Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Debt_Free_Chick

Gigervamp wrote: »

Still thinking of names for the silkies, but the orpington is named (Big) Bertha. She's lovely! So placid and cuddly!

I have a Buff Orpington and she's the same temperament - she's the only one we can pick up and cuddle.

As per your video, she also get's picked on too. I thought it was cos she's "Ginger" :rotfl:but perhaps it's more to do with the placid nature of the Orps. She's also bottom of the pecking order, even though she has three "daughters", which are now 9 months old.

TBH I don't know if all the youngsters are her daughters genetically (one certainly appears to be) but they were hatched from eggs laid by her and the others I acquired at the same time.

I have a very <ahem> efficient rooster :rotfl:

Gigervamp

DebtFree2012 wrote: »

Hi All

A really dumb question but is there a certain time of year to hatch chicks or is it done all year round?

Much appreciated.

It's usually spring/summer for hatching chicks, although the commercial growers must do it all year around.

Gigervamp

HeatherintheHills wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Giger, another chick, 3 Silkies and what a beautiful orpie! I loved the way she wasn't taking any nonsense from Blackie and got your OH to give her "the tour". And wow! Haven't those chicks grown fast! If I had your space and set up I wouldn't be able to resist getting more.

It won't be long now before we have to register with DEFRA. I think we're up to 39 now and if all the other eggs hatch, we'll be just over the 50 requirement.

The problem is, there are so many lovely breeds and like Pokemon, I've gotta catch them all! :rotfl:

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I have a very <ahem> efficient rooster :rotfl:

I've noticed the boys take their jobs very seriously! :rotfl: Our drake seems to have taken a fancy to Sweetpea. Every now and then, she legs it across the field with him in hot pursuit!

Football Widow, welcome to the world of chicken keeping.

Debt_Free_Chick

Gigervamp wrote: »

It's usually spring/summer for hatching chicks, although the commercial growers must do it all year around.

One of my hens got broody last August and had sixteen (yes, 16!!!) chicks last september. They're all strong and healthy, despite the snow we had in November (remember?)

I kinda believe that nature knows - so if the conditions are right, then they'll breed, no matter what (unless you remove the eggs of course!)

steady__eddie

How uplifting it is to read of some good news for a change, the cycle of life etc.

I have a very <ahem> efficient rooster :rotfl:

During my bantam keeping days, I had a psycho rooster, whenever a male had a walk up the garden and had a look in the run he would stand there very passively and attempt to stare the visitor out. If on the other hand it was a female spectator, he would go and find the little white hen who was bottom of the pecking order and not much bigger than a wood pigeon and have his wicked way with her. What amused me though was if it had been raining and his feet were a bit muddy, the hen ended up with a couple of black crosses on her back and when she stretched her wings she resembled a first world war German aircraft. :rotfl:

ionahenor2

Hi Heather

She's doing ok but she does insist on trying to jump up on things that are too high, then banging her tum again, hence keeping her indoors on the flat. Their pen has lots of logs and high perches and the eglu is elvated too.

I let her out today and she did a bit of sunbathing then got an earful from Lettie so she got sent home. Daisy (top chook) then sat with Digger under the bushes.:)

She has OH well trained .He went digging up worms/slugs/woodlice etc with her as well as turning all the big pots and rockery stones up so she could check underneath them. They make a good team.:rotfl:

Debt_Free_Chick

steady__eddie wrote: »

What amused me though was if it had been raining and his feet were a bit muddy, the hen ended up with a couple of black crosses on her back and when she stretched her wings she resembled a first world war German aircraft. :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Please, stop it

HeatherintheHills

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: It must be the weather!

I took the camera up to the chooks yesterday and as soon as I started trying to take pics the boy started "performing" I counted once a minute for 5 mins until I put the camera away. Poor little Angel!

I must find out what they are and get him another little wife to share the load

Gigervamp

HeatherintheHills wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: It must be the weather!

I took the camera up to the chooks yesterday and as soon as I started trying to take pics the boy started "performing" I counted once a minute for 5 mins until I put the camera away. Poor little Angel!

I must find out what they are and get him another little wife to share the load

Hehe, chicken pr0n!

Gigervamp

My cleavage is cheeping! Another chick hatched yesterday and again the broodies ignored it. We brought it down and popped it in the box with the pekin mum and she took it under her, but this morning she rejected it. I've got a box with a hot water bottle wrapped up in a towel, but chick doesn't like being on its own, so now it's down my top and it's quietening down.