Keeping hens and ducks chat.

StarShapedPeg

Hello Edwink and all

How is everyone getting on?

My three are bored stiff as well, Edwink. I've tried as much as I can to make it more interesting but nothing compares to the nivarna of being outside. I've given them huge logs, bales of hay, there is straw everywhere in the barn now. I hide millet spray, chopped lettuce and mealworms, seeds in plastic water bottles with holes. My husband has put a light up for them and just this weekend we dragged the compost heap in for them to reorganise as they see fit.

I think I might be going round the bend with it all! It's such a tip but at least they are dry and warm. Oh the other thing that's a massive hit at the moment is a little ladder which we made and propped up, so they spend hours perching on that and preening themselves. I've started opening the windows now as I'm worried that it's too stuffy but only when I'm in with them.

It's getting lighter now so they're keen to get up and out in the mornings. Another month and a bit to go. Deep joy!

edwink

StarShapedPeg wrote: »

My three are bored stiff as well, Edwink. I've tried as much as I can to make it more interesting but nothing compares to the nivarna of being outside. I've given them huge logs, bales of hay, there is straw everywhere in the barn now. I hide millet spray, chopped lettuce and mealworms, seeds in plastic water bottles with holes. My husband has put a light up for them and just this weekend we dragged the compost heap in for them to reorganise as they see fit.

Done as much as you can??? OMG you have done wonders for them. Awww bless you what a lovely thoughtful hen keeper you are. Bless them too of course. To be honest I really do not think there is much more you could do or maybe there is just one thing. How about hanging some greens or some cabbages from the roof so they can peck at them. Just thinking though as they are in a barn it maybe too high to attach the string/rope to the roof. Maybe you could hang a couple of cabbages from the walls by pinning the string/rope there. Just a thought as I have done that in my coop and they love eating/playing with it.

I have been watching the wild birds on our feeders down by our house today and keep my fingers crossed I continue to see them feeding and playing. Just hope we don't witness the Avian flu here. We are in Hertfordshire by the way. Where does everyone else live? Not actual address of course but county if you don't mind saying??

Hope everyone is ok and managing ok

Edwink

CAFCGirl

Kent here and I can honestly more people dont know/fail to act on the ban than adhere to it on my travels/conversations....

StarShapedPeg

Hi Edwink
Thank you for your reply. I will instruct long suffering husband to hang it up for me! That's a great idea.
Not one single egg from them since summer, but they've all moulted now so at least they look better, and have their duvets back.
We're in misty Surrey.

Better_Days

Sorry about your indoor girl edwink :A
Every one is special.

Bitterly cold here today. I've just taken the girls out two ice cream containers of warm oats, with yogurt, grapes and spaghetti mixed in. Total silence while they filled their crops with the goodies. Even Hermione, who is usually a bit of a bully, was too distracted by the surprise tasty treat to chase the others away.

Dizzy_Imp

Sorry to hear your little indoor girl passed away Edwink

It's been very cold here recently (Shropshire/mid-Wales border) with some nights getting down to -8°, which felt a bit parky, I can tell you! Hard frosts look beautiful first thing and the frozen mud is a welcome change from the Somme in the paddock.

Our girlies are doing OK. I feel dreadful about keeping them shut inside, but rules is rules... Not that everyone round here is keeping their birds in. If you don't follow the DEFRA advice, and allow your birds to free-range, what can be done? I mean, can you be fined for example? One woman in the village (a veterinary nurse no less) hasn't put her birds away since the first warning was issued :eek:

Anyway, treats of mealworms and corn are being well received by my cluckies...

edwink

Thank you everyone for your kind words over the loss of Sky my little indoor hen. Really sweet of you all and it really means a lot. I do miss her.

