Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

daisy_darling

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Have you considered asking the farmer to "deal with" the magpies, whilst you're out?

I'm such a softie it hadn't even crossed my mind lol. Also, neighbour Barley Mow is still coming to terms with the notion of chickens having names

To be honest I'm more likely to buy half a pint of maggots and set about taming it. I used to have a tame corvid about ten years ago so i am tempted, but hubby thinks i'm asking for more bother that way.

ionahenor2

Daisy you have my sympathies. We are having toruble with a family of squirrels still. Thay chew into everything and once in the pen can't always get out. They have chewed through the expanding foam twice that we have used to block a small vent in the top of the pen. The 2 babies are the worst offenders because they can squeeze in through the smallest gaps.

What about some plastic/cloth hanging flap over the opening or will this stop the girls using the nest. I'm sure Giger mentioned something similar a few pages back. or a childs plastic garden windmill placed by the opening. I tried this for the moles with no effect.

daisy_darling

ionahenor2 wrote: »

Daisy you have my sympathies. We are having toruble with a family of squirrels still. Thay chew into everything and once in the pen can't always get out. They have chewed through the expanding foam twice that we have used to block a small vent in the top of the pen. The 2 babies are the worst offenders because they can squeeze in through the smallest gaps.

What about some plastic/cloth hanging flap over the opening or will this stop the girls using the nest. I'm sure Giger mentioned something similar a few pages back. or a childs plastic garden windmill placed by the opening. I tried this for the moles with no effect.

I'll have a do at the cloth over the door thing and let you know, cheers x

ionahenor2

Sorry to hear about your chick Heather. Will you try again?

HeatherintheHills

ionahenor2 wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your chick Heather. Will you try again?

Yes I'm hooked now. There is a poultry market quite near me very soon so I'll go along out of interest and maybe see if I can find a couple more bantam hens for Henry to add to his harem

I was also given a gorgeous cockerel yesterday, easily big enough to look after my ex bats, so we will see what comes of that.

Like Henry, the new boy is used to living with other cockerels and is quite calm. When he arrived he pottered about in the run minding his own business, but Henry had quite a lot to say about him. When the new boy tried to introduce himself to one of the big girls Henry was straight there, all beak and claws. The new boy is about 3 times the size of Henry but you wouldn't have know it to see them! They had one good fight then both tried to leave home by attempting to fly over opposite fences. They settled and there were no more fights that I witnessed.

Last night I found the pair of them side by side on the roost, and this morning they were patrolling opposite sides of the run but not interfering with each other, so fingers crossed they are learning to tolerate each other. If not, I'll just have to divide the coops and run.

kirsty822001

aww sorry to hear that heather,hope u have better luck in the future.
My gorgeous girl' laid yes I know shock an egg!! HAHAHA yesterday and today! I was so surprised,I really dont know what i expected! What else was she going to lay!!!! she has been here 10days-2 weeks and nothing! I was ill, my hubby found it in the nesting box, I didnt believe him thought he was messing around!! Anyhow she is obviously happy, it was the 7th day of worming her too, so she had a treat (grape) for being so clever!
I am having trouble finding more 'red' hens to buy locally,,I have checked out a few places online, I need them to be close to cardiff and I do want red, I dunno why i just prefer them/her, but i guess thats what i have known!
I visited friends hens and they were grey and white and i didnt really love them! who knew i would be so hen fussy!!! Anyhow my girl is happy if she is laying right? but i need to get her some friends.

Thriftkitten

Well Marj the broody partridge brahma/cochin(not sure which) has been stuck fast to her eggs keeping them nice n warm, I filled the other side of the rabbit hutch with fresh water, carrot/corn mash and gave her some apple slices along with a handful of fresh picked green grass, she is getting up to eat although I havent seen her when popping in.
I have been leaving the hutch door open incase she wanted to stretch herself out or have a poo but she hasnt been out so dont know where she is pooing as cant see any dollops anywhere, do their poops reduce when they are broody or could she be doing it and sitting in it!!! smelly mare I hope not.
So this is day 3, well 2 and half to be exact as she went on them Fri afternoon, she looks sooooo sweet all puffed up and I have come over all maternal talking to her and telling her what a good mummy she is keeping the eggs warm.... Although I'm sure she would have my hand off in a split second if I tried to stroke her, don't think she has forgiven me for turfing her out of the coop on Friday!!! She put up quite a fight!
I don't think I'm going to bother "Candling" the eggs as even if we don't get anything from this batch of 6 I am glad I didn't upset her instincts and allowed her to brood.....I just wish she would have a poo so I know she not constipated hahahaha!!!!:rotfl:

ionahenor2

Heather I laughed when you said they both left home together. What 'mak'e is he? Do you have close neighbours that don't mind the crowing?

Kirsty Hope you're feeling better soon. You need a freshly laid boiled egg with soldiers!

Thriftkitten and Debt free chick Fingers crossed for new chicks.

Never too old How are the escapees doing. Are you able to catch them easily?

Giger. How is Duckypoos?

never_too_old

ionahenor2 wrote: »

Heather I laughed when you said they both left home together. What 'mak'e is he? Do you have close neighbours that don't mind the crowing?

Kirsty Hope you're feeling better soon. You need a freshly laid boiled egg with soldiers!

Thriftkitten and Debt free chick Fingers crossed for new chicks.

Never too old How are the escapees doing. Are you able to catch them easily?

Giger. How is Duckypoos?

Yes very easy to catch but i have a dog that i dont know 100% if she can be trusted.

HeatherintheHills

ionahenor2 wrote: »

Heather I laughed when you said they both left home together. What 'mak'e is he? Do you have close neighbours that don't mind the crowing?

I'm not sure what make he is, a local cross breed I think, he is black with coppery highlights and one of those squished up combs. I shall post a photo as soon as I can get him to stand still long enough for me to take one, he is not used to me yet.

All the neighbours have roosters too, so my boys just merge into the general morning crowing. In fact, both boys were given to me by neighbours. I had hens but no rooster - not allowed! :rotfl:

I'm going to have to separate the bantams and the hens though, the boys are not getting on, the little one is too frightened of the big one. If the weather holds that is this afternoon's little job.

Have you worked out how your hens are getting over/through/under the netting yet?

Kirsty, congrats on the eggs :T

I hope everyones chicks and run building is going well?

Giger, Duckypoos is growing so fast and is very handsome. Love your new trio, what beautiful birds. Your OH's commentaries on the videos really crack me up, they are so very entertaining, please pass on my thanks for the efforts he goes to posting them :beer: