Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

ginnyknit

Hiya guys, Im a little sad, I have to get a new home for my girls, we have landlord problems and the builders moving in. So if anyone in th Manchester area would like 3 ex batts, beautiful, good manners and really funny let me know. They eat layers pellets and anything that stands still , don't mind cats ( not to eat of course only cos they can't swallow them whole) and lay usually 3 a day. They are Billy, Bob and Beaula. Ive only had them since February but adore them. :(:(

canspendnomore

We had planned to get 3 ex batts but when we went to collect them yesterday they had more hens than homers so we took 4 instead.

They seemed to settle in well. Put themselves to bed when it was getting dark. One got a bit confused and slept in the doorway, so had to shove her in to close the door.

This morning I've opened the door and thought I'd just have a quick check for eggs, tho didn't expect to find any so quickly. I have at least one egg and one girl permanently attached to the nest box! On checking again, have 2 girls in boxes, so remain hopeful we might get more yet.

Not had them 24 hours yet, but I love them already!

We got ours from the British Hen Welfare Trust. Donation of £4-£5 per hen.

Worth every penny. Just got to name them and learn how to identify one from the other now:j

Red_Doe

susyrosy wrote: »

This morning (9.00) I heard a dreadful squawking - and another of my hens has gone. I'm now down to two, having now lost 2 in the last couple of weeks. No sign of feathers, last remaining hens up a tree and won't budge. I don't know if it's a fox or a cat. It's all very sad.

Susy

Perhaps a fox? My cat is terrified of my hens, as they run at her and peck her bum.

ljonski

This morning (9.00) I heard a dreadful squawking - and another of my hens has gone. I'm now down to two, having now lost 2 in the last couple of weeks. No sign of feathers, last remaining hens up a tree and won't budge. I don't know if it's a fox or a cat. It's all very sad.

Susy

I agree it was almost certainly a fox. They can jump quite high, but if you can try and find out how it got in. Can you see any fox poo. its very smelly and looks like it has a tail. i can#t stress how important it is to flood the perimeter with male urine which acts as a deterrent.
read this site for any advice

http://www.downthelane.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=4033876afcde350e3ba1406232fad856

RebekahR

Thanks for the link. Just found some nice ideas for making hen house which we will be doing come spring ... http://www.downthelane.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5920&sid=876cf323abb4fe4ed7df259b20f8a6b5

angelsmomma

ginnyknit wrote: »

Hiya guys, Im a little sad, I have to get a new home for my girls, we have landlord problems and the builders moving in. So if anyone in th Manchester area would like 3 ex batts, beautiful, good manners and really funny let me know. They eat layers pellets and anything that stands still , don't mind cats ( not to eat of course only cos they can't swallow them whole) and lay usually 3 a day. They are Billy, Bob and Beaula. Ive only had them since February but adore them. :(:(

Did you find a home for your girls yet?

canspendnomore

Well my girls seem to have settled really well and in three days we have 11 eggs.

Their success has left me with a question, however,

how do I know what size eggs they are - I have recipes that say 1 medium egg for example.

Does it make that much difference between small medium and large eggs?

angelsmomma

canspendnomore wrote: »

Well my girls seem to have settled really well and in three days we have 11 eggs.

Their success has left me with a question, however,

how do I know what size eggs they are - I have recipes that say 1 medium egg for example.

Does it make that much difference between small medium and large eggs?

A medium egg weighs 2 oz from what I remember. My girls have laid eggs between 1/2 oz (tiny) to 3 1/2 oz.

canspendnomore

angelsmomma wrote: »

A medium egg weighs 2 oz from what I remember. My girls have laid eggs between 1/2 oz (tiny) to 3 1/2 oz.

Thanks for that I did wonder if I could weigh an egg, but wasn't sure if it was accurate enough.

The way my girls are doing so far, I'd best find some good egg recipes pronto!

mollypoppy

Does anyone know anywhere in Co Down, NI to get cheaper layer pellets. Thanks in advance