Daydream thread continues.....

rozeepozee

Davesnave wrote: »

Complications on the garden selling front this morning, but I won't go into detail here. Enough to say that someone isn't 100% happy and that it could yet go paridae-up......or partially so.

Bah!:mad:

What a pain. Hope it resolves...

Itismehonest

Davesnave wrote: »

Complications on the garden selling front this morning, but I won't go into detail here. Enough to say that someone isn't 100% happy and that it could yet go paridae-up......or partially so.

Bah!:mad:

Sorry to hear that, Dave. Why is life so darned complicated now? Hope it is soon sorted out.

We still have our first wooden chicken house, rozee. It must be over 20 years old now. The only thing that would need replacing is the perch bar.
You'll find that a well-made chicken house always 'comes in' for something - quarantine, broody hens, new arrivals, separating feisty males......... & that's just the chicken uses.

lostinrates

Dave, imo the other neighbours migh do the pressure for you. Keep em all in the loop of proceedural delays


Lots of rat poison eaten overnight . One brand more popular than the other.


I am making a wish list of all the stuff i want. Its depressingly long. More chicken housing, a pretty one for the garden for the snowballs and maybe some millifiore bantams...in for a penny, eh? And they may help with slugs....one day, if i manage to find non phobic ones. A quail house....i fancy one of thosenoctagonal summerhouses converted with a run attached. And, a carosel horse. Pure whimsy!

rozeepozee

Itismehonest wrote: »

Sorry to hear that, Dave. Why is life so darned complicated now? Hope it is soon sorted out.

We still have our first wooden chicken house, rozee. It must be over 20 years old now. The only thing that would need replacing is the perch bar.
You'll find that a well-made chicken house always 'comes in' for something - quarantine, broody hens, new arrivals, separating feisty males......... & that's just the chicken uses.

I'm seriously looking at the link that Dave gave. I spoke to the guy there though and he's completely put me away from guinea fowl. He says their cry will make your ears bleed. My OH has particularly sensitive ears examples by the fact that he has worn industrial ear plugs for two years since the girls were born. I don't think he would tolerate guinea fowl, especially as a near the house fowl, so we'er probably back to chickens.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a bird that would make a good starter/all purpose bearing in mind that it's probably going to be near the static and the house for the children to see and tend? Are there any particularly friendly ones, that don't mind being handled? The man at the hen house place suggested light sussex as a hardy bird.

I have dreams like that LIR. I'm kind of hopijng the "what hen house to buy" issue is a one off as I know OH has pretty good woodworking skills (he did a two year furniture making course in anticipation of this lifestyle change), so I reckon all we should be spending on houses, hutches and such is the cost of the materials but until we transfer his workshop from storage, we only have a limited amount of tools. He's just spent £100 on some tools. Got a discount for a very fetching lilac wheelbarrow :T

lostinrates

rozeepozee wrote: »

I'm seriously looking at the link that Dave gave. I spoke to the guy there though and he's completely put me away from guinea fowl. He says their cry will make your ears bleed. My OH has particularly sensitive ears examples by the fact that he has worn industrial ear plugs for two years since the girls were born. I don't think he would tolerate guinea fowl, especially as a near the house fowl, so we'er probably back to chickens.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a bird that would make a good starter/all purpose bearing in mind that it's probably going to be near the static and the house for the children to see and tend? Are there any particularly friendly ones, that don't mind being handled? The man at the hen house place suggested light sussex as a hardy bird.

I have dreams like that LIR. I'm kind of hopijng the "what hen house to buy" issue is a one off as I know OH has pretty good woodworking skills (he did a two year furniture making course in anticipation of this lifestyle change), so I reckon all we should be spending on houses, hutches and such is the cost of the materials but until we transfer his workshop from storage, we only have a limited amount of tools. He's just spent £100 on some tools. Got a discount for a very fetching lilac wheelbarrow :T

Well, if you are going to eat you boys i would go for a dual purpose in anticipa tion, i have little luck with them , through no fault of their own, and would recomend marans. Partly, don't laugh, because they come in different colours, so you can get a cuckoo, a french wheaten and a lack copper, or blue, and easily tell them apart. Secondly because they are common, and finding well put together ones easy. Look at feet, you want straight toes, not curled or angled ones, and beaks...trimming under or overbites is unnecessary with a good beak...look at some pictures on line to get an idea. Taribg with easy birds makes me better with more rifficult ones now.


