Interesting points on cycle paths, a few years back were I used to live the council with much fanfare installed a new clycle path alongside the main road. IE a white line painted on the tarmac and which only just covered the drains etc. As for the most dangerous bit of the road where cars pulled int...

we have most things rigged as i know what a force we are dealing with. We have 1in mesh around or over things we want left in place and around the edge of the borders so the hens can dig away in the middle of the beds without causing damage. As for the gravel that justs racks back in place.

Good point, the local hardware shop is doing a fine trade in wire mesh as bits of the garden get meshed over to protect plants, just as well my brother likes fresh eggs!

The new housing unit is almost ready, just the felt to go on now so I thought I would post a photo of the work in hand. Will be getting 2 new birds at the end of the week to join our OAP hen. They are from a free range farm that is clearing out one of their sheds. At least they will have had some ti...

Some very interesting points raised on this topic, in my case I did not start driving until I was in my mid 30s. A mix of small motorbikes and mainly cycling was my transport up to then. Finely gave up and went for a car as the trip to work was along 5 miles of manly unlit roads and the winters were...

could try porage oats, its meant to swell up in them and stop them. I went through loads at my last place, then found out I had a whole family of blackbirds stuffing the oats down! fatest blackbirds in south still had slugs.

Thanks Meanqueen, that saved me putting it into words!

In reply to your question Gwenoakes, she is around 9 years old and has been laying for the past couple of weeks. Last year she laid 50 eggs in total, not bad for the age.

I have got around to taking a few snaps of our OAP hen "Raven" Been busy building the new house to allow for the new birds at end of month, hence delay in photos of raven The shot above is a case of find the hen, as she has chosen a nest site in the hedge! case of hunt for the eggs.

It could be "damping off disease" which can effect young plants, finishing them off very quick. I believe a copper based funguseside used to be used to control this.
Mike

I had the rat problem in my old place, as has been said its not the hens but the feed thats they are going for. They will also take food from wild bird feeders, I have seen them going up smooth metal poles to get to the feeders. They like the sunflower seeds as a lot of energy in one large seed. I t...

Sometimes it can be a lack of grit/oster shell that can lead to this however once they start its very hard to stop them. you will need to get the eggs out as soon as they are laid.
Mike

The Reds always used to be a good layer, I believe its a red cross that is used in a lot of Commercial set ups.
Mike