Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

miss_t_2

I'm so sorry to hear about your hen, I lost one of my girls a few weeks ago, was (and still am) absolutely devastated. I love all my animals deeply and am definately not ashamed to admit it, although a lot of people I know mock me terribly about it. Saying that I'm still traumatised over an incident last year though when a staffroom of colleagues made fun of me over the fact that I will rescue and adopt any animal that needs a home!

ginnyknit

Angela sorry to hear about your loss, its awful isn't it. Thats the trouble with animals, we outlive them. Im dreading my chooks getting old as I will miss them dreadfully. They are the only people in the house at the moment who listen to me

Muppet81

Sorry to hear about your loss Angela. Each one of mine has a special place in my heart and when I lose one I feel so sad. Just have to tell yourself they had a good life with you and were lucky.
Miss t - well done for caring. Please don't stop :j

Money maker - hope it goes well. If you get any pecking that draws blood, spray the injured part with purple spray (from animal/horse suppliers). This helps prevent things going any worse.

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hi Everyone

So excited got my first hens last week. Have 4 different breeds and all seem to be settling in well. Next Saturday my daughter and I are going on a chicken course so looking forward to that. I have been reading through this thread but still have about 800 replies to go through.

Sorry to hear about your loss Angela, I am attached to mine already.

ginnyknit

My girls seem to like the place we put their coop,am wondering if its facing a better direction for them - from a mother nature type of thing not feng shui:rotfl: All though Dh did rehang their windchimes on their pergola :rotfl:

Last night I chucked them the blackberries left when I had made jam and they loved them. The good thing is they cannot see in the kitchen door now we have moved them so they arent squaking at me every time I walk near the cooker. Last night Dd and Sil were sat outside having a ciggie when Sil burst out laughing, I went out and one of the girls was stood in front of him looking expectantly - she had broken out of her coop and neither of the dumb humans noticed till she plonked herself right in front of them . Instead of opening the door like they usually do they had forced the wire off the front of the run and slipped out.

canspendnomore

I've been lurking for a bit and have found it very useful.

I finally decided to get some ex batts which I'm waiting for. Coop built and food bought. Just need to get the chickens now. It's upsetting to think of them becoming ill and needing to be put to sleep. I hadn't really considered that side of things.

I don't think anyone should be mocked for being kind to animals. Good on yer is what I say.

Muppet81 wrote: »

If you get any pecking that draws blood, spray the injured part with purple spray (from animal/horse suppliers). This helps prevent things going any worse.

Can someome tell me a brand name for this purple spray or somewhere online I could get it. I tried a major pet shop chain but they don't do it. Though I did manage to get the Ex Batts Crumb that the BHWT recommend.

Thanks for your help and anyone can think of anything else that I need I'd be grateful to know (Got food, feed and drink containers (one each!), housing)

What's best straw or wood shavings for the nest box.

Thanks again.

Money_maker

Oh dear, I have problems.

Got the ex batts, two went to MIL (2 bullies!) so seven left. Anyway, one decides shes top dog and hogs the food/water, nipping at others as they pass. Not a problem, someones got to do the job and she's not being mean, just asserting her position. However, we have a little one (called little baldy) who is small, nigh on bald and terrified. Another hen took a dislike and chased her round the run mercilessly. So we put on one of the little beak bits to stop her doing damage. Worked for a few hours. Now little baldy is being bullied by at least 3 other hens (including the beak bitted hen who still seems to be able to grab her) - they're jumping on her and pulling her around. I think she makes it worse by screaming and running off. Have put vaseline on her comb and a little on her back and wings to try to deter - doesn't help. Little baldy went missing last night. Hole in the nylon wire on top means we thought she had escaped. Searched the garden for ages by torch, spoke to neighbours in the morning. Mid morning I visit again and we have 7 hens. Little baldy had hidden under the henhouse - lord knows how she squeezed inbetween the concrete blocks but she's very small. Once again chaos ensues and after lots of running around, flying up at the wire, screaming and sheer terror, little baldy vanishes again - presumably under the henhouse. Have more beak bits and some antipecking spray on order which will hopefully arrive later this week although I dont think the beak bits are working very well.

I will try to arrange more food/water dispensers. I will hang up some cds. I will spray corn all round the run. What else can I do? Little baldy is not getting much food or water. Fortunately theres no blood being shed yet but the absolute terror she is being subjected to makes me wonder if she would have been better off in her battery cage or being culled. I would love to pull her out of there and raise her as a free ranging pet but I haven't enough time and I wouldn't want her to be lonely. Once she comes out I cannot put her back I dont think. Currently she is once again spending the night under the chicken house (cant get her out if I wanted to) but this cant be good for her. Any suggestions, please?

Just to add that my two old chickens are wired off from the others - they have been watching them with murder in their eyes. There's also been a bit of 'squaring up' through the wire between them and the ex batts 'top hen'. Think that'll be a whole new problem but it can wait awhile.

tru

I think we have a fox :undecided

A pile of dug up earth has appeared overnight next to the chicken shed, it's way too big for a cat and there's no way the neighbour's little dog has found it's way into our garden. The shed is on patio slabs so a fox can't get underneath.

My girls don't have a run, they sleep and lay in the shed then they're out in the garden all day.

I've found a pest control man near me who deals with foxes, but apparantly as soon as one is dealt with, another takes it's place. And I don't really want to kill them anyway. I need a good deterrent, is Stay Off any good?

smileyt_2

Afraid I can't help with the pecking order or StayOff questions, but for the shavings vs straw question I believe shavings are best. I think straw can harbour parasites although I'm not sure.

Angela, I had to have my Deirdre Hen put to sleep this morning. In total she has cost me around £120 in vet's fees over the last month. Turns out she was riddled with tumours, poor girl. And yes, I am not ashamed to admit I cried and kissed the top of her head as I said goodbye. Oh dear, I'm filling up again So I understand how you feel. Miss-t, ignore anyone who laughs at you. They must be morons, is all I can say.

But now I only have one hen. Does anyone know of 'spare' hens in the Manchester area, or bantams? I looked on birdtrader and spoke to one woman who was horribly rude to me and put the phone down and cut me off once she realised I couldn't take a cockerel. There was no need to be so rude and it really didn't help my fragile state today. The next ex-batt rehoming isn't until October and they don't have any recuperating hens at the moment. No-one is advertising on gumtree either.

moominyak

canspendnomore wrote: »

Can someome tell me a brand name for this purple spray or somewhere online I could get it. I tried a major pet shop chain but they don't do it.

Hi, it's called Gentian Violet Spray, there are lots of online stockists if you Google it You might be able to get it from an equestrian shop if you have one near you.

HTH