The Scottish Gardeners thread

elantan

its amazing how they just decide that isnt it ... so how many chickens do you have? i am thinking of getting some but i am a bit scared incase i hurt them etc by picking them up ..

skelly01

Got 3, a speckledy, a calder ranger and a rhode rock. I thought that about handling but they let you know. They prefer to be held firm as it makes them secure.
Would really recommend they are great fun. Where are you about?

elantan

near hamilton ... i have a few books on chickens that i have been reading ... and have been looking at buying a hen house but thats all conflicting stuff as well isnt it .... i sometimes wonder if all the conflicting stuff is to make sure you really want what ever it is ..

skelly01

Am in Carstairs, go out to Fuefield just past the cut off for Symington on the main road (along from Wynedales Hotel).
It is run by 2 women and their advice and knowledge is brilliant. Thats where we got ours and they cant be more helpful.
I got the coop from Ebay.

laurals11

Kept hens for years..but haven't had suitable place for some time.There's a lot of ...... in some recent books. We have housed hens in lots of different hen houses from a converted large wooden dog kennel with added perches and nest box..to one constructed completely from found materials basically hoops of wire and piping , netting, old plastic sacks (no polytarp in those days) made into a double walled unit with chopped straw as insulation between layers with branches for perches.That was in late 70s & 80s when we had very cold winters and we had no problems with hens.

It's a good idea to visit some hens before you spend any money..Haven't been there but have a look at feufield co uk ( can't post links just add usual bits and squish so no spaces). I'm not associated with them just heard good things locally.

laurals11

:rotfl:snap Kelly..we kept hens out at Cranley East Lodge ...small world

skelly01

Just don't let them near your veggies !!!!!!

mardatha

BBC Scotland weather forecast ended with the horrible words---
"and snow on the hills " !!:mad::(:eek:

Grebe

Evening all,
Got a bit chillier hasn't it!!!! Got lot's of stuff covered in fleece and given that the weather man has just said it will be cold and windy by the end if the week it looks like the fleece will stay where it is.
Have any of you had problems with pampas grass suffering from the effects of winter snow? My container grown pampas has shown no signs of shoots and the big spiky leaves have gone wet and rotten in at the centre of the plant and can be easily pulled away. I have read that you can set fire to the poor thing and it should regrow. Have any of you tried this? And does it work?

mardatha

Ours is very sorry looking as well. No sign of growth at all.