Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

ginnyknit

Dora 37 has just posted on the 'pumpkin'thread that the seeds are a natural dewormer for chickens - wow, now thats a cheap solution! Thanks Dora! Am off to buy a pumpkin tomorrow:)

Gigervamp

Lol Ginny, I just read that thread and saw her post too! I didn't know about the seeds being a natural de-wormer, so I'm going to get the girls a pumpkin.

jillby

hi all you chicken peeps, i have had my 6 girls for around six months now and love em to bits. My husband converted a shed for them to lay and shelter in. Very warm in there as there is a lot of straw for them to bed down and cosy up together in the evenings. I have been lucky so far because i,m still getting six eggs a day! They basically pay for themselves and my friends are always after my fresh eggs and chip in for the feed. I get beautiful orange yolks and even the odd double yolkers! They love scraps like pasta, rice, even mashed potato,s. As long as they,ve got fresh water and feed they are very happy hens indeed x

Rotwein44

Nice to hear all the updates. I have had my 4 for nearly 3 weeks and they have really settled in. I have only had one egg so far but only one is at POL and the others are still young. The one who is at POL, Tufty, who is also the boss, is moulting so hasnt laid for a few weeks - is this normal? She seems happy enough in herself and when I am in I let all 4 of them free range in the garden. They love it! She cluck clucks when she sees me and watches me through the patio door! The cat seems to have accepted them and is just bewildered by them all!

singlehouseholder

Hello! Going off lay during the moult is normal, it takes them a lot of energy to get through moult, people often supplement their diet with poultry spice and the like to give them a bit of a help. My partridge wyandotte is moulting and has turned into a right grumpy bag, it is amazing though to see the little shafts of new feather cominh through just waiting to burst through. You'll need to clip wings again after the moult, mine thinks I've forgot and flies out of the run with such gusto, she'll be having a little trim though once she's fully feathered again!!

Rotwein44

I just got home to an egg from her so she must be feeling okay again! I must look into clipping her wings and those of the young chicks too!

singlehouseholder

ya just need clip one wing, knocks them off balance, if they're in run all the time no need but if you let them frange you should snip them. Most books have diagrams or have a look on tintynet. Yay for egg!

Rotwein44

thanks singlehouseholder! ill have to look this weekend or they'll be escaping!

singlehouseholder

when I first let my two newbies out they did nowt but eye up the fence, if you have a cheapy bookshop near you I picked up Virginia Shirts "The right way to keep chickens" I got the guidance for clipping wings from there, I was scared first time I did it, but glad I did!! Good Luck!

edmund_blackadder

Does anyone keep turkeys as pets?