Ask an Expert - Recent questions and answers

Answered: Introducing younger rheas to adults & bedding

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 18:44:30 +0000

Steve,

Here is an answer to your question:

It is not advisable to mix young rheas with adults until they are about one year old. Five month old rheas can be bedded down on straw hay or shavings . We always leave a tub of food in their shed,this will discourage them from eating their bedding,

With best wishes,

Charlie Twaddle

rheasofwarwick.co.uk

Answered: Can I purchase young rabbits to finish?

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 22:17:06 +0000

Alan,

Thanks for your question. I'd recommend you go over and send a message to the folks at

http://backyardbunnies.co.uk/

I'm sure Gil and his team could provide you some advice on the ability to purchase more mature rabbits rather than starting a new breeding programme.

Answered: Chicken Egg Bound?

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 03:38:36 +0000

One clarication is this only one hen exhibiting the behaviour you mentioned?

In terms of possible solutions seems like the place to start is through a number of steps:

1) Environmental = is there anything that changed prior to the appearance of this issue? For example harsh handling may cause eggs to break - not an issue in your case. Once we've eliminated external factors or changes that may or may not stress an animal we can turn to step 2.

2) Diet = the very soft shell issue strikes me as an issue which you tried to adjust in their diet in the form of supplements. I would be tempted to reach out to one of the Poultry Feed suppliers in our directory for some guidance in terms of the supplements you're using to see if they can help resolve the issue - you might try either: Country Fayre, Ascott Smallholder, Wheatcroft Poultry or Purely Poultry

Answered: What do I need to do to live in a barn tied to agricultural land of 1&3/4 acre

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 03:25:09 +0000

Thanks for the question.

It seems that zoning rules in your area are likely to be the biggest issue. I would start by having a quick look at the planning section of your local council's website to see if they offer any guidance.

Next, I would seek out a quick consult with a local solicitor. I know a number of solicitors will frequently give a short (<15 minute) review of your odds of getting the appropriate zoning approvals.

Answered: Rescued duck to be released...safe?????

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 23:25:52 +0000

Iam not a expert on ducks so I would ask http://ukguineafowl.co.uk/ they should be able to help

Answered: Can I live on my agricultural land

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 23:23:18 +0000

That is the big question. If you can proove you are making a profit it helps, however there are many people in your situation and are finding it very hard to get permission.If I where you,take some legal advice

Answered: my chicken is puffed up and walking strangely

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 11:20:24 +0000

It could be a number of things, I would keep her away from the others and contact chicken vet, sorry it's not much help but they are the best ones to ask. They will put you in touch with a vet in your area that will have a look for you.

Answered: If I brought land to start a charity cat centre would u be able to get PP to build a small home on it.

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:12:19 +0000

My suggestion would be go to the planners and ask before you buy. You may need planning permission for the centre as well so I would definitely check first.

Answered: Where can I get Amprolium to treat coccidosis?

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:59:40 +0000

I have found this link for you. http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/260912460898?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

You might want to try chicken vet they should be able to help.

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/

Answered: How can i encourage my ducks to sit on the twenty or so eggs that they have laid?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:07:02 +0000

One easy way to do it is get a few silkie chickens, They will sit on them. Silkies a very very broody so will sit most of the time

Answered: my bantam chicken is laying unnaturally small eggs

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:17:15 +0000

Hi it sounds like it could be just a fluke, I would not worry too much and monitor the next few

Answered: Which sheep should I buy for grazing?

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:35:26 +0000

You might want to ask

http://www.alpacaamigos.co.uk/news/ouessant-sheep/

Answered: where can i buy a chinese goose - preferably in southern England?

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:34:00 +0000

You might want to ask

http://www.empirefarm.co.uk/

Answered: 2 chickens have bald & scabby bottoms but we don't see the others pecking them do you have any ideas what is happening?

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:43:15 +0000

You might want to separate them from the others for a while. There could be a number of reasons but I would try keeping them apart and see if it improves

Answered: How do I stop my chickens eating the eggs

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:22:57 +0000

How I did it was very simple, I took an egg coverd it in veg oil. Then made a hole in the egg and tried to fill as much pepper into the egg as I could. Then rubbed pepper onto the outside of the egg. Put the egg into the run and left it a couple of days. The chickens will go and have a look, but will not eat it. That stopped mine from eating any of the eggs

Answered: cost of 25 egg incubator wanted

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:56:50 +0000

You should be able to get this for about £50. Ebay has them even cheaper and sometimes second-hand

Answered: installing crop supports

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:19:54 +0000

Many thanks, have now accessed the two replies. Diann

Answered: Hen not laid eggs for several months?

