind words

I was following your problem. I didnt have any help to offer. Just wanted to say "SORRY". It went on for a long time, I'm sure it was hard.

Bill