Keeping hens and ducks chat.

baggins11

Hi Edwink, sorry not been on here for a while. The polytunnel was a bit of a disaster as the structure was damaged from the last storms and I don't think it will hold up to much wind. So we have had to go back to the drawing board and at the moment the hens are in an old stable with a mesh door. 

Its not an ideal solution long term but I just don't know what else to do. Ideally I would attach a low run to the stable but getting in and out to shut them in at night would be difficult. 

Does anyone know how long they will be in lockdown? What happened last time?

edwink

baggins11 said:

Hi Edwink, sorry not been on here for a while. The polytunnel was a bit of a disaster as the structure was damaged from the last storms and I don't think it will hold up to much wind. So we have had to go back to the drawing board and at the moment the hens are in an old stable with a mesh door. 

Its not an ideal solution long term but I just don't know what else to do. Ideally I would attach a low run to the stable but getting in and out to shut them in at night would be difficult. 

Does anyone know how long they will be in lockdown? What happened last time?

Hi Baggins

The last chicken lockdown was for several months so my guess is that they will be able to free-range again probably in the Spring time but hopefully before then. 

It is a shame you haven't been able to use the polly tunnel for them but the stable should be fine as long as it has a roof. I'd put a lot of straw in there for them which will give them something to do scratching around in it. Maybe hang up some greens or a cabbage, that should keep them entertained.

Take care

Edwink x

Cheery_Daff

Aw, sounds like you're doing the best you can baggins xx I think the risk is mainly from the migrating wildfowl, so last time I believe restrictions were lifted when they'd gone, about April   such a long time

Sorry your little hen is under the weather edwink, but very glad she can come inside with you xx

Rusty is doing ok, and I'm delighted to say is growing lots of new feathers after she lost so many of them with the hormonal implant. Nowhere near looking normal yet but getting there. And (touch wood) we've not had to use the dreaded purple spray yet, but who knows now they're more confined...

I've barely seen our ladies today! Let them out of the house at half 7 (the new ones rush out for breakfast, the older ones stay in bed for a while longer ) and I've been working since. Mr Cheery has been building the foundations for the extension, and altering the size of the door to fit the new bit of roof, so he sat in with them for half an hour.

Hope you manage to sort a satisfactory arrangement baggins and your kitten hen livens up edwink

Xx

edwink

My little indoor hen has picked up, bless her, and is getting spoilt rotten with mealworms, sweetcorn, and little pieces of fruit. She is drinking ok which is always a good sign with hens.  She may be just one of those hens that struggle outside during the colder months as they get older.  It is a bit like humans really I guess because if we didn't like the cold and just stood huddled up outside we would get really cold too, unlike if humans move about when outside they keep themselves warmer if that makes sense.  Does it make sense? I am undecided 🤣🤣🤣🤣 It's been a long day so that's my excuse 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Edwink x

edwink

Happy Christmas everyone, hope you are all keeping well.

All ok here with my girls and Hoppy I'm pleased to say.  Our little indoor hen is doing ok but definitely slowing down so she won't be going back out with the others now and will remain an indoor hen, bless her she is no trouble at all. It is freezing outside today, absolutely freezing.  No snow for us here but temperatures have really dipped today, Brrr!!

Take care everyone

Edwink x

maddiemay

Happy Christmas to you too, thank you so much for your diary, I love hearing all about your feathered family.x

edwink

Sadly another outbreak of bird flu, this time in Northern Ireland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55517878 

Edwink x

Cheery_Daff

Happy New Year, hen lovers!

Hope you're all ok, and your feathery pals. Hope your little indoor hen is doing ok edwink - I love to think of you looking after them as they age

Sorry to hear about another outbreak though, oh dear 30,000 birds I confess I've been a little annoyed as we've been walking around here recently - we've spotted two farms who still have their chickens and ducks roaming free. Not poultry farms, and we're not big poultry areas, but still - the restrictions apply to everyone. We're being careful to not go walking in the shoes we go into the chicken run in, and we mainly stick to roads anyway, but even so. 

Hey ho. I suppose as with our own lockdown, you have to focus on what you yourself are doing, and not worry too much about what other people are doing

All fine here. The ladies have adjusted far better to me to their new restrictions, and don't even attempt to escape out of the door when we go in now. It makes me a bit sad, but they are super adaptable, and seem absolutely fine in their run. Certainly no picking on each other or anything. We're keeping them occupied, taking them something new a couple of times a day - warm porridge (made with chicken food), apples on sticks, a new dustbath, something new to perch on, woodchips, a bit of soil to dig through, some hay etc. They have lots of different perches, and are forever hopping up and down, or all standing on one in a line having a preen at the end of the day, they're so funny

I do miss having them pottering about the place, but I confess I don't miss the porch being full of chicken droppings!

edwink

Sadly our little indoor hen died during the night, bless her. It always saddens me but I know for sure she had a super retirement with us and was very well looked after.  I guess it was to be expected as she had been very quiet the past couple of days although she was still walking around and following me about yesterday.  Much better for them to go in their sleep I always think when they are old and frail.

💚💜 RIP little hen 💗💙

Edwink x

Cheery_Daff

Aw, RIP little hen So glad she was able to spend her retirement with you edwink xxx