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:42:29 +0000

Hello - hens do periodically go through natural periods of rest from laying but these are usually not very long when it comes to hybrid breeds. Can we ask what you are using to worm the hen with, we always recommend Flubenvet as it is a licensed poultry wormer and proven to destroy internal worms. Hens may stop laying for a variety of reasons, it sounds as if you are providing all the necessary dietary requirements, again we recommend a good quality layer pellet throughout the day with the occasional treat of some fresh greens such as broccoli stalks or cabbage leaves, provision of oyster shell for additional calcium.

Some hens can become blind or internal layers, this means they lay eggs internally, these can be naturally reabsorbed but if they do become infected can lead to an egg peritonitis. You would notice your hen becoming sick and unwell in this case. Click here for more information.

We would suggest you check the worming as a very high burden can stop a hen from laying, you can check this by sending us a droppings sample and within 48hrs we will give a result of the worm egg and coccidiosis count. Click here for more details. Also previous disease challenges such as Infectious Bronchitis can cause damage to the oviduct (egg laying tubes) which can cause laying problems, any stress such as predators, terrible weather, incorrect diet etc can all be factors. If all the environmental things are fine then you need to look at worming or possibility of internal/blind layer.

If she is happy and healthy in other respects then you may just need to wait and see. Her runny poo may benefit from a dose of Beryl's friendly bacteria, this contains over 200 friendly bacteria and will help to restore normal gut flora.

We hope this helps.

Best wishes

Chicken Vet

Answered: How do you treat sour crop in hens?

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:16:24 +0000

Unfortunatly this is going to be a trip or phone call back to the Vet. It may be that she need a longer or different treatment. Sorry I can't be of more help than that on this one.

Answered: Best Incubator to buy

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:38:33 +0000

Hi, I suggest you to visit this website. http://www.egg-incubator.biz

There are many capacities incubators. You can choose the style you need.

There is also hatching technology which may help you.

Answered: my chickens not right help

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:33:15 +0000

What breed is she. There are two possibilities that come to mind, the first being Egg Bound and the second Red Mite.

If she is a hybrid then she is about the right age but if she is a pure breed then she is a bit young to be egg bound. I am not too experienced on this but believe that inserting some olive oil into the vent area and then putting her somewhere dark with a warm hot water bottle under her may help.

If it is red mite, they have a habit of pcking on one bird at a time. The bird will start to look anemic with a pale comb. Check inside your henhouse (paying thorough attention to you perch holders and nest box). If you see any little black, red or opaque coloured dots maximum size of a pin head then these are red mite. You may also see blood spots on the perch.

If this is the case then there are a number of effective treatments available (have a look in our store www.poultryproducts.co.uk).

Answered: Which are the best cows for breeding for meat purposes

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:10:18 +0000

Hi Peter!

You do not say how much land you have and the type of pasture as this may influence the kind of cattle you purchase since not all breeds have the same nutritional requirements in order to gain weight - some of the native breeds will thrive on a grass/hay based diet but the larger commercial types will not.

Perhaps before breeding your own, you should consider rearing a few steers to see how you get on. Dexter cattle (our smallest native breed) are ideal for the smallholder since they consume only half the quantity of food of a commercial beef type and your average Dexter will provide ample meat for the family for 12 months. Start off with a couple and before the first steer is sent in, buy another one to keep other company, maintaining the rotation of killing one a year so you will always have meat in your freezer.

Although I am somewhat biased because I breed Dexters, people who buy meat from me tell me that it is the most fantastic beef they have ever tasted and almost always make repeat purchases.

Answered: my 14month old hen has stopped laying and has swollen wattles

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:37:49 +0000

Hello, the fact she has recently stopped laying maybe in connection with her other symptoms. We would advise you check your hen and the house for signs of red mite. A bad infestation will cause pale comb and wattles and can even lead to death if left untreated. Click here to check out our range of treatments.

If you can see no sign of mites then your bird may be suffering from an infection and our best advice would be take her to your nearest vet. Please let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

Chicken Vet

Answered: Where to put chicken house

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:50:13 +0000

It depends on the size commercial chicken houses are a minefield of legisltation, small domestic chicken coops are ignored by most local authorities. They might ignore them but your neighbours won't. The first complaint will be over the clucking and the cock-a-doodle-ing, then the 2nd complaint will be over the smell, then the 3rd over where your dumping your chickie-chicks droppings. All this talk about it makes good fertiliser won't do you any good. And the 4th good excuse that all experienced complainers soon choose to use is that that you are attracting rats to the area? Followed by rumours that some as big as cats have been seen. Use your best judgment but no matter how careful you are someone will complain. Best of Luck.

