we take eggs straight from nesting boxes and crack them on the ground. it helps their feathers grow. I've heard of some kind of cake for them but I just crack em.
we have currently 18 chickens we lost multiple when they leave for the neighbouring houses. they are free range and have 80 acres of land that is ours but leave for the neighbours house. they don't have chickens anymore but when they did we had several roosters join their flocks. When they leave...
we don't have issues at all with vultures, but the hawks man!
terrible :( we've lost so many birds to hawks, the hawks sit in trees and stalk waiting for the birds to forget that they're there, vultures I'm actually not sure but hope your birds stay safe!
its a pure Barred rock? we had a chicken with hip problems due to being bred with a bantam and an Orpington, he constantly stepped on his own feet and tripped and fell. :hugsbest wishes :)
we've had a similar issue in the past, as I am not the best recourse I can say that she possibly got stung? how long has this been this way for?, sorry if this was in the article I read it quickly.
personally, our rooster is terrible, he's led our hens to die, he pushes them around, he doesn't protect them but he's big. he's not typical of other Bard Rocks, the breed themselves are fantastic but He, is rude.