Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Gigervamp

Eww, that is nasty! The one in the pics looks meaty inside. I wonder if it's a fertilised egg that hasn't developed properly. Weird.

Sebastian's sounding better this morning. Last night he sounded like a duck! He's also a lot more lively and tried to get out of the catbox when I opened it to give them their feed this morning. I'll keep him (and Belle) here for another day I think, just to make sure though.

Iona, I don't think people (who don't keep chooks) realise how much personality chickens have. They just think of them as bits of meat. I think if more people did realise, they'd be more discriminating about what type of chicken they buy to eat.

We have 27 and they all have different personalities and foibles! One of the reasons I love Sebastian so much is the way he follows me around, then when I look at him, he acts all nonchalant. I swear, if he could whistle, he'd be standing there, arms behind his back, whistling. :rotfl:
We call it his Great Escape act, because he kind of shuffles his feet and pretends he's interested in something else, but I can see him looking at me out of the side of his eye! Bless him. :A

jennyjelly

Gigervamp, if I come back as a chicken can I live with you please? Yours are so lucky! Glad Sebastian is on the mend.

You're right, non-chicken people have no idea what characters they are. I swear I could tell mine apart blindfold, just from the way they behave. My favourite, Winnie was destined for a battery farm but got 'diverted' to me somehow. She sits on my lap if I sit down in the garden, or on my wellie if I stand still for more than 10 seconds, and plucks at my trousers to ask for corn. She is the smallest and funniest of the gang and gets fed by hand because of her chopped off beak. Louise is a big light sussex and she is the boss, very full of herself and squawks with indignity when I wash her dirty bottom - it's always dirty cos her vent seems to be a bit crooked, so it gets washed a lot much to her disgust! Charlotte is a quite timid Bluebell who won't ask for attention but loves it if you go to her and sort of glazes over when you stroke her. Then there's broody Betty who reminds me of a spinster school teacher who has to have everything just so. She is always first to the cabbage when I hang it up. I just wish we had space for more, but it would be impractical in our tiny garden.

Money maker, I've never seen anything like that. It's a shame that website doesn't give any explanation of the pics. If none of your girls are showing any signs of illness hopefully it's just a one off nasty, I'd go with the theory of a fertilised eff that went wrong but who knows.

Ah well back to the grind. Family coming to stay for 3 days(!) over Christmas so lots of cleaning etc to do.

Chickenopolis

Gigervamp- I am pleased to hear that little Sebastian is on the mend

jennyjelly - I agree they do all have diferent personalities and "quirks" . My old hen Marmite ( we have had her for nearly 6 years) cannot stand my OH and this has been the case from the get go . She will stalk away purposefully in a straight line as far away from him as possible , but not too quickly as to draw attention to herself. She keeps an eye on me in the kitchen as she knows which cupboard the pine nuts are kept in and she is in the kitchen like a shot if the cupboard door is opened .

We lost one of our hens today and it is still very upsetting I don't think I will ever get used to it even if I had 2000 of them .

3v3

On Chickenopolis - so sorry to read of your loss I agree, it is not something you ever get acclimatised to; particularly if they are kept more as pets than production.

Gigervamp

Oh, so sorry to hear you've lost one of your girls.

Money_maker

Gigervamp wrote: »

Eww, that is nasty! The one in the pics looks meaty inside. I wonder if it's a fertilised egg that hasn't developed properly. Weird.

Not fertilised, my girls are ex batts and never seen a c ock :rotfl:in their life :rotfl:

Reading up a bit, seems more likely an egg that has been held inside and 'recoated' constantly until hen able to pass. Really don't want to see another one - ever.

Sympathies to those who have lost or had poorly hens recently.

Gigervamp

Hubby uploaded a couple of pics that he took this morning. Here, and here.

jennyjelly

Aww, Belle & Sebastian are SOOO beautiful!

Chickenopolis, so sorry you've lost one of your girls.

Chickenopolis

Thank you all for your kind comments - us chicken folk can't help becoming so attached to them

Gigervamp- stunning pics such striking markings !

Gigervamp

Oh my goodness, what a mess they made of the kitchen today. See here!