Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

susyrosy

Oh no! I went to the Little Hen Rescue place in Cambs and came back with three THREE new-to-me hens! They're in the old hen house and have already laid a few eggs. My three old hens are bantams, and two of them muscled into the hen house and started on the new hens' food. Today, one of them tried it again, and got very pecked by two of the new hens, and scuttled out asap. I've no idea whether they will be able to mix, as the bantams have the run of the neighbourhood and my garden, but the new ones have GIANT ROC claws and will wreck everywhere. They have a run, but I must try and inveigle my son into creating a bigger one.

song_of_calliope

I got two chickens about 3 weeks ago and they're lovely little things. However, one of them started laying a week ago and the other one hasn't started yet. They're hyline hybrids and one is dark brown and the other medium brown. I can't tell which one is laying but I'm getting slightly paranoid that the one that isn't laying may be a cockerel - yikes!

Gigervamp

What does her comb look like? It gets red when they start laying.

Mojisola

Gigervamp wrote: »

What does her comb look like? It gets red when they start laying.

In addition, you can tell which hens are in lay by testing their pubic bones - they get quite wide apart once the hen is laying.

song_of_calliope

Thanks for the tips. I checked their combs and they both look about the same, medium-pink I would say. One of them has a bigger bum than the other - maybe that's the pubic bones? I guess I'll just wait and see if egg production steps up.

mardatha

Newer pics sorry about mesh but OH took the pics and he won't go inside the run !
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51405939@N02/5617011629/in/set-72157626367978965/

ScratchandSniff-->[X]

mardatha wrote: »

Spirit I'm just new to chickens but I read somewhere that Vaseline rubbed into the leg will cure it .

Yep, applied very heavily.

TryingToBeOldStyle

Hi Ive just joined MSE and found this thread and would love to join you all I must admit i haven't read through it all yet, I need to wait until I have a bit more time for that!

I have 3 Silkies and currently have some chicks.....Cochins, Araucana's and RIR's although Im not sure which of those we are keeping yet! they are a week old and under heat. They are actually right next to me now, Im on the sofa on the laptop and the'r brooder is next to me and they are chirping away

RebekahR

Pictures! Pictures!! :-D

TryingToBeOldStyle

It wont let me post any yet Im too new