Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Chickenopolis

My hens won't leave the Eglu because of the snow !! Anyone else experiencing this ?

ionahenor2

Chickenopolis wrote: »

My hens won't leave the Eglu because of the snow !! Anyone else experiencing this ?

lol Mine came out into their covered pen but wouldn't come outside. They just stood at the open doorway.

On my way for the newspaper I saw a fox trot across the top of the drive so went back and shut their pen door.

They came out in the snow this afternoon but it was only for a short time. Their feet were cold.

Mumof2_2

Mine are out and about and I've let them into the front garden to have a peck around in the leaves. They only seem to go into the Cube to lay or at bed time; outside is waaaay more exciting!

tjak

My girls are sulking just now - from the five, I have had one egg yesterday and one today.

We have been having a problem with them pecking each other and stripping away all the feathers under the tails and on their tums, fitted bumper bits to all 5 which worked for a few weeks, but now two of them are back to being bald again :eek:
I have checked for mites, but nothing, and I am just confused ...

RacyRed

Beccatje wrote: »

I keep finding the water frozen in the coop as well..

On top of that, the chooks keep knocking the drinker over.... which is not good ofcourse.. So I'm wondering if I could hang it up?.. Would that work? Or would they make it swing too much and splatter water everywhere? (which will turn into ice..)

They knock it over now because it sits on the thick layer of straw I put in there.. I've tried putting it up higher by placing it on top of a turned upside down pot, but they knock it off there and all...

Sooo.. the last two days I've just gone and taken a bowl of water.. and sat there watching them drink.. then taking it away when they were finished... Not very handy when I have to go back to work on monday.

I do love the snow and the freeze, but it's not good for the chooks.. ;-)

I found things easier when I stood the drinker on a big flat lid, ensuring the whole thing is on as flat a bit of ground as I could find. I used the lid of one of those big wild bird fat ball containers, the ones that hold 50 balls. It is a great fit but I think the top of a sweet tin would work just as well.

Mumof2, so sorry to hear about Betsy.

I had the run door fastened back against the top of the run wall to stop it banging in the wind. I came out one day to find nugget jammed really tight, high up between the door and the wall. She looked like one of those squished creatures from the roadrunner cartoons!

How on earth she got herself in there is anyone's guess! I thought I was going to lose her but after being stiff for a day or 2 she seems fine now, thank goodness!

Chickenopolis

RacyRed wrote: »

I had the run door fastened back against the top of the run wall to stop it banging in the wind. I came out one day to find nugget jammed really tight, high up between the door and the wall. She looked like one of those squished creatures from the roadrunner cartoons!

How on earth she got herself in there is anyone's guess! I thought I was going to lose her but after being stiff for a day or 2 she seems fine now, thank goodness!

I am glad nugget is ok , you must have been beside yourself . I did chuckle re the "squished creature" image. Wiley Coyote I think its called (squished creature with bloodshot eyes) x

lostinrates

Re water being knocked over, in summer for small groups i use large pottery dog dishes, and for larger groups i use litter trays.....we used to buy a litter that came with a free tray each time, so we have loads of these.

Atm i have a heat lamp up and i make sure part of one water tray is under the lamp, so at least one water will be avilable at all times.

I am simply not strong enough to handle the hanging waterers any more. . Unless i had loads of them, lol.

RacyRed

Did anyone see Alan Titchmarsh (I think it was) on TV saying that the hen jumpers are not much good in really cold weather and that the girls are best being brought indoors?

I'm getting very tempted to give mine the run of the utility room at night just now

Gigervamp

Mine all cuddle up together. Most sleep on the floor, but the ones who prefer to roost all squash up on the bar!

We collected our two new girls last sunday. They're cuckoo marans. They're settling in nicely, although they're very wary of me still and run to the other side of the pen when I go in there! I'll give it another week or two and then see if I can tempt them to come to me with some corn or mealworms.

RacyRed

Gigervamp wrote: »

Mine all cuddle up together. Most sleep on the floor, but the ones who prefer to roost all squash up on the bar!

We collected our two new girls last sunday. They're cuckoo marans. They're settling in nicely, although they're very wary of me still and run to the other side of the pen when I go in there! I'll give it another week or two and then see if I can tempt them to come to me with some corn or mealworms.

Welcome to your new Cuckoo Marans! They sound gorgeous, got any pics yet?