Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

edmund_blackadder

We let the 3 girls out for a wander round the garden yesterday for a few hours. They really seemed to enjoy the freedom.

So far the cat seems wary but watchful.

The Border Collie has already confronted them and got squarked and flapped at (which is good). She still seems keen on circling them and following them around a lot and has chased them (one at a time) occasionally ... is this going to cause the chickens real stress? Just hoping she doesn't get too cocky and go for one of them.

Janebo12

Hi, I've popped in on here a couple of times for a read, but really want to ask some advice.

My OH bought 3 isa warrens back in May, and although they are wonderful pets none of them have started laying yet. We were worried that we had been sold cockerels at one point :rotfl:so my husband went back to the farm and asked them, they said that they should be "laying anytime...".

Could it just be that they were very young when we got them or do you think there is a problem? Do they give any signs when they are close to laying? (like change in droppings etc?)

Sorry to sound dense on this, but really hoping somebody can shed some light on this for us.

Thanks in advance.

Amanda

steady__eddie

"My OH bought 3 isa warrens back in May"

These here isa warrens, are they cash isa warrens or stocks and shares isa warrens ? :rotfl:
Sorry for the flippancy but I stray onto here from the savings and investments forum 'cos it cheers me up. Someone with considerably more knowledge than myself will no doubt answer your query shortly. FWIW I reckon that as long as you have been sold warrens and not Norwegian Blues, then you should be alright.

edmund, glad to read that you have now got your flock and that they are holding their own against your child abducting collie

Janebo12

Hi, bumped this up in hope of a response to my above post.

Thanks

edmund_blackadder

Janebo12 wrote: »

Hi, I've popped in on here a couple of times for a read, but really want to ask some advice.

My OH bought 3 isa warrens back in May, and although they are wonderful pets none of them have started laying yet. We were worried that we had been sold cockerels at one point :rotfl:so my husband went back to the farm and asked them, they said that they should be "laying anytime...".

Could it just be that they were very young when we got them or do you think there is a problem? Do they give any signs when they are close to laying? (like change in droppings etc?)

Sorry to sound dense on this, but really hoping somebody can shed some light on this for us.

Thanks in advance.

Amanda

Sorry no advice really as I have only owned chickens for 4 days! So far they have not laid anything either but I suspect/hope that it is because they are not quite at point-of-lay yet. (I think they are about 20 weeks old)

May is a good 3-4 months ago (depending on when in May you got them) and sounds like a long time to me... do you have any idea how old they were supposed to be when you got them in May?

Hopefully someone will be along soon to advise you ...

edmund_blackadder

steady__eddie wrote: »

edmund, glad to read that you have now got your flock and that they are holding their own against your child abducting collie

Well she still seems overly interested in them and I suspect annoys them .... but no casualties (on either side) so far!

Janebo12

edmund_blackadder wrote: »

Sorry no advice really as I have only owned chickens for 4 days! So far they have not laid anything either but I suspect/hope that it is because they are not quite at point-of-lay yet. (I think they are about 20 weeks old)

May is a good 3-4 months ago (depending on when in May you got them) and sounds like a long time to me... do you have any idea how old they were supposed to be when you got them in May?

Hopefully someone will be along soon to advise you ...

Being new to this and quite naive, we thought they were around point-of-lay, but hey-ho...

They did settle in very quickly to their new home and took themselves off to bed when it got later and they follow us around when we let them out (and yes we have looked around the yard for lost eggs!). I suppose it's just a waiting game - will keep you informed.

Janebo12

edmund_blackadder wrote: »

Well she still seems overly interested in them and I suspect annoys them .... but no casualties (on either side) so far!

Just wanted to add onto this - our cross labrador/alsatian likes getting into the chicken run when they are out for a wander round the yard - she goes in there to eat any left-over food and other bits the chickens leave behind iyswim :rotfl: - she is getting rather old - perhaps she thinks she is a chicken too

angelavdavis

All I can add Janebo12 is to ensure they have plenty of clean water. Mine have been a bit on/off lay this year - not helped by one of the hens going broody and upsetting the others.

KAAT_LADY

Janebo12 wrote: »

Hi, I've popped in on here a couple of times for a read, but really want to ask some advice.

My OH bought 3 isa warrens back in May, and although they are wonderful pets none of them have started laying yet. We were worried that we had been sold cockerels at one point :rotfl:so my husband went back to the farm and asked them, they said that they should be "laying anytime...".

Could it just be that they were very young when we got them or do you think there is a problem? Do they give any signs when they are close to laying? (like change in droppings etc?)

Sorry to sound dense on this, but really hoping somebody can shed some light on this for us.

Thanks in advance.

Amanda

hello jane

i have been told that you have to feel the pelvic bones towards the vent to see if they are spread ,,if they are they will be laying soon but if not then you will have to wait

and also when the combs are red ,,but its just wait and see