Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

rubys_mummy

thank you so much for all your advice....i'm definitely steering away from ducks now, and going for 3 or 4 chickens!

i've seen point of lay pullets...are they just young chickens?

and i think i'm going for something like light sussex as it says they're good layers....any other good breeds that will lay 250+eggs, and can i mix breeds? ie will they live together?

Mojisola

rubys_mummy wrote: »

i've seen point of lay pullets...are they just young chickens?

and i think i'm going for something like light sussex as it says they're good layers....any other good breeds that will lay 250+eggs, and can i mix breeds? ie will they live together?

Point of lays are usually about 18 weeks old - just the right age to give them a chance to settle down before they start laying.

I've always had a very mixed flock - some rare breeds and some commercial layers. The different breeds tend to have different natures and then individual hens will vary within the breeds.

Eliza_2

The wind has blown my feed bin and all its contents away and layers pellets and corn are now scattered to the four winds across the Peak District. The birds will be having a party and the sheep will start laying eggs I'm sure.

In the meantime I'm snowed in with no hope of getting out to get any more feed for a good few days. What can I give them that I might find in the house? They've had porridge with blueberries this evening and can have that for days though they don't look too impressed! I have veg in the freezer ( and lots in the ground if I can find it under several feet of snow) They can have defrosted carrots and kale, some potatoes, rice? oats - all of that presumably. Is there anything else anyone can suggest till the thaw comes?

I've read that I can give them scrambled eggs, and I have loads of eggs, so might try those.

Otherwise please airdrop me in some bags of feed - I'll have to go and find the bin tomorrow. It's bleak up here!

Thanks

Liz

ljonski

Sorry about your accident. Yes they will eat vegetables , but you''ll need to boil them without salt to make some sort of broth. you can use up all your kitchen waste this way-but don't tell anyone that i told you....if you can clear a patch of land where they can do their own digging. Hth

Mojisola

Eliza wrote: »

In the meantime I'm snowed in with no hope of getting out to get any more feed for a good few days. What can I give them that I might find in the house? They've had porridge with blueberries this evening and can have that for days though they don't look too impressed! I have veg in the freezer ( and lots in the ground if I can find it under several feet of snow) They can have defrosted carrots and kale, some potatoes, rice? oats - all of that presumably. Is there anything else anyone can suggest till the thaw comes?

They'll eat everything you mention - I would add cooked rice and pasta. Have a look in the back of the cupboards in case there's any out-of-date tins.

I've had to clear out my Mum's store cupboard and our chooks are living the high life on her old stuff.

Ours must be different to yours because they would have my hand off if I offered them porridge and blueberries!

Eliza_2

Thanks both. A wonderful smelling concoction is simmering on the stove as I type. If they don't like it, I'll have it!!! Thanks for highlighting the bit about salt, I never use salt in cooking anyway so wouldn't have had any but it's a good reminder anyway.

I'm up high and have looked down for my bin which is black, but either it's covered in a new layer of snow or it's half way across Derbyshire by now. I don't think I could dig them an area to scrabble about it, I have to dig out a trench to get to them first, and then uncover their house - at least it's draught proof when it's covered in snow.

If only the wind would drop a bit! Keep warm everyone!

spirit

have you got any weetabix? on cold days, mine like it with some hot water on.

If you have some tins of sweetcorn maybe or tins of pilchard in sunflower oil you can mix that in too.

Eliza_2

Thanks. No I haven't got weetabix or sweetcorn but have got sardines in tomato sauce. If I scrape as much tomato off as poss that might keep them happy? Have got tuna, tinned and frozen.

Anyway the current concoction is outside cooling now so I'll go up and see them in a moment.

Mojisola

Eliza wrote: »

Thanks. No I haven't got weetabix or sweetcorn but have got sardines in tomato sauce. If I scrape as much tomato off as poss that might keep them happy? Have got tuna, tinned and frozen.

Anyway the current concoction is outside cooling now so I'll go up and see them in a moment.

Why scrape the tomato sauce off? Ours love tomatoes.

Eliza_2

Oh ok then. I was just trying to minimise the amount of salt/sugar etc. They're not impressed by the lovely goo I've given them, still if they're hungry enough they'll eat it I suppose.