Hens going cheap.

Ted_Hutchinson

After a visit from Mr Fox our egg production had dropped and we needed some new hens. Not wanting to pay out too much in case Mr Fox returned I asked around and found a free range egg supplier who was renewing his flock. So for 50p a bird I had some of his old 15month old birds.

These are about the same age as the ones Mr Fox had for breakfast so we are now back to where we were and at 50p a replacement it's not too expensive fox food should he come back for more. However I've also bought a solar panel for the electric fencer so maybe keeping the electric fencer battery topped up will discourage the hens from escaping and getting eaten.

I knew that battery egg producers changed their birds very often but hadn't realised that free range egg producers did the same. These are in better condition than I suspect indoor birds would be and they've settled in and started laying straight away.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

we had a problem with foxes......and funny enough we have one lurking around now.....so what used to do ..and will start again.. is make sure my dog does his "business " around the fence as i got told if a fox senses a dog its scares them off... when we clean up after the dog we put some round the fence..... i know this sounds a bit yak.. but it has worked in the passed for us......

Kazonline

I was wondering whether dogs pester chickens at all and also whether chickens are bothered by dogs? We have a dog that is excellent with animals so far, and I'm considering looking into getting chickens at some point so I would be interested to hear views/experiences on this.
Thanks
Kazx

vik6525

hens going cheap? i thought they went 'cluck'.... oh im sorry.......

corrig24

It depends on the dog, some get used to the hens and just igore them, while others like to terrorise them for fun. I think its a case of try it out to see how the dog will react, it will take him a little while to get used to them. The hens reaction will depend on the way the dog is around them!!!!

My neighbours dog just ignores them so she lets them roam about, where as my sisters dog get hours of pleasure running around the fence barking at the hens and if they fly over the fence, then thats his lunch sorted.

newleaf

Surely it should be 'chickens going cheep'?

sashacat

I am also wanting to get some hens soon. I am about to enrol on a poultry keeping one day course at the local agricultural college. Can anyone suggest any books that would be useful to me. I am going self sufficient...my bees are arriving tomorrow.

Queenie

sashacat wrote:

I am also wanting to get some hens soon. I am about to enrol on a poultry keeping one day course at the local agricultural college. Can anyone suggest any books that would be useful to me. I am going self sufficient...my bees are arriving tomorrow.

I borrowed this book from my local library ... it's concise, but even a friend of mine who works as a poultry stockman said it was a brilliant little book! Maybe you can ask for it at your library and forego paying out for a course until you've read it and decide if you still need the course?

Ooooh bees!!!! Hope they arrive safely today. Have fun!! :T :T :T

Queenie

Kazonline wrote:

I was wondering whether dogs pester chickens at all and also whether chickens are bothered by dogs? We have a dog that is excellent with animals so far, and I'm considering looking into getting chickens at some point so I would be interested to hear views/experiences on this.
Thanks
Kazx

My, admittedly limited experience is, if your dog is already excellent around animals, s/he will be fine around any chickens. My friend has over 20 chickens and her dog is fine around them.

My cat and hen just ignore one another, they walk past each other without a 2nd glance, unless I have a crab stick in my hand ... :laugh:

Queenie

Ted, :T :T

I know you said you asked around ... but do you know if there is a listing anywhere so that others, like myself, might found out where our nearest free range egg producers are?

TIA

jonnyw_2

we buy ex battery hens for 50p each.

its utterly amazing, they arrive all huddled up and cheeping, bedraggled with long deformed nails and half bald.

They have never seen the sun, walked on grass, felt the wind etc.

Within a month they are transformed. Its worth a fortune to watch them when they see their first worm!

And the eggs are beautiful

But we must all remember its a criminal offence to slip them the odd bit of kitchen leftover.