Answered: Want to keep chickens

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:40:17 +0000

Jack, write a letter to the Letters to the Editor Column of your local newspaper asking any readers do they have an old shed they don't want removed free. You should get several offers. Or try importers; Ask them for old packing cases made from plywood. Nissan up in County Durham had mountains of massive cases from Japan that had brought over car parts. So thats a clue. Word of warning; Think of your birds as humans, would you like to live in a packing case or a shed so maybe you ought to ask readers for an old wood garage you can have to.

And cadge some Visqueen plastic sheeting because you need to keep out the ground damp, the wall damp and rain damp, and to study roof ventilation, ideally you need a ceiling in your coop with 2 small square holes in it leading to the 'loft' meaning the outside, the ffalse ceiling creates an updraft and 'through ventilation'. A dry coop is an healthy coop, so remember one patch of damp can easily provide an home for upto 25 billion dillion germs and viruses. So remember the shed floor under-base matters, Visqueen goes down first to stop rising ground damp then the shed or coop goes on top. The first 4 foot high of walls are to be Visqueened to keep out morning dew and damp fog. Next thing is to get down to the library for some books on building ventilation, shed and chicken house building and ventilation, annd read up on Rhode Island Red chickens. A journey of a 1000 miles begins with the first step, and your best first step is into the nearest library. Good luck.

Answered: best solution to erradicate rid lice

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:19:27 +0000

Your choice of Jeyes fluid was not the best, red mite come out at night and become a real pest to birds. Get yourself an old fashioned plumbers paraffin gun or a propane gas / torch/ flame gun/ and gently waft it over the walls and cracks of your coop. Don't burn the place down. And thats goodbye for a while to the red mite. You can if you wish beforehand get some old plates and create natural hiding places for them on the floor and on shelf ledges then flame torch them to another comet. Adding a touch of the powders now and then won't do no harm [see post above] The flame is used often by pigeon fanciers who are protecting their racing birds from mites. I know in the old days tarring the walls with tar was used but tar is now a banned substance. Have a blazing good time and let us know how you get on?

Answered: Chick with closed eyes

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:59:23 +0000

My guess is that this chick was pecked in the eye by another bird. The Golden Eye Oitment is an old well used favourite standbyof many but the gunk [pus maybe] suggest another treatment is required. My advice is to put one tablespoonful of CIDER VINEGAR in 'one gallon of the drinking water' for 3-4 days and this should clear the problem up. It must be Cider Vinegar and not the ordinary kind, cost about £1.33 in most shops. If it was my bird I'd pop a half-a-Zinc vitamin tablet down its throat for 3 days as a back up. Theres one thing germs that cause Red Eye in man or beast don't like its a touch of zinc in the bloodstream. Getting back to the cider vinegar, the first thing you;ll notice is all their droppings firm up, they gradually look healthier and their feathers tighten up and are not loose or ruffled and they hold thier heads more erect. Sick birds bury thier heads into their shoulders and sit looking mopey. Cider vinegar is a natural inner body disinfectant and it soon kills all stomach bugs and E.Coli. The zinc is really underestimated and its an ideal remedy for conjuctivitus. Bob, Fairplay.

Answered: Poorly Hen after laying soft shell egg

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:46:48 +0000

It sounds like she may be egg bound. Try putting some olive oil into the vent and then put her in a cardboard box somewhere dark and warm (sit her on a warm water bottle). If she is no better or no egg has appeared later today then I would seek advice from a vet.

Answered: really bad mud fever scaring on a 21yr shire horse ,anyone else have this thick calluses restricting movement ?

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:00:04 +0000

Hi Tara, I don't know much about this topic but I have found out for you. You need to speak to Sarah Bedford at Leg Oil Supplies contact number 07836606893 or 01904 728430 she will be able to help you and give the best advice

Phil

Answered: What is the best type of Feeder

Mon, 16 May 2011 22:26:21 +0000

There are a huge range of feeders available and the type you choose depends on where you want to feed them. Most of the plastic feeders are not waterproof and would need to be used either indoors or under shelter. Having said that, there are now some plastic feeders which are the same design as the galvanised outdoor feeders (known as pheasant feeders). Choosing between plastic and galvanised is a personal choice often dictated by budget.

Treadle type feeders are a closed feeder which only opens when the chicken stands on the plate at the front. They are brilliant where problems with wild birds and rats steel the food but do cost around £40-£50 each and do not have a very long trough on them.

You are better to have two or three smaller feeders than one big one as this allows for more trough space and helps to prevent bullying problems.

