Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Rose_Crow

We've not really had any issues with our ex bats, got the original group of 4 (still at my parents house) 2 years ago and 3 of them are still with us and doing very well. I've not had any experience of premature death with ex-batts, but then I've not exactly had them for years and years. Despite what they look like when they come out the farms, they are generally healthy and have the full gambit of vaccinations. The BHWT never rehome an ill bird knowingly, have keep back all the 'poorlies' for extra TLC at their co-ordinators homes.

That said my new group of 3, whom I've had nearly 2 months are laying eggs like it's going out of fashion. On the other hand, my parents ones look incredible, but don't lay often any more.

Athome1

With the shorter days my 6 ex bats are down to 1-2 eggs (in total) a day:o But they have produced really well through the Spring and summer so I'm not complaining.

jennyjelly

Athome1 wrote: »

With the shorter days my 6 ex bats are down to 1-2 eggs (in total) a day:o But they have produced really well through the Spring and summer so I'm not complaining.

Aah, poor old girls probably need a rest!

My four don't seem to be slowing down yet, though one that we got as a POL in July still hasn't even started laying - I read that if they start laying in the Autumn they will probably continue through the winter, so hopefully she will keep us going if and when the others stop.

They are taking themselves off to bed earlier and earlier now - the weather isn't great today and already they are pottering up and down the ramp in anticipation.

poohbear59

Yesterday we bought three pol all rare breeds and three ex batts. I have to admit to having a soft spot for ex batts.

We built a new temporary house and run and despite it being 4oC and hail stones with very strong winds they appear to all be okay. Our four older ex batts were very curious.

Gigervamp

As our girls are slowing down and demand for their eggs exceeds supply, we're going to be getting some new girls soon.

Of course, that means more housing is needed, so hubby has been busy building a new coop. It's 4' square, so it's pretty spacious and as it's the first time hubby has built anything like that, he's done a pretty good job. It just needs the roosting bars put in and to be treated.

He's made it with a removable back wall so that it's easy to sweep out and all the framework is on the outside so there are less nooks and crannies inside for red mite. Our council gave us new recycling boxes, so the old ones will be used as nesting boxes. I'll post some pics when it's finished.

RacyRed

I have a quagmire where my lawn used to be.

The rain water isn't draining and I sink a couple of cm into it when I go into the hen enclosure and the chooks feet are constantly wet just now. Not good. Time for a new surface for them. I've read about using gravel (what kind?) or wood chipping, what do you use? What have you used and wouldn't use again?

I'm driving myself round in circles with this one

gillian62

I use wood chippings (not bark chippings) over the whole of their garden area. It was a real bonus with all the wet weather we had earlier in the year, their feet were always kept dry.

ljonski

It is important that chooks have somewhere dry to go in Somme like conditions. I use an old log which they are quite fond of.

RacyRed

ljonski wrote: »

It is important that chooks have somewhere dry to go in Somme like conditions. I use an old log which they are quite fond of.

Good idea! I don't have a log but I can put an upturned plant trough in with them until I get a proper solution worked out.

Thanks for telling me about your wood chippings gillian62, that sounds as if it might be the way to go.

Beetlemama

We are so excited! After months of feeding our new two chickens with nothing in the box but chicken poop, we have our first egg! go girls! - not actually sure who laid it but hooray for chickens that work!
:j

We bought them as babies assured that they will start laying soon but since June we've had nothing. We were beginning to think that they were going to be pets rather than involved family members that contributed to the household.

...Of course now they'll probably stop laying as it's winter. Our old hens laid all the time no matter what, but I've read that they sometimes stop in the cold and start again as the nights get shorter. Have to wait and see, but for now....Go chickens go!