Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Frugaldom

Thanks Batcatz, looking forward to seeing the pics. I have lavender Araucanas, too, as my longterm plan is to develop my little flock into all blue egg layers, but mine aren't overly big. I think I only have 3 hens that are fullsize out of everything I have here, but they live in the main henhouse and won't need to go into the small coop at all.

batcatz

nykmedia wrote: »

Thanks Batcatz, looking forward to seeing the pics. I have lavender Araucanas, too, as my longterm plan is to develop my little flock into all blue egg layers, but mine aren't overly big. I think I only have 3 hens that are fullsize out of everything I have here, but they live in the main henhouse and won't need to go into the small coop at all.

Ah cool, I can't wait to get my Araucana! She is only 6 weeks old so I am waiting till after my holiday to collect her. I'll have blue and speckled brown eggs. I think you will like the coop then. :-) This is my chickens permanent home to be so that's why i need to increase the run. I will keep the house and expand the run... maybe even put in a walk in run.

Sorry, I'm unable to post photos or links. Not allowed as a new user! :-(
Amanda

batcatz

yay, sent the photos privately! Amanda

Frugaldom

Thanks, batcatz, it's a neat little run and looks ideal for sitting on top of a couple of large slabs. Looks like it'll be OK as a secure run once it's on slabs. I'll only have the hens in it for feeding, sleeping, laying and as nighttime security. Just wish mine would hurry up and arrive. Hoping it'll be here early next week then will get piccies of it with the hens inside.

Katharine

At last I can return to the internet and chicken thread, from the new house!:beer:
Chicken news from the farmhouse!

Angelina hatched 5 chicks from the 13 for my friend, I did say that was too many for a bantam but hey-ho. The one I used to keep her sat hatched first, it was an inbred mongrel egg that had sat in my kitchen to be eaten for a fortnight!

The new (semi-rescue) chickens have taken to free rangeing very well and straying further now, there certainly weren't any issues with them attacking my mongrels, my canny little chickens boss them about! The new girls are unimpressed with Lyalls amorous advances.

Five days after we moved in something took the black and splash cockrels and my blue hen maran chicks. In the middle of the day so I suspect a stoat as I found evidence of a quick unmessy kill.

All the alive chickens are loving it tho and keeping me on my toes with their egg hiding. I will read all the recent replies once I have the time and only just got the internet working. Hope you and your chooks are all well.

Frugaldom

Welcome back Katharine, I'm glad the move went well and you're back online Sorry to hear about the kills, I'm always worried about weasels here, as I have seen one in the garden on several occasions and my lot are forever scratching about under the hedges. Have you unpacked the camera & lead yet? We need to see Angelina's chicks.

My sis now has Ned the Thug + 4 of Mrs Grey's chicks, so I have only Flash Harry + 2 left from that brood. I'm hoping neighbour will be able to have one of the spare cockerels + the 5 hen chicks from grumpy Oprah's brood and then I'll can have a reshuffle as soon as the new coop arrives. It's time for the Silkies and Araucanas to be split up before they start laying. Captain Beaky still hasn't found a new home, so it's looking like I'll end up just getting a couple of larger hens to keep him company.

ANY_CHANCE

Hi all,
I love reading how you are all getting on with your chickens and i am picking up plenty of tips on how to look after them.

I am still reading up on the internet when i can about what is involved.

I am wondering if i do go ahead if i should invest in a sturdier hen house and build the run myself. I have seen some lovely houses here

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/poultry_housing.html

i just thought that if i paid £120 for a cheaper one it may not last very long?

KAAT_LADY

Katharine wrote: »

At last I can return to the internet and chicken thread, from the new house!:beer:
Chicken news from the farmhouse!

Angelina hatched 5 chicks from the 13 for my friend, I did say that was too many for a bantam but hey-ho. The one I used to keep her sat hatched first, it was an inbred mongrel egg that had sat in my kitchen to be eaten for a fortnight!

The new (semi-rescue) chickens have taken to free rangeing very well and straying further now, there certainly weren't any issues with them attacking my mongrels, my canny little chickens boss them about! The new girls are unimpressed with Lyalls amorous advances.

Five days after we moved in something took the black and splash cockrels and my blue hen maran chicks. In the middle of the day so I suspect a stoat as I found evidence of a quick unmessy kill.

All the alive chickens are loving it tho and keeping me on my toes with their egg hiding. I will read all the recent replies once I have the time and only just got the internet working. Hope you and your chooks are all well.

sorry to hear about cockerels and hens ,, nice to hear you have all settled in ok

hope to hear from the farmhouse soon:D

KAAT_LADY

we are hoping to go away for a few days soon and cant find anyone to ;ook after the chooks along withthe cockerel ..he gets a bit excited so may knock someone down if they are not big enough ..any ideas

this is him

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/photo.php?pid=30496400&id=1424430298

KAAT_LADY

Wheres everyone gone ??????