Keeping hens and ducks chat.

beautiful_ravens

From yesterday - http://www.bhwt.org.uk/avian-flu-2/

My chicken tunnel didn't do well in the wind, it hasnt fallen down but there wasnt enough holes in the tarp edge to tie it on properly so theres big gaps. I hope the rain holds off long enough this morning that I can get out and fix it up again without getting soaked.

Dizzy_Imp

Hello all! Hope the additional complication of snow isn't making hen-keeping too tricky.

I feel a bit guilty about posting on here as I'm having an easy time compared to most of you, as we have a huge chicken house that our girls seem happy running about in. I've just kept the "cat-flap" section closed so they can't get outdoors and DH has rigged up lighting and a bar heater, moved all the feed hoppers and drinking bottle inside and we are currently enjoying 100% egg production. They seem quite happy now. I am giving them lots of treats and enjoy being greeted at the door by a group of happy, flappy girls.

I read the minister's report too Happygreen and I'm likewise angry at being blamed. Actually, everyone I know round here who keeps chickens is following the rules to the letter, I think, because they care about their birds.

I haven't seen any evidence of rats, but we have two cats in training so hopefully they will keep rodents at bay

Happygreen

Mine do seem to get on as far as I can tell in their prison and all are settling into their fate. We had to re-attach the tarp again after the most recent storm but it is reinforced so only smallish holes. What worries me a bit is that the hens have started laying thin or shell-less eggs again. If I'm not in time to remove them of course they eat them. Wooden eggs are back in the nesting boxes. They do have enough grit and pellets....

beautiful_ravens

My 2 hens dont really like being 'cooped up'. I suppose theres not enough of them to keep busy.
Ive been wondering though - say the wild birds in my garden get avian flu, then what? They will all die? And then I can let my chickens out? I dont really understand how it will work. Are we just trying to protect 'commercial' birds?

StarShapedPeg

I'm with you beautiful ravens, I don't really understand how restrictions help in the long term.
If all that I've read is correct and it's prevalent in our wild birds, letting our girls out in February will just carry it on. If everytime a gull or duck flies over and poops somewhere, and they are sick with the flu, it can stay in the environment for a long time?
Cynically, I think they just want to protect the poultry industry.
I was just driving past our swan sanctuary and all the swans are out on the pond, mixing with ducks and geese and whatnot on the fields and they haven't been inside since the 6th of December, I don't really understand.
Roll on end of February but i think Edwink might be right and they'll extend it again. I might cry.

Happygreen

beautiful_ravens wrote: »

My 2 hens dont really like being 'cooped up'. I suppose theres not enough of them to keep busy.
Ive been wondering though - say the wild birds in my garden get avian flu, then what? They will all die? And then I can let my chickens out? I dont really understand how it will work. Are we just trying to protect 'commercial' birds?

In theory we are trying to protect our own but the government's concern is to protect the industry. Wherever cooped up together the infection rate is high so if one of ours gets it they probably all will. Of course in commercial poultry sites that has other implications as it is not worth feeding them even if they only MIGHT get it, so the chop for them all. In the wild only some birds get it I suppose, as their territories spread further.

edwink

Sadly lost our indoor hen today. At least she was cosy and warm during the night.:(

Our tarpaulin was rising up in the air with the big gusts of wind but now it is getting weighted down with blooming snow. Hubby has been up there to stand some long posts up in their coop so now it resembles a circus big top tent. It is the only way we can get the snow/rain to drain off the tarpaulin roof besides keep going up there and pushing it off with the broom. We are so pleased now that when we first got our girls we put chicken wire all over the roof whilst building their coop. So luckily the 4 sections of chicken wire were taking the weight of the rain and snow but for how long we thought. So to make sure the girls are safe we decided to prop up the 4 sections in there. At least the hens and ducks are keeping dry I suppose. Still hate seeing them stuck in there all day everyday.

How is everyone else getting on? All managing to keep the roof on your coops I hope! Not an easy time for us or our hens is it especially as the weather has been pretty awful? Roll on end of Feb that's all I can say.

Mine had warm wholewheat pasta for a treat lunch and it was gone in minutes plus some dried corn and meal worms which they all love.

Take care all. x

Edwink

StarShapedPeg

So sorry Edwink. Was she elderly?
Mine are struggling, or maybe I'm struggling, trying to keep them clean, healthy and entertained.
I bribe them with sunflower seeds, sweetcorn and grated cheese.
I've filled the entire barn and coop with straw and let them arrange/rearrange as they see fit. But with it being cold and wet, the light fades so quickly, it seems so dingy in the corners of their barn that it feels like a prison.��
My husband and I decided last night that if they extend the restrictions further we'll invest in some poly tunnels and let them run riot in those.
Anyway, sorry once again for your loss.

ali-t

Sorry to hear about your hen edwink. Its a horrible time for henkeeping just now and i really hope the restrictions get lifted at the end of feb. Poly tunnels sound a great idea, have you priced any up?

CAFCGirl

So So sorry to hear that Edwink.

Rest in peace little feathered one xx