Otherwise i would consider geting different breeds. Individuals vary, but it will give you an idea of what you prefer for next time.:D

Edit...and althoughni know i am a lone voice, imo large fowl are better thanlittle ones for little people. A larger and docile bird is less fragile and more handlable.

Itismehonest

rozeepozee wrote: »

I'm seriously looking at the link that Dave gave. I spoke to the guy there though and he's completely put me away from guinea fowl. He says their cry will make your ears bleed. My OH has particularly sensitive ears examples by the fact that he has worn industrial ear plugs for two years since the girls were born. I don't think he would tolerate guinea fowl, especially as a near the house fowl, so we'er probably back to chickens.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a bird that would make a good starter/all purpose bearing in mind that it's probably going to be near the static and the house for the children to see and tend? Are there any particularly friendly ones, that don't mind being handled? The man at the hen house place suggested light sussex as a hardy bird.

I have dreams like that LIR. I'm kind of hopijng the "what hen house to buy" issue is a one off as I know OH has pretty good woodworking skills (he did a two year furniture making course in anticipation of this lifestyle change), so I reckon all we should be spending on houses, hutches and such is the cost of the materials but until we transfer his workshop from storage, we only have a limited amount of tools. He's just spent £100 on some tools. Got a discount for a very fetching lilac wheelbarrow :T

The heavier breeds like Sussex, RIR, Marian, Orpington & Wyandottes are less frequent layers (they were really bred for their meat) but they are usually the breeds with the best temperaments so the most child-friendly. However, as with all animals (us included) there are never guarantees. You can always get a nasty so-n-so &, again like us, all animals & birds can have a 'bad day'.

We had a mix &, across the years, many children here as visitors. Bantams are great for little s*ds who think it's fun to chase them as they can get out of the way quickly & so avoid injury. When it's a more sensible child who wants to hold & stroke a bird then go for the bigger breeds.

rozeepozee

lostinrates wrote: »

Well, if you are going to eat you boys i would go for a dual purpose in anticipa tion, i have little luck with them , through no fault of their own, and would recomend marans. Partly, don't laugh, because they come in different colours, so you can get a cuckoo, a french wheaten and a lack copper, or blue, and easily tell them apart. Secondly because they are common, and finding well put together ones easy. Look at feet, you want straight toes, not curled or angled ones, and beaks...trimming under or overbites is unnecessary with a good beak...look at some pictures on line to get an idea. Taribg with easy birds makes me better with more rifficult ones now.

Ooh, I like the look of those, LIR. Thanks. A question: if they're large, how many would be okay in the hen house Dave recommended? There are loads of breeders around this area too. I'm off to visit a friend this afternoon who left the city 3 years ago and lives at a smallholding nearby. She'll have some advice no doubt, although she invited me to come and visit "the survivors" which sounds ominous!

Itismehonest

"Survivors" & chickens goes hand in hand, rozee It can also mean those who actually make it in country living past a couple of years :rotfl:

pelirocco

rozeepozee wrote: »

Okay, stupid city person question coming:

Y'know these chilcken coops on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LARGE-DELUXE-CHICKEN-COOP-HEN-POULTRY-ARK-HOUSE-HUTCH-/110838378110?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item19ce7b6e7e? Are they worth buying? What's the catch? I'd love to start off with a few birds - not sure what - for the kids when we move up to the house soon but I don't want to spend on poor quality. Are these imports or something? I'm not sure how OH would make one of these for the price of the wood. We have no tools at the mo so we're a little hamstrung.

It looks like the one my kids bought me , they put it up and decided it was too small ( no run to speak of ) so built an extra run ( it was a surprise b'day present ) . We replaced the run with a huge walk in one . We are at work all week so dont let them out in the garden if we arent there

Lotus-eater

Both of those ebay coops are about the same. I've just measured mine and it's 2.5m and the ebay ones are 2m.
Mines a bit small as it is, so a smaller one is probably a bit too small for full size birds, but would suit 2 or 3 bantams probably and be a good young chick cage if you wired the bottom.

It may be better to get something like Dave says, then your OH can make a run to fit on it quite easily by the sound of it.