COMMON PROBLEMS

Broodiness

A broody hen will sit on her eggs for weeks and refuse to budge. Hybrids have had their mothering instinct bred out of them but certain breeds, such as Cochins, Orpingtons and Silkies, are fierce protectors of their eggs. Find strategies to deal with a broody hen at poultrykeeper.com.

Bullying

Chickens have a natural pecking order but if one bird is being bullied to distraction, you might need to intervene. Lack of space is the common culprit, but you can find more ways to calm the situation at bhwt.org.uk.

Red mites

When the warmer months come around, these tiny parasitic mites can wreak havoc in a chicken coop, leaving hens anaemic and listless. Prevention is as important as treatment – visit chickenvet.co.uk to discover how to deal with an infestation.