Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Mojisola

This - https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-wingclipping.html - gives fairly clear pictures of what to do.

How does that compare to what you've done?

Gigervamp

I've found that some of my girls don't fly very high. Only two of them can fly up onto my shoulder or the 5 foot wall on one side of the garden, so you may not need to clip the wings if you've got 6 foot fences.
I know some people who prefer to leave the wings un clipped as it gives them more of a chance to escape if there's a fox around.

JayneC

Thank you both. It looks like I might need to chop off a bit more! I did let them out in the garden today and they flapped about a couple of times. They didn't get very high but I've realised I have quite a few 'landing stations' (bikes, their house, the compost bin, etc) so they could get over the fence in theory, though not in one go. They nearly did when my cat went for a closer look!! They did manage to survive the day but I'm not sure I'll leave them free ranging if I'm not there to keep an eye out. Some rejigging of the yard to create a run is needed tomorrow methinks!

Cat distincly unimpressed - I think she's gone off to sulk somewhere lol!

WEEZE210_2

Which breed of chicken should I get? would like one that is a good layer, friendly, not too big and not prone to health issues. Any ideas as I hope to get my chickens in the next couple of days.
Thankyou all x

ginnyknit

To be honest the ex batts are all that and more. Mine have layed most days since I got them in Feb. You need to check a poultry site and they usually have a chart of how much they lay etc. Many lay less than 200 a year and some even less than that. Have a look on the Practical Poultry site and they will give you all the info you will need about keeping them. But as with any animal do a bit of homework first and check you have all you need first, that way you won't waste money. The downside is in summer they get you out of bed very early but the upside is they are wonderful, full of cupboard love and are great to talk to - they don't ask for I pods and trainers either:rotfl:

WEEZE210_2

Where would be a good place to get ex battery chickens, I am in the midlands, staffordshire.

Weeze x

Gigervamp

Contact the battery hen welfare trust.

jeanmd

WEEZE210 wrote: »

Where would be a good place to get ex battery chickens, I am in the midlands, staffordshire.

Weeze x

I got my four ladies from Hen rehomers they do pick ups all over the country. It's a really good place to get them from, they re-homed 4,000 Hens in partnership with Little Hen Rescue on 22nd May which is when we got ours. We love them and we've never had so many eggs in our lives. It's a really good excuse to bake and all our grandchildren love to go looking for eggs to take home.

http://www.henrehomers.net/

brownhandbag

JayneC,
just wanted to check that you know you only need to clip one wing on each bird?

canspendnomore

We've just reserved 3 ex batts in Nottingham, though we've not got a date yet. I'm very excited. They suggest having several places for food initially so they all get fed, but will 2 be enough with 3 birds or should I get one each?!

Just wish I had a bigger space so I could re-home hundreds!