Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

ginnyknit

I have to say the best thing I have done in many years is get my 3 ex batts, they are funny, cheeky and such a cute bunch. The secret life of chickens was really interesting, finding out how they work the pecking order and proving as all of us know just how clever they are. All the family take great interest in the girls and even Sil 'quite likes them'. At present they are chunnering away cos they saw me put the pan on with their lunch in, I can hear them from my office off the kitchen.

BUT they do, as all animals, need dedication like a child does. Some friends of ours recently took on 4 ex batts on the proviso that if they couldn't cope we would have them. Thank you Muppet for joining the thread, I see you are one of those people who if you don't know the answer can refer us to someone who does - just what we all need here :beer:

jexygirl

Totally agree Muppet, I didn't mean to come across as "just do it, don't worry" which having re read my epic post, it might seem that way. I agree with you totally, and you have loads of proper experience, I am a newbie at it, and wouldn't have put them straight in if Id taken them from a rescue, they were already strong enough to hold their own, sorry if my post came across as disagreeing, I didn't mean to at all! I just wanted to add that they will do what they want, and in some cases, against all things you as a human, try and do for the best!

And Ginny - love the word "chunnering" lol.
Jex

Gigervamp

Oh no. Agatha's poorly. She didn't come out of the coop when I let them out this morning. She feels hot, her breathing is obvious (ie, you can see her back going up and own as she breathes) and she's floppy.
I brought her in and she laid an egg on my lap. She's had some water and she gets up to change position every now and then, but she seems sleepy the rest of the time.

We've got an appointment at the vets this afternoon. I hope the vet can help her, she's my favourite girl.

Gigervamp

She's gone. She had a fit and when I picked her up after it stopped, she just closed her eyes and went.

Bawling my eyes out here. Hubby came home and he's really upset too. We took her body to her sister (Tabitha) and after she pecked her a couple of times, she laid down next to her for a while. Need to find a nice spot in the garden to bury her, but we're not sure whether to get the vet to do a post mortem to see if it's something that the others might have caught too.

Gosh, we've only had her about a month, but she was the friendliest chicken. Always hopped up onto my shoulders and nattered to me. I'm so going to miss her.

R.I.P Agatha.

jexygirl

Aww Giger so sorry to hear. Big hugs
Jex
x

Gigervamp

Thanks Jex. Good to see you back btw, I've missed you.

miss_t_2

Gigervamp wrote: »

She's gone. She had a fit and when I picked her up after it stopped, she just closed her eyes and went.

Bawling my eyes out here. Hubby came home and he's really upset too. We took her body to her sister (Tabitha) and after she pecked her a couple of times, she laid down next to her for a while. Need to find a nice spot in the garden to bury her, but we're not sure whether to get the vet to do a post mortem to see if it's something that the others might have caught too.

Gosh, we've only had her about a month, but she was the friendliest chicken. Always hopped up onto my shoulders and nattered to me. I'm so going to miss her.

R.I.P Agatha.

Awww I'm so sorry to hear about Agatha, I know how devastating it is. Matilda was OH's favourite and we were both crying like children on Monday. We had Matilda cremated, only as there is no space in my garden anymore, (my house is like a zoo and I have lots of different animals) so she will be returned to us next week.

Sending a big big (HUG) to you!

miss_t_2

Thanks for the advice about the bedding, I shall have a look for it the next time I go to the country store to buy pellets for the girls.

Can I quickly ask one more thing....(yep another query!), what do you use to worm your chooks? I've been using Verm X but read recently on the net it wasn't very effective :undecided I asked at the Vet about Flubavet (sp?) but the woman I spoke to at reception had never heard of it, although we were told to ask there by the vet. They said they'd look into ordering it, but they haven't yet rung back. Is this something that I can order online, or do I have to get it specifically through the vet?

Sorry for all the questions, but I just want to make sure I am doing the best for my girls.

Gigervamp

Thanks for the condolences miss_t.

You can get Flubenvet online. Here's one of the links I found. I think it's like Frontline the flea treatment for cats and dogs, in that it needs to be prescribed by a vet or someone with relevant qualifications, but places like Countrywide sell it and you can get it online if they have a person with those criteria on the staff.

moominyak

I'm very excited, I'm getting my first 4 hens today - rescued ex-battery girls coming up North from the Central Belt, woo-hoo!!!!

Ahem. Sorry for barging in like that

ETA: Forgot to mention, they are coming via the BHWT