Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

ionahenor2

What lovely new girls Syman. Love their names. Can you tell them apart?

:rotfl:

Syman

ionahenor2 wrote: »

What lovely new girls Syman. Love their names. Can you tell them apart?

:rotfl:

Not really, Madras is slightly lighter and a bit more nosy than the others, but still waiting for characters to show.

Also got an egg this morning, weren't expecting that.

caitybabes

Congrats Syman! Did you get yours from Rokers in the end?

Our two ISA Browns have been laying nearly every day since we got them, we were really surprised. Our Rhode Rock (Delilah) is still yet to lay we think, although we can't be sure as we're not home week days to tell who's in the nest box.

We've decided, after a week, that their run is way too small so for the weekend during the day we've built a temporary chicken palace! It's a gazebo but only put one out of three poles on each leg so it's only about 3ft high, then wrapped chicken wire around the outside and put the gazebo tarp over the top. It's working really well and means we can have them on grass during the day whilst we're here to supervise. Unfortunately we can't let them free range as our fence is v. low and nextdoor neighbours have a dog. On that note, as we are planning to replace the fence, does anyone know how high ISA Browns and Rhode Rocks can fly?

Syman

caitybabes wrote: »

Congrats Syman! Did you get yours from Rokers in the end?

Our two ISA Browns have been laying nearly every day since we got them, we were really surprised. Our Rhode Rock (Delilah) is still yet to lay we think, although we can't be sure as we're not home week days to tell who's in the nest box.

We've decided, after a week, that their run is way too small so for the weekend during the day we've built a temporary chicken palace! It's a gazebo but only put one out of three poles on each leg so it's only about 3ft high, then wrapped chicken wire around the outside and put the gazebo tarp over the top. It's working really well and means we can have them on grass during the day whilst we're here to supervise. Unfortunately we can't let them free range as our fence is v. low and nextdoor neighbours have a dog. On that note, as we are planning to replace the fence, does anyone know how high ISA Browns and Rhode Rocks can fly?

Caity,
Yes we got them from Rokers, like you, we were told to go in and get the ones we want. Heather, the assistant, helped. By the end we had a fair audience.

For the flying, we had one jump on to the top of the run fence, about 5ft. so we clipped a wing on each of them.

They have spent most of today bumbling around the garden. Luckily, we have no neighbours to worry about and the fence is at least 7ft high.

**edit**Just found another egg behind the coop.**

Thriftkitten

HeatherintheHills wrote: »

Please come and take naughty car away from me!

One of the new hybrid girls has spurs and has been trying to take on my rooster through the fence. She has been top girl in a hen only run for a long time. I think this is going to take some dealing with, any tips anyone?

Hmmm I had this problem with Sue and we had to pass her on to a farm where they have many roosters, aparently she isn't crowing now and realises that she is all woman, not sure if she is laying though,
I feel your pain as I was cringing every morning with the cox a doodle doo ing!!!

Thriftkitten

Have had a lovely 3 days chook watching in the garden, all chickens are now in together, babies and all, although mum was a little protective at first,
I have taken heed of the advice on here and put a couple of mirrors in the run which the chooks really love, Dorathea spends most of the day looking at herself, her comb although still floppy is lovely and pink now.
The babies are having a ball dustbathing and copying what mum is doing, Marg the mum is enjoying her freedom and I have noticed that the babies are venturing away from mum for short periods which is good.
No fighting at all which is great and the 3 new girls are choosing to huddle with Rita and primrose in the hutch inside the shed even though there are also 2 plastic dog beds alongside the hutch.
Marg and babies are still in their hutch within the run but have put the portable run on the allotment which the chooks are having an hour or 2 in and helping to keep the growth down, plus a treat for them as their big run is now almost grassless.
We are overrun with eggs as all 3 of the ropeys are laying and my original 2. Not sure when Marj will resume laying after the 4 babies but all the neighbours are loving the eggs.
I haven't seen any beak pecking going on, I think with the sunshine and me putting a paddling pool full of soil in their run they have been so busy with things to do.
Yesterday they were all dustbathing or laying down in the run sunbathing, it was lovely to watch.

ionahenor2

I love the sound they make when dustbathing. Mine purr.:rotfl:

poohbear59

We got another 5 hens yesterday and have put them into a run where the old girls and boy can see them but not get to them. Our boy is loving having another batch of girls to tryn to keep in order. He is cocka doodle doing all day

Thriftkitten I would love chicks but haven't had any eggs for weeks. They must be hiding them somewhere but no sign of anyone sitting on any. My friend has a broody hen and asked for some eggs. That was the last day we had any eggs, about a month ago...

ionahenor2

I'm down to one egg every other day. Had to buy some eggs today. I need more chickens!!!!

Syman

ionahenor2 wrote: »

I'm down to one egg every other day. Had to buy some eggs today. I need more chickens!!!!

Them's dangerous words!!:D

Quick update on my new girls.

They seem to have settled quite well, occasional pecking order fisticuffs, but nothing too bad. Seems i have two(Omlette and Quiche) that stay together and Madras goes off and does her own thing. They have found just about every hidey hole in the garden so looking for them to put away before i go back to work is a hands and knees affair looking under hedges.

Yesterday was the first day i had three eggs.

In the evening they had an In-House competition to see who could "Bok" the loudest, which was a bit eerie actually.

Tomato is a hit Bananas not so much. Cob Corn is the next treat for tomorrow.

Take care all

Sy..