Hi Can anyone help? We are looking for 2 or 3 Polish Hens. They seem hard to come by unless you want to buy eggs or week old chicks. Although we want them as young as possible, I understand that chickens can't be sexed when they are born. My land lady (who lives next door) would not be impressed wit...

Hello EVERYONE I am sooo sorry I haven't replied to all you truly lovely Down The Laners. Thank you ALL for the various advice, offers of help to rehome and some to look after them temporarily. It was all very much taken on board and appreciated greatly. I was unfortunately called away, very suddenl...

You're a star Spreckly. Thank you for asking around and for your opinion on the rat poison too. It's not something I had considered until it was suggested. I'm going to get some poison down tomorrow and see what happens. Thank you everyone for listening and helping with advice. I'd forgotten how DTL...

Can I just put a question? What is the general point of view on getting rid of the rats by poison? The landlady has been round to see if the girls have gone yet. She has given me that option. With that many rats I would have to keep it up all the time. It's not something I would normally consider. I...

Hi I have 9 girls. If needs be I can split them but there are three that I would rather stay together. Though I would rather they stayed together the other 6 could also be split 3 & 3. I just need to find them a loving home ASAP. Also they only produce 3 eggs a day between them.....and I don't k...

Thanks Richard.

Don't worry, nobody's getting their hands on my girls. She's so cold not to mention barbaric.

Vicki

Hi Kitla Unfortunately we have the rats all year round, lots of them, no matter the weather. We didn't have them before the chooks. The food and water is brought in at night and the feeders are non spill. They still manage to jump (high) into the feeder. The rats actually sit on top of the coop! The...

Hi again

I meant to say that at the moment they have a large enclosure in the garden.

Vicki

Hello All Please, please can somebody help...ASAP. My landlady payed me a lovely (not) visit last night. Telling me, completely out of the blue, that the chickens have to go, that the rats are over running the garden. They have been bad this year and I have to admit that she is right, they are rife....

Thank you all for so much advice. I feel well armed with ideas now.

I will report back!

Vicki

Hi Kitla

It's Battle, Hayward and Bower powder.

Vicki

Hi Silverback I didn't put them back into the same coop! They were put into a different unused one in another part of the garden. I treated it before putting fresh bedding down, no point in not doing so. I think maybe I will give them another go with the powder. They say you repeat in 5 days if need...

Well I survived!

But what do you guys use for the girls themselves? I used Battle, Hayward and Bower Red Mite Powder but they are still being tortured. Any sugestions?

Vicki

Thanks for the replies. I've been too 'chicken' (pun intended!) to go out and be mobbed by the critters yet today. I had hubby let them out this morning before work! He's being extra thoughtful and loving today as it's our anniversary ! Anyway, here goes....I have to brave them to go and lift poor M...

Hi all. Please, please help. I have discovered red mite in with, and on my girls....but now on me. They are torture...crawling all over me and my head/hair is full of them EVERY TIME I go out to them. I don't understand because this is even when I don't touch them or the coop. I have to come back in...