[spencers mum]

hello my name is Spencer's mum and I am new to the forum!!  I have 3 pol's which ain't laying!!  these are my first hens, arrived 3 weeks ago and so far we've had a variety of poop (incl. frothy egg like stuff as well as 'normal' poop) but no eggs is this OK? I'm really interested to hear from those with experience my 'human' network of like minded is sparse!!!!!!!!!!

[doganjo]

Hi Spencer's Mum - who is Spencer? And where are you? Tell us more about yourself and your family.

Welcome to the Forum from Clackmannan.  If you only got your hens a few weeks ago they may not be at 'point of lay' yet (POL).  That varies from breed to breed but average is about 16 to 20 weeks.  What breed are they?

[JulieS]

Hello and welcome 

As mentioned already your girls might not be ready to lay yet, or the change of surroundings might affect them too.

You'll be collecting lovely eggs soon.

[Hilarysmum]

Hi and welcome, some of my brahma hens didnt start laying until they were 22 weeks old.  Dont worry they will.

[Daisys Mum]

Hi and welcome from the Scottish borders, I'm sure your chicks will start to lay soon sometimes breeders are keen to get them away and exagerate their age a little, I bought my last lot as POl and am still waiting for eggs 3 wks later too.

[little blue]

hello and welcome.
Our girls were 24 weeks before they laid, warrens, so dont worry... !

[juliag]

I wouldnt worry if I were you, we have bought pol and staill waited 6=8 weeks for that first egg, Dont worry they will in their own time and the eggs are well sorth waiting for..

[spencers mum]

Thank you all so much for your replies.   Perhaps I should relax a little but funny poos do worry me!!  'Spencer' is our family's year old liver spot Dalmatian  .  He is a beauty with a fab temprement but a lot of food intolerances which we're getting to grips with (any advice very welcome) and as such more 'funny poos'!! 2 x teenagers  and 1 x hubby .  Been following Dan and Rosemary's diaries for some time to help with 'research' as I venture into world of veggie garden, cutting gdn and chooks  - all a little scary for a first timer!

[CameronS]

welcome from fife 


bewarned 3 becomes 30 fast   
i started with 4, and withing 4 days went up to 20

[Hilarysmum]

....  and then someone hatches a few, and you cant bear to part with them  ....

[doganjo]

Hope the x teenagers and x hubby aren't too cross  
re Spencer(great name for as dog!) Lots of gluten free dog foods on the market these days if that is what he is intolerant to, but otherwise this is one occasion when a BARF diet might work.

[spencers mum]

HI doganjo thanks for message what is a barf diet? He seems to tolersate wheat (ate a pitta someone obviously didn't want so chucked in the woods) and seemed ok after that. At mo is on a vet prescribed ID diet - although that has chicken in and chicken showed as 1 on a scale of 0-5; 5 being highest intolerance.  He did gain 1.5 kilos of the 4 he has lost and is very happy in himself so seems on the mend.  Terrible worry these animals - worse than the children and hubby......

[doganjo]

BARF is a raw food diet which I don't normally subscribe to but might suit some dogs.  I imagine your vet has pehaps put him on Hills Science Diet??  Expensive for what it is and the vets get a percentage.  Check its ingredients and proportions then google dog foods to see what you come up with on BARF and other foods.  Whnta else is he intolerant of?  You might try  Challenge foods - natural products and a wide variety to suit all dogs.  I don't use it as I have 5 dogs and can't afford to, but Sharon Pinketrton who owns the company is a good friend of mine and I trust her, so I would if I got down to one or two dogs.  How is he on tripe? You can buy that frozen(cooked) at Pets at Home.

[spencers mum]

virtually all meat with beef and pork being a 5. Rye was another high score. Eggs are good so hopefully the chooks will help out there. Yes it is a Hills, have been doing some research - will feel a little more comfortable when he's back to his 25 kilos and then will definitely try others.  A salmon and potato may work? Can't recall whose it is a mo - not Burns as they don't do it anymore. Never tried tripe and will investigate further your ideas for BARF and Challenge foods. Thanks - what dogs do you have? Can't imagine more than one, 3 chooks and the family - oh and work!!

[doganjo]

That's the difference - I'm retired so have time for my 5.  4 Brittanys and a German Wirehair (all Continental Hunter, Pointer, Retriever gundogs)
Salmon and Potato could well be Challenge, haven't heard of it anywehere else.
This is Sharon's website, as you can see Yogi(Best in Show DFS Crufts) eats it so it MUST be good 
http://www.challengedogfood.com/
She delivers as well.  Anything over two bags I think - got reps all over the country.