Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Gigervamp

I find that every now and then, Daisy decides not to lay in the coop. She currently uses a spot under a bush. I have to use large bbq tongs to retrieve the egg as it's so far back with nettles and brambles in the way!

Jenny_Wren_3

I got my 4 girls almost 3 weeks ago now and haven't had a single egg yet! They were sold at point of lay as well! I know that they are not laying elsewhere because I've had to keep them in their run for a few days. Oh well, they'll get there when they're ready I'm sure and soon I'll be complaining that I've got too many eggs!

JayneC

Hi everyone,

Hope it's ok to join in. I've now got 2 chickens - Buff Orpington/Bantam crosses. they're not laying yet but I was told when I got them it might be a while before they laid.

Anyway my question is (have searched the thread but can't find it mentioned previously) does anyone grow food specifically for their chickens and if so what?

I'm giving them layers pellets and kitchen scraps at the mo and I have the compost bin in their run as they like to scratch about for bugs in there and perch on the side. it would be good to be able to let them forage for their own food if I can grow things they'd like. So if anyone can help I'd be grateful.

Thanks x

WEEZE210_2

I am growing a wild flower seed mix in a plant trough, but thats more for them to scrat about in and keep themselves amused. I would love to grow them stuff they would actually eat, any ideas?

Weeze x

Gigervamp

Wrong time of year now, but my girls love tomatoes, so you could grow some next year. It's quite comical watching them when there are tomatoes to be had, especially Gracie, who quickly nips in under the beak of whoever has a tomato and steals it from them before legging it down the garden, tomato on her beak like a red nose, being chased by the others like the Keystone Cops!

Muppet81

Perpetual spinach - my girls love it. I grow it outside in soil and I am 1000' up a Yorkshire hillside so pretty extreme weather. It just grows and grows and only a really harsh frost kills it.

I pack of seeds will keep you in nice greens for the whole season and well into Autumn/Winter.

I just pull a few leaves from each plant every day and give it to my girls.

Moneymaker - are you seeing any signs of harmony being restored yet?

JayneC

Thanks for your replies - I have lots of tomatoes ripening at the mo and will try the spinach.

Cheers,

champys

Gigervamp wrote: »

Wrong time of year now, but my girls love tomatoes, so you could grow some next year. It's quite comical watching them when there are tomatoes to be had, especially Gracie, who quickly nips in under the beak of whoever has a tomato and steals it from them before legging it down the garden, tomato on her beak like a red nose, being chased by the others like the Keystone Cops!

Tell me about it!! I have had to take emergency measures fencing off the tomato plot against total devastation by the chickens.... it really seems to be their favourite food. (Or maybe they would prefer the sweetcorn if they could reach it.) They still benefit though, as I throw them any tomato that is not quite nice enough for the kitchen - and they also get tomato bits left over from cleaning, chopping, deseeding them etc.

Rotwein44

Hello

I have been reading this thread for ages and have finally organised to get myself some chickens. I am having 4 bantams, one is at POL and the other 3 are still quite young so aren't laying yet. I am very excited although a bit nervous and will put some photos on when they arrive tomorrow. I just need to think of some names now!!
:j

Money_maker

No harmony yet. We tried to put the bumper bits on and managed only 2 hens out of 6 and that took ages! Brought them in at night, wrapped in a towel. Used the special pliers recommended on another site. These darned things are so stiff and poor girls kept moving even at the critical moment. So only 2 hens bumpered. I would like to mention, though, that contrary to reports on other forums, the bumper bits do not pierce any part of the hen, only rest in the nostrils. They look hideous but hens can drink and eat providing the food is from a container and not off the floor. We do have 1 hen with a beak bit on - these are like a three quarter circle which goes from nostril to nostril through the mouth. They are much more flexible, dont look so gruesome but are ineffective at preventing bullying - hen uses her beak like a hammer instead!

Anyway, Little Baldy still sleeps under the henhouse and comes out first thing in the morning to eat and drink. I vaseline her comb then let the others out. Five minutes of chasing and squawking before she creeps back under the house. She must be putting on weight, though as she will only fit through one of the holes now rather than a selection of 3.

But, I took DD down to the hens at about 4pm today. Counted 7 hens in one of the runs - Little Baldy was out. She managed to get a drink and have a bit of a scratch before the others set about her. Then she hopped on my knee and hid her head under my armpit. I pointed her to her access point to under the house but she didn't want to go in. Cue more squawking, pecking and leaping around before she launched herself off the ground straight at me and I caught her as I was standing up! Not interested in hiding again so I sprayed some corn around the run and left them to it. Strangely, the commotion seems to die down when I'm not around. Have not tried the antipecking spray yet although I may have to soon.

Hopefully she'll keep trying to mix. Its when she sees another hen she goes into panic mode. If she can keep it calm a bit then I'm sure they will lose interest. Other six seem to rub along okay. Definate pecking order established but just the usual 'keep away' pecking rather than major troubles. Only up side is that there is no blood spilling yet so thats encouraging.

Oh and OH asked today 'when are you putting your other 2 hens in with the others?'. I'm sure he doesn't listen to me half the time!

BTW, running out of ex batt crumb for mine. Do you think normal layers mash is alright for them now or should I try to get hold of more ex batt crumb? I normally do pellets but other forums say mash keeps them more occupied.