Unfortunately little rescue hens only live for around 18 months to 2 years after rescue. Such short little lives but at least they have a lovely retirment with us and they are thoroughly spoilt but I can not help it.;) Just love them all to bits and they really are my world.:D

They were not happy at all today and are now getting grumpy with each other. When I went up to put them to bed a fight broke out and our Cockerel just carried on eating his supper and totally ignored them. Normally he would step in and stop it but he didn't for some reason so I had to rush in and pull them apart. Then another 2 started on each other but that one wasn't too bad and they stopped and just stood staring at each other then walked away. I could not believe it when the first 2 started fighting again. I shouted "thats it girls bed, bed, bed and some of them started to go in but most of them didnt want to :mad: so I just stood there waiting for them to all go in. Never known them to do that before as they normally follow the Cockerel in at night. Grumpy lot they were tonight. This is happening because they are so used to being free range and so am I . I hate to see them fighting but I suppose frustation is now kicking in because they have been together in one space for a while now. Roll on end of Feb that's all I can say. Ih I do hope the ban is lifted then.

How is everyone else getting on? All harmony in the camps I hope

8 eggs today so our favourite egg and chips for supper with a wholemeal chip butty. Yum, yum.

Edwink

beautiful_ravens

I completely re-did my chicken tunnel, tacked it onto an older chicken pen and they now have more room and more daylight which seems better. They have managed to peck holes in the lower netting that Ive used, so I will have to do some repairs.

The problems keeping them penned change with the weather, one minute the ground is frozen and they cant scratch and look bored, then it starts raining and they get really dirty and the ground is all gross and its dark. Putting their little coop inside a tunnel will make changing their bedding very difficult, and the one layer is not laying since I moved them.

I still have a strong feeling that its futile, I keep seeing/hearing of other people with garden chickens around here who 'haven't bothered' for one reason or another. I have gone to so much trouble for 2 chickens, and I would bet the date gets extended again past the 30th feb, but other people aren't bothering, which make my efforts seem in vain and just annoying.

*sigh*

Dizzy_Ditzy

Dizzy_Ditzy wrote: »

It's very rare that I can get all five girls in one picture. Sorry it's not the best I decided to turn over done of the soil in the run. The girls are loving having a scratch through it

Helloooooooo

Thought I'd pop by and say hello

I still have my five girls and they are not happy that they can't go out. It's a pain for me too because they just get in the way when I'm in their run doing a straw change :eek: we built them an outdoor "henclosure" where we let them out into when either or both of us are at the allotment. They love it and as soon as they see the gate being moved they are all bouncing up at the door waiting to explore

We've been giving them plenty to do during their confinement, plenty of straw to scratch through, corn scattered through the straw, fruit kebabs, green hung up for them etc and but you always feel guilty that it isn't enough don't you?

All five of mine are bare bottomed :rotfl: one is losing her fluffy knickers around her legs, one has a bald stripe going over her head like a rainbow, one has two bald patches on her chest and another has nakedness under her wings! My broody is bald under her belly but she always is anyway.

When the bird flu thing just started, we thought we had it :eek: poorly hen was showing more than enough symptoms but thankfully she rallied round :T

I only get to see them at weekends at the moment because it's too dark by the time I get home from work

Hoping to try and be around a bit more

edwink

beautiful_ravens wrote: »

I completely re-did my chicken tunnel, tacked it onto an older chicken pen and they now have more room and more daylight which seems better. They have managed to peck holes in the lower netting that Ive used, so I will have to do some repairs.

I still have a strong feeling that its futile, I keep seeing/hearing of other people with garden chickens around here who 'haven't bothered' for one reason or another. I have gone to so much trouble for 2 chickens, and I would bet the date gets extended again past the 30th feb, but other people aren't bothering, which make my efforts seem in vain and just annoying. *sigh*

Hi beautiful_ravens

Well done for making such an effort with giving your girls more space. I am sure that your girls are thankful for it.

I know what you mean about your efforts with others not bothering. But, as long as yours are protected by stopping any wild birds getting through the chicken wire and are completely covered over to stop wild bird poo landing on the ground yours are walking on your girls are fully protected and those that have not bothered are putting theirs in danger should the Avian Flu arrive in your area. Your girls should be fine though thats the way I am looking at it.

So your efforts are certainly not in vain because you have the responsibility for caring and protecting your girls and you have done all you can so give yourself a big pat on the back.

Edwink x