Answered: What do I do with Eggs

Mon, 16 May 2011 22:19:40 +0000

Really sorry to hear the problems you have had, thankfully we don't get Opossums here in the UK. Unfortuantely the eggs are probably no longer viable. The muscovy will hopefully lay another clutch as there is still plenty of time and being kept in the pen will be a much safer option for her.

Answered: Whats wrong with my chicken

Mon, 16 May 2011 18:23:31 +0000

Hello, we are sorry to hear your hen is off colour. Can we ask if you have wormed them recently, this time of year is when worms become a problem and if your birds have a high burden they can make a hen feel quite off colour. We recommend a product called Flubenvet. It is a very effective product. Your bird may also be suffering from an internal laying issue, especailly as you have not seen evidence of any eggs for a period of time. This can lead to a problem known as egg peritonitis which will need treatment from a vet. Have a look at our list of "chicken friendly vets" to see if there is one near you.

Do let us know if there is anything else you have noticed with the bird or if we can help further.

Answered: does anyone know of a vet that deals with alpacas with dumfries and galloway area or cumbria ?

Sat, 07 May 2011 11:27:41 +0000

You could either ask your local vet if they know of a prectice that would cover Camlids or ask around. I did come across The British Veterinary Camelid Society which may be worth asking. Their email is secretary@camelidvets.org

Answered: I want to add some additions to my poultry

Sat, 07 May 2011 11:20:48 +0000

Any large breed or Hybrid would be fine. It is really a personal choice on what sort of chickens you like. You could add a few hybrid hens to help with the eggs when the orpingtons slow down in the Autumn months or what about adding some different coloured orpingtons?

Answered: 3 goslings they are 4weeks old and have started to roll on there backs and becoming stuck [ or cast ] can u advise

Thu, 05 May 2011 13:23:09 +0000

Goslings are quite gangly little creatures and can sometimes end up with splayed legs if the floor is slipery. A good deep bed of shavings or straw is normally best to help them grip. However, if the have been nice and strong and are now going off their legs it sounds more diet related. A good quality non-medicated chick crumb or ideally a Duck & Goose Starter crumb should be fed and access to grass given as early as possible.

Answered: Can I help a duckling hatch

Wed, 04 May 2011 14:11:45 +0000

This is always a very tricky issue. There are a number of reasons why chicks/ ducklings don't hatch, and normally Mother Nature knows best. If you do try and help them out there is a chance that you may cause damage to the ducklings, or they may well have defects that make them unviable. There is also the problem that the Mother may well reject them, leaving you to find an alternative heat source for them. On the other hand any chance is better than none. There is no definitive answer to this question but you do need to think about deformaties and alternative heat sources.

You could try confining the hen and ducklings to a smaller area, that way she is not torn between nest and young. If she still leaves the nest then sadly I personally would trust her judgement.

Answered: Ex batt hen is sleeping most of the day not eating much she was fine when I got her month ago.

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:37:07 +0000

Hello we are sorry to hear about your sick ex batt. This can occasionally occur when you rehome hens. We would advise testing her droppings for coccidiosis, you can obtain a sampling kit from our website just click here

It is never easy when we cannot examine the bird directly, can we ask how many hens you have in total and did you get all of them a month ago. As chickens live in a flock if one bird suffers from something and it is infectious you often need to treat all the birds with antibiotics. But this is something your vet will need to determine.

We would definately suggest that following a course of antibiotics you treat the hen with some Beryl's Friendly Bacteria - this a sort of "yakult" for birds. The antibiotics will destroy harmful bacteria but they also affect the friendly gut bacteria and this can lead to even more digestive upset. The British Hen Welfare Trust really like this product for ex bats as it helps them adjust to their new outdoor surroundings.

Please let us know how you get on.

Chicken Vet

Answered: How/where do I sell sheep wool?

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:09:24 +0000

Dear Sally,

Legally anyone with more than 4 sheep is required to sell their wool to the British Wool Marketing Board. The depot in Cornwall is at Liskeard and the Wool Board has an informative website. You would need to register with them and then it will all work. the Board acts as buyer of last resort for all of the British clip and as such guarantees to buy all wool, no matter what the quality, but their prices are dictated by the world market and auctions and until a recent significant increase have been barely covering the cost of shearing.

However, if you have a listed rare or minority breed (see the Rare Breeds Survival Trust "at risk register" on their website) or if you are using the wool for your own spinning or craft business.you are exempted from these rules. Also if you have black or unusual wool, the Wool Board is generally less interested than if you have white (the main use of British wool is for carpets, for which it is the best in the world probably).

If you are interested in processing your wool or joining with a group such as a breed society to do this, you can look at The Natural Fibre Company website for bacis information and there are also mini mills, who process smaller amounts - if you need any more advice please do not hesitate to contact me.

