Keeping hens and ducks chat.

edwink

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Aw, your poor Bluebell. Hope she's mite-free soon. Why haven't the others got them too?

I've noticed there's a rescue an hour from me next weekend.... But I'm nowhere near ready with my coop yet (er, it still doesn't exist although I do have a base for it now!) :rotfl:

But will it ever exist unless I have an actual deadline?!

Still fussing about what to make it out of, how to make it cleanable etc. Coming up with all manner of fancy designs but in reality I think we just need to start with *something* and tweak it once we know what we're doing....

So far it is only Bluebell that has the mites but hopefully the others wont get it too but only time will tell. The others are fine at the moment as we have checked them over and all looks good. Bluebell always sleeps in the nesting box with the Cockerel who also had these mites about a month a go but he is fine now. He is now sleeping on the perches with the other girls for some reason. We have fully dusted their hotel with extra dusting in the nesting box in case any are lurking in there. Bluebell seems brighter this morning thankfully. We checked her over yesterday and couldn't see any mites so looks as though the powder has done its job. Will check her again tomorrow to make sure everything is good. Bless her!

With the set up as you say Cheery you can tweak it later if needed. The main thing to think of with the design is to make sure there is not too difficult to keep clean. Are you going to use the pig arc that you found? What is it made of? Would it be easy to clean?. With regards to their run if you find you have made it too small you can always extend it when you have more time.

Try not to worry too much as I am sure you will be fine with them. I was nervous before I got my first 12 rescue girls but that soon wore off. Remember these little girls were in cages so they might appear a little depressed when you collect them. But, once they realise that they have a new home with fresh air, somewhere nice to sleep and treats they will soon pick up. Any problems please do pop on here and I can help you along the way. Let me know when you will be getting them and I will keep popping on here to help you along the way. Most of all just make sure they are safe from foxes and badgers. If the arc and run are going on soil just lay some slabs all around the edges so nothing can tunnel under the soil to get to your girls.

Oh and just to say we were not ready when we got our first rescue ducks but we got by ok and made sure they were save. They were small little things and to keep them warm at night we used to put a hot water bottle in their hut at night (the ceramic type) because we didn't want them to get cold:D.

Keep us up to date when you get them and don't worry I will be here to help.

Does anyone else around where you are have hens? If so you could ask them where they get their feed from. It is much cheaper to buy by the sack and not from a local pet shop.

Edwink

edwink

dizzybee wrote: »

hi, everyone , not posted in a while but on the 23rd June i shall become chicken mummy l to five little hens just sorting the garden out and buliding the hutch and coop ,

How exciting dizzy and not too long to wait now

We have another new hen keeper on our thread too who is also getting ready for hers.

Let us know how the hotel and coop are going if you have the time. Just remember the least amount of nooks and crannies the better for keeping it clean and less places for mites to hide if you do get them.

Like Cheery our other new hen keeper do pop on here if you need any help. I am always happy to help you along the way. No matter how silly you might think a question is please just ask away because it may be more important for your girls than you think.

Happy hen keeping everyone.

Edwink

Pyxis

Yes, Cheery and Dizzybee, Edwink is a fount of knowledge!

I don't have any hens, and so am always asking 'silly' questions, which aren't really silly, it's just that I don't know anything about hens, but am very interested!

edwink

Much, much happier hens running around like loonies here :j
Which I am so happy about. I hated them being undercover from the tarpaulin. They were ok being in the coop as there is plenty of room it was just really the cover that had to be over the top that I really, really hated.

Been very quiet on here from the other hen keepers that normally post on our thread. Hope everything is ok with you all and your hens are ok. Would love an update from you on how your hens are doing if you get the time.

Neighbour has cut her lawn so we have a nice bag of grass cuttings to give them this morning. I must remember to take a picture of them playing with it, eating it and raking it about looking for little insects in it.

Not so sunny here today as really overcast so wont see any sunbathing today. One of my favourite past times is just sitting there watching them spread their wings out taking in the warmth of the sun. Something special to watch when they do that

All for now folks

Edwink

edwink

Sadly I have a very old ailing ex-batt hen . She has come to live indoors with us bless her. She is currently sleeping propped up beside our welsh dresser with a cool fan blowing on her. We are south facing and it gets very warm in our kitchen but with 3 fans running it keeps the kitchen much cooler.

She became very quite on Saturday so we just kept an eye on her because it is better for them we think to spend time with their feathered friends outside. She spent most of Saturday standing around and sitting with two of our ducks but on Sunday she started to get picked on by the other hens. Sadly that is what they can do to each other. The pecking order gets disrupted when one is not well and moves down the pecking order. Much better for her now indoors with us.

She has hardly eaten anything today except a few pieces of cheese which we gave her to tempt her in to eating something. The only water she has drunk is what we have dripped on to her beak and she has opened her mouth slightly and drunk it.

Always sad when they are not well although we have been expecting this to happen this year as our ex-batts are getting on a bit. We don't know exactly how old this batch are because they were ex-batts but we rehomed them from someone who moved house. A rough guess would be between 4 or 5 years old which is actually very good for ex-batts.

Bless her but at least she is comfortable and not having to deal with this really hot weather whilst being indoors with us and is not being pecked by the others.

All for now

Edwink

suki1964

Long time no post

Mr duck broke a leg but antibiotics and painkillers have put him right. Couldn!!!8217;t catch him today for his last dose and not a chance

We have the joy of treating the hens for lice tomorrow. Not a favourite job but needs must

We are down to ten hens now with 6 regular layers. They are enjoying the dry weather and are loving thick slices of melon

Their new grass area has got good and thick so we will let them lose on that this coming week

Pyxis

Hello Suki! :hello:




Aw Edwink. Sorry about poorly hen.
But she's in the best place for tlc.

Hugs to you both!





Reading about them eating melon made me smile!

Out of interest, does what you feed them on make their eggs taste differently?
Or would giving them eg beetroot to eat, make their eggs reddish?

suki1964

My hens don't like beets or carrots

But you are right, whatever they are fed gives the eggs flavour

Mine get all the peelings, all salad trimmings and plate left overs as long as their is no onion

I also always cook an extra portion of rice or spaghetti for them, they love it

They also love cake.

Like humans really, love their carbs

Pyxis

suki1964 wrote: »

My hens don't like beets or carrots

But you are right, whatever they are fed gives the eggs flavour

Mine get all the peelings, all salad trimmings and plate left overs as long as their is no onion

I also always cook an extra portion of rice or spaghetti for them, they love it

They also love cake.

Like humans really, love their carbs

Do they like eggs?

edwink

That's funny because our girls love beetroot and will eat cooked carrots but they must be cooked.

Same here when we cook rice and pasta and cooking an extra portion to give them.

We grow load and loads of lettuces which we eat but they are mainly for the ducks and hens. We have been known to go through 2 lettuces every day when the weather is warm. Just put in the cucumbers today and again most of them are for the hens and ducks. Between them they can get through a whole cucumber in one day.

Tomorrow they are having the leftovers from our homemade Thai supper with 9 different veg in it and noodles. Just couldn't eat it all as it was too hot today but I know they will love it.

Our poorly hen has been a sleep since lunchtime. She is leaning against her little box with very slow breathing bless her and looks so peaceful. Have kept her cool and as comfortable as we could today. Our guess is she will be gone by the morning as she is definitely giving up. Sad but best for her really

All for now

Edwink