Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

spirit

Aw lovely, got any pics yet?

any particular reason that you didn't get a bluebelle?

rachbc

No reason - I just preferred the speckledy - she's beautiful!


let me know if you can't see it....

kjmtidea

We had a fox walk down our cul de sac at around 3pm this afternoon and it has just walked across my front garden again. I have made sure that my chickens are all locked up and secure but i'm still worried. Last year we had a fox come into our back garden at 5pm one day, my chickens were out, the fox grabbed one, my boyfriend smacked the fox round the head with the stairgate and he dropped the chicken and ran off. He then sat on the wall for ages watching us!

They are getting braver and braver, I assume they are very hungry? I love having my chickens out free ranging but it is moments like this that make me want to keep them in their run

mardatha

O thats bad- I would hate that. I live very remote and yet have never seen a fox around here in over 30 years. I suppose they all moved into the cities for an easier life !

dawn1974

Money_maker wrote: »

I have another poorly ex batt

Didn't think she'd survive the night but still with us (just). Spent hours on the net last night and decided to treat for coccidiosis, now have a 28 day egg withdrawal period :eek:

Got some nutri drops coming tomorrow - has anyone tried them as they sound like a miracle?

Fingers crossed for my little girl, she's a pretty little hen and bottom of the pecking order.

Aw, hope your hen get's better soon.

I hate it when any of my 6 ex-batt hens get sick.

ionahenor2

I had my Bluebelle (Bella) taken last year around 2pm. They had just been let out to free range and were still on the drive. OH went in for something and 3 mins. later there was just a pile of feathers. We never found her body. My first Blackrock(Roxy) was also taken the week before and we found her semi buried in the wood. Again it was in the afternoon. I only let them out when we are outside and have sight of them now.

RebekahR

Anyone here also keep ducks? Do ducks and chickens get on? Just built a pond and hubby wants duckies to swim on it! ... Bless ...

Mojisola

Compared to chickens, ducks are very messy. We looked after some friends' ducks one year when they went on holiday - never again! Slippery duck poo all over the garden - not nice. Their ducks tended to walk all over our plants rather than scratch round them like the chooks do. The garden took ages to recover.

rachelet

I am so glad I found this thread as it seems that there are other people who are just as addicted to chickens as I am. We started off two and a half years ago with three brown chickens (not sure of the breed) and three Copper Maran chickens from one of the local markets just to get some fresh eggs. Now the whole family is addicted and at the last count we had 35 chickens, 4 ducks and currently have 35 chicks aged 8 weeks and under.

I am lucky in that we live in the countryside in France and have around 4 acres to keep our chickens on, but I am always on the look out for the next breeds that I am going to get.

Kimitatsu

RebekahR wrote: »

Anyone here also keep ducks? Do ducks and chickens get on? Just built a pond and hubby wants duckies to swim on it! ... Bless ...

Yup we have ducks too

We have 6 campbells as they are not flighty and stay in the garden but they do rummage! They tend to go grubbing for insects all the time and love any water whatsoever - it doesnt have to be a pond. Bear in mind that they will eat anything that goes in the pond so if hubby is looking to make a wildlife pond or make it pretty you could have an uphill battle. Chooks and ducks live together quite happily, but you need to have water out for the ducks to bathe in and they do have a different diet as well.