You should in particular think carefully before buying sheep and select the breed and individual animals carefully, as people tend to fall in love with their first flock and rarely change, so this choice matters!!

Best wishes with your flock,

Sue

Answered: I have the chance to buy 2 Llamas

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:04:58 +0000

2 llamas will need the best part of an acre of grazing which needs to have standard stock fencing. A field shelter is handy for feeding them hay which they need ad lib all year and also for handling. They eat the equivalent of one bale each (horse size) per week in winter and will only pick at it in summer. If they are not breeding then they should not need supplementary feed. An annual clostridial vaccination, sheep dose, is given once a year and worming is done as required. Very young llamas (under 18 months) should be kept with older llamas and not on their own. There is more advice on the British Llama Society website and FAQ's on my own website . If you want to be able to halter and lead them then make sure the person selling them shows you how to handle them. Llama that have a very woolly coat may nbeed shearing every two or three years, shorter haired llamas can often not need it. It is unusal to have to trim their feet unlike alpacas that have to be sheared once a year and have toe nial trimming every few months.

Basically, llamas are very hardy and healty and very easy to keep but please do a bit of research before partin with any money.

www.britishllamasociety.org & www.llamatrekking.co.uk

Answered: When buying how do we protect against TB

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:52:49 +0000

Dear Alison

There are quite a few infectious diseases, some we can vaccinate against, some we can't. The general idea is that breeders should have a biosecurity plan in place to minimise the risk. The bTB tests that are used in cattle and sheep are also used in alpacas. None of these are anywhere near 100% and they are a snapshot on the day of the health of the herd or particular animal so certainly not the whole answer. All farmers/breeders should have assessed their risk of disease and taken steps to minimise it. The risks, depending on the farm, are other livestock, wildlife and people - i.e. visitors/cars on the farm, contractors, staff. Our vet uses a computer programme called myhealthyherd.com for his clients, it is mostly about cattle, but we went through it and it helps to make you aware of what risks there might be and how to deal with them. So I would make sure that whichever breeder you choose to buy stock from has a biosecurity plan in place that minimises the risks above. If they have safeguards in place it shows they are mindful of disease and doing their very best to keep their herd healthy.

Answered: I have a sick chicken and I dont know what's wrong with it

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:20:09 +0000

Hello Jess

We are sorry to hear your hen is poorly, can you give us some idea how old she is and how long she has been showing these symptoms. Also has the hen been laying eggs recently? We think it is highly unlikey to be Botulism and more likely a little infection. Have you wormed your hens in the last six months?

Please come back to us with some more information.

Best wishes

Chicken Vet

Answered: Is it possible to have a llama as a pet?

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:42:51 +0000

Llamas are not wild animals and you do not need a wild animal license to keep one. The two wild species of South American Camelid are the Guanaco and the Vicuna. Llamas and alpacas have been domesticated for about 5000 years. Standard stock fencing is usually sufficient for keeping them safe in their paddocks and they must never be kept on their own, they need the company of another llama, preferably two females or two males. Two llamas will need about one acre of fenced grazing with a field shelter for cover in the worst of the weather or extreme heat.

They can be halter trained and learn to be lead on a lead rope and even to carry a pack on their backs.

Answered: How many eggs do geese lay in a year?

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:27:04 +0000

Hi Fred, I am no expert on this but I think they lay around 70 - 80 a year. But I think it depends on how many eggs you take away.Perhaps an expert will confirm the correct answer

Smallholding to let in Dorset

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:43:01 +0000

I would like to know how do I find a smallholding to let in Dorset

What are some websites about raising sheep and pigs?

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:48:38 +0000

I need websites telling me how to raise a pig for 4-H or Optimist. I mostly need websites for pigs, because I raise sheep. I still need some on sheep though because I need a source for that. Does anyone have any websites on raising sheep or pigs?

I need it because I am doing a speech on raising sheep and pigs

Chicken poultry health issue?

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:34:39 +0000

I have an Orphington hen that has had a black poop streak down her backside for almost a week. She eats fine, is laying, freerange, and seems to have plenty of engery. Is this something I need to worry about? What is she missing in her diet?

How can I test the humidity level in an incubator?

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:20:55 +0000

I'm planning on hatching duck eggs.
I have a thermometer to keep tabs on the temperature. However, I have to keep the humidity level at 86%. How do I test that?
Thanks!

How much do alpacas cost to buy?

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:15:23 +0000

My family is thinking of buying a few alpacas. I'm not asking how much they cost to feed, take care of... like how much would it cost you to purchase one?
bonus question: What do you do with alpacas?