Keeping hens and ducks chat.

edwink

Pyxis wrote: »

The answer to the perennial fox problem:

Get a pair of alpacas!

I would love a pair of alpacas they are so sweet. One spat at me once although that might have been a llama. I find it hard to tell them apart tbh.

Edwink

Pyxis

edwink wrote: »

I would love a pair of alpacas they are so sweet. One spat at me once although that might have been a llama. I find it hard to tell them apart tbh.

Edwink

I think llamas are bigger and have longer necks? And not such pretty faces. They are renowned for spitting, although I think alpacas aren't averse to a good spit!

I saw a good thing once which illustrates the differences between llama, alpacas and .......something else.

I'll see if I can find it........



Edit.....here is one....

https://www.openherd.com/articles/61/rising-sun-alpacas---alpaca-vs-llama-what-are-the-differences



In a nutshell.....





Now we know alpacas can guard hens.
Apparently they use llamas to guard herds of alpacas!

I wonder what they use to guard the llamas!:D





Edit....the other things are vicuñas and guaranos. The vicuña is thought to be the ancestor of the alpaca, which was bred for its wool.

dizzybee

Thank you for all the advice i am know finally set up and ready for sat, anyone else find that when they first started out they kept tweeting the coop, and run, i keeping thinking of things they would like in there have put a baby bath at the bottom for a dust bath,Logs to jump on,

edwink

dizzybee wrote: »

Thank you for all the advice i am know finally set up and ready for sat, anyone else find that when they first started out they kept tweeting the coop, and run, i keeping thinking of things they would like in there have put a baby bath at the bottom for a dust bath,Logs to jump on,

Hang some CD's on string from the roof of the run as they like anything that is shiny. They will spend time pecking at those for fun.

Edwink

edwink

Lost our sweet little ex-batt in the night. Bless her she went to hen heaven in her sleep. Better for her I know but I hate loosing any of them as they are all my little girls.

Edwink

edwink

edwink wrote: »

Lost our sweet little ex-batt in the night. Bless her she went to hen heaven in her sleep. Better for her I know but I hate loosing any of them as they are all my little girls. Edwink

My Bluebell hen stayed in their hotel this morning so I kept going up there to keep an eye on her. Just before lunchtime I went up and found her just sitting a couple of feet away from their hotel steps so obviously had managed to come out but had not got very far after going down the steps. The end of her little comb had started to turn purple so I brought her down to the house with me. I sat with her for quiet some time until she passed away sitting next to me. Another hen gone to hen heaven the same day as the other one we lost in the night.

Now only have 5 hens, one Cockerel and our 7 ducks And to think at one time we had 30 feathered friends living here with us

Edwink

Cheery_Daff

Aw, sorry to hear about your hens edwink, how sad Hope you're ok.

I rang the hen rescue this morning, and am now on the waiting list for the next rescue (hadn't realised I needed to ring up as well as registering online before the date was released). Exciting (but I'm daunted about how sad I'll be when they die... )

edwink

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Aw, sorry to hear about your hens edwink, how sad Hope you're ok.

I rang the hen rescue this morning, and am now on the waiting list for the next rescue (hadn't realised I needed to ring up as well as registering online before the date was released). Exciting (but I'm daunted about how sad I'll be when they die... )

Hi Cheery

Glad you are now on the list for the next rescue. How exciting for you. Do you know roughly when that will be or what month?

Don't be daunted about how sad you will be. I have lost loads and loads over the years but I keep getting more and more and more. I always say to others on our hen thread that when one of our hens goes to hen heaven we must look back at how we cared for them, gave them everything they needed, loved them, cuddled them, looked after them when they were not well and most of all saved them from being slaughtered at only 2 years old, in fact some are slaughtered at only 1 year old. In return for all we have given them in their retirement of freedom they have given us entertainment, laughs and lots of nice fresh eggs to eat and share with friends.

So yes it is sad but there is so much to look back on with fondness for each and every one of them that have come to retire with us

Edwink x

suki1964

So sad Edwink

We are down to 10 and one who!!!8217;s been on deaths door and perked up again is in a right mess again. Can!!!8217;t see her lasting much longer but she!!!8217;s still out and about and eating so I!!!8217;m letting nature do her thing

We have the drake recovering from a broken leg and now the cat might lose his eye, the vet is doing well out of us at the moment

edwink

Lots and lots of sunshine here today and my remaining 5 ex-batts are really soaking it up with either dust bathing or sunbathing plus the Cockerel too bless him. So lots of hens with clean feathers

Now putting more thought in to getting some more hens :j. Decided to buy the next lot so we can have various different breeds/colours and once they have settled in nicely and there is harmony in the camp we will then put our names down for some more ex-batts (my favourites) about 12 this time we think. Harder to give names to the ex-batts as some of them are almost like twins or triplets or quads etc.. except when they first arrive that is because it is only then that they often look so different.

So finally we have made our minds up I'm pleased to say and I very much look forward to getting them all and making friends with each and every one of them :j We have such a wonderful spacious retirement home here for the ex-batts I could never be without having them here. I have always found them to be the most grateful hens and once they start to settle and are less frightened they making truly loving companions and absolutely love humans especially if you are the one giving them their treats :rotfl: . Our very first ex-batts all those years ago laid us an egg on the journey home and I've never forgotten that and finding it there. WOW what a lovely thank you present that was.

Dizzy - how is it all going with you?

Cheery - Any closer with your coop yet?

Suki - How is your poorly hen now?

All for now

Edwink x