Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

ionahenor2

My 3 were well cheesed off this morning when they came out to find their world was white. They stood by my car fluffing out their feathers but not sure what to do next. So I cheered them up with some warm porridge on top of their pellet porridge. They also had a few chopped grapes before happily going back in their pen to dig in the dry woodchip.

Gigervamp

Lol. When we had hail the other day, one of the warrens gave it a look as if to say "What the heck is that?"

We've got half of a small field fenced off for them, but it's just a bog up there now (heavy clay soil), so I've opened the gate so that they can scratch around on the grass. The entrance from the garden to the field is just a wide opening, so I've got some rylock across it as temporary fencing.

This morning, little Sebastian saw me out by the kitchen door and decided he wanted to come down. He was walking backwards and forwards along the rylock obviously getting agitated, then stuck his head through it and then stepped through it. He then trotted down the garden and stood on the wall chattering to me. Then he came round and into the kitchen. He popped back outside for a bit just now, but came back in.

I did notice that he's got a bit of a runny nose again, so I gave him some of the powder that the vet gave us for his runny nose when he was poorly. Looks like I'm going to have some company today. :rotfl:

ionahenor2

Hope Sebastian gets over his cold soon. They do make me laugh though. They have memories like elephants.

Chickenopolis

Gigervamp wrote: »

I did notice that he's got a bit of a runny nose again, so I gave him some of the powder that the vet gave us for his runny nose when he was poorly. Looks like I'm going to have some company today. :rotfl:

Oh no poor little Sebastian - he had a cold a few months ago . I hope he gets well soon . He had a fine time in your kitchen eating baby tomatoes if my memory serves me correctly ?

Gigervamp

Lol, yes he did! His nose did dry up after a while yesterday, so maybe it was just the cold air that was making it run, I know it has that effect on me!

When he went back up to the field, Belle went running over to him and it really looked like she was telling him off for disappearing! They're so sweet and just like an old married couple.

sunflower76

I'm quite new to chicken keeping and I've had my girls for around 6 weeks now. I have four Warrens, all with very individual personalities, and we get up to two eggs a day from Rosie and Hyacynth. Daisy is about ready to lay I think as she is squatting, and her comb is growing nicely, although no sign of anything yet. Violet is a !!!!!!!!!! and very nervous and she's not showing any signs at all.

They're all rather spoiled and have lots of leftovers and treats as well as their corn, and have free run of our garden most days. When they aren't able to be out they have a run to scratch around in. They were wormed with 'proper' wormer when I had them, and I give them an organic preparation to stave the worms away, and will re-treat in another month or two.

Rosie is the big boss lady and she was the first to lay but recently she's taken to walking sideways. She's not stopped laying, is still the same personality wise and she has been doing it on and off for two to three weeks. At first we thought we thought it was because she had a load of soil stuck in her beak (fun getting that out) and it did seem to sort her out but she now does it intermittently, mainly when a bit scared or anxious. She isn't in any distress and I don't feel the need for a vets visit - it's an oddity as opposed to anything else. Any thoughts on what it could be?

jennyjelly

Can anybody advise me on my broody Speckledy please?

Betty went broody probably about five seeks ago and shows no sign of getting back to normal. I'm taking her off the nest several times a day but she just scuttles back in as soon as she can.

I thought this was only supposed to last about 3 weeks, and although I didn't make a note of the date it's certainly been a lot longer than that. Is there anything I can do to help her get over it? She doesn't seem unhappy but it can't be right going on this long surely!

Anybody had this happen to them?

ETA - Sunflower, have you checked Rosie's feet and claws? If one of them is a bit sore or uncomfortable it could be contributing. Other than that, if she does it when she's nervous it could just be a quirk that's specific to her and as long as she is in no distress I wouldn't worry.

Anoth ETA - Gigervamp, I well remember the worry of Sebastian's last cold, sounds like this is a bit of weakness for him. I do hope the magic medicine does the trick, and you've caught it earlier this time so fingers crossed!

Gigervamp

Jenny, one of our legbars was broody for about 4 or 5 weeks. One thing we did, was after turfing her out of the coop, we shut the pophole for a little while so she was forced to stay out for bit. She didn't like it and would look like she was having a tantrum, shaking her feathers and stamping her feet whilst screetching! She did eventually grow out of it. I wouldn't worry too much, as long as she's eating and drinking.

Sebastian's back in the kitchen. He was looking a bit poorly this morning. (I don't think it helped that Hatty, our orpington, was sitting on him when we went to lock them up last night!) Again, he's a bit snotty. He does seem very susceptible to colds poor thing. I do enjoy his company though, just wish I could understand what he's talking about as he's very chatty!

greenval

I'm not usually on here as i don't have chickens but just wanted to mention to those 'up north' that wigan based 'Lucky hens' are looking for homes for ex battery hens due to farmers getting rid of them ahead of new cage size regs.

jennyjelly

Thanks Gigervamp, I'll try shutting the pophole for a bit as long as the weather is ok. Betty does the screeching stamping tantrum thing every time I take her out of the box, so she is REALLY going to hate me now!

DH had the day off work on Friday and I was working so I asked him to be sure to take her off the nest as often as possible. Around lunchtime I got this text: No way of getting killer chicken off the nest, nearly had my fingers off. I hadn't thought about that as she is used to me, but when poor DH tried she actually drew blood. In the end he had to put a towel over her to get her out. She is such a mardy little mare!