Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

steady__eddie

When I kept some bantams several years ago, I made the mistake of letting the hens "enjoy" the companionship of a cockerel. He was a vicious little B. but once when his harem caught the attention of a cat he became a rapid reaction force and alas the cat did not stalk anything else after that.
His antics in front of women, cannot be described on this forum due to thier offensive nature but if anyone has ever heard a song of long ago by Jasper Carrot, I can assure you that the lyrics are in no way underestimated.
The positive side however was that every couple of years when a hen went broody, I had some little balls of fluff running round the garden.

NannyP_2

Have a look on here for all the inforamtion you could need on poultry keeping.

http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/

eddyshoestring

As an aside from the obvious benifits of a few "chucks" running around the place for many years eating everthing under a stone and us enjoying golden globes (yokes) I must admit to have also been a "snatcher" " grabber" ( from their battery pens) and also alas a "despatcher" unpleasent terms used in battery farming.
The financial fact in this day and age is that at the end of their useful egglaying life the producers have to PAY to have these poor worn out birds taken away,to become Chicken Curry in some food producers hell ...when in fact they are mere 20 year olds in life terms.....however they (the ladies) will need a little TLC before they reward you with the most organic healthy eggs on this earth....so take a trip into the country on a rainy Sunday and seek out these battery farmers-Be pleasent and nice and many will gladly give you a few - at the right time of course - for remember a "chuck" is not just for Christmas......or is it?....on the downside they will reward you with total and utter obssesion and affection ...they will run after you when you hang out the washing, flutter into your car boot, frighten your guests, pine on your window sill, and !!!! everwhere ( forgive me)

ampersand

steady__eddie wrote:

When I kept some bantams several years ago, I made the mistake of letting the hens "enjoy" the companionship of a cockerel. He was a vicious little B. but once when his harem caught the attention of a cat he became a rapid reaction force and alas the cat did not stalk anything else after that.
His antics in front of women, cannot be described on this forum due to thier offensive nature but if anyone has ever heard a song of long ago by Jasper Carrot, I can assure you that the lyrics are in no way underestimated.
The positive side however was that every couple of years when a hen went broody, I had some little balls of fluff running round the garden.

Thankyou for a lovely post on a foul day(a fowl day is in the future, still concerned about reliable care during absences)

magnificat

Back garden hens are WONDERFUL! I SO wish I had kept them when our kids were tiny ie years ago. They are such characters, minimal attention required, provide not only eggs every day but fantastic manure for compost heap (bit strong for direct veggie patch contact) and clear the garden of snails and pests. Yes, let them retire gracefully - bring in some younger stock - DO protect from foxes especially if you're in an urban environment. And friends and neighbours love any surplus eggs. In the summer when you have lots of eggs, then make loads of sponges & cakes freeze and use in the winter... and/or share - always welcome!

juno

I still haven't convinced my daddy to let us have chickens

But my fiance is convinced, so I might get them when I'm older!

Sarahsaver

juno wrote:

I still haven't convinced my daddy to let us have chickens

But my fiance is convinced, so I might get them when I'm older!

just get some, once they are there he won't want to get rid!

Wirenth

I've got four adorable girls (might be Rhode Islands or a mix, don't know), which we got as chicks last Easter. They began laying in November(!) and are still laying every day throughout the winter. We originally fed them on Layers Mash and Layers Mixed Corn, with the odd bit of cockatiel seed as a treat.

The fussy little darlings are now turning their noses up at the mash and have decided that they don't like the new bag of mixed corn at all. They don't seem to be eating as much, and although they are still laying, the eggs are getting smaller. They definitely look thinner to me (they were quite podgy before). They aren't ill - they still race around the garden like mad and peck and scratch everywhere.

Any advice on a different type of feed to try or any other suggestions would be very gratefully accepted.

gritts

Layers pellets? Marriages.

My chooks eat less in the winter, even kitchen scraps. But mine also continue to lay seemingly non stop despite the perceived wisdom that they are supposed to slow down egg production considerably in the cold.

mgardner

I would really love a couple of chickens but only have a small garden now and am wondering if its safe (for the chicken) to let it out to wander a garden. Are any plants likely to be harmful for them. If so which ones?

I particularly like the idea of rescuing a couple of old battery hens which I have just been told about.

Also do Cats attack chickens. We have a couple of real bullys around here

Can anyone know of a site I can get selfbuild plans for a house and run.

Many thanks in advance Mary