Julie's chicken keeping diary
Julie's chicken keeping diaryI got my first chickens in June 2011 - three ex bats of which one, Purple, is still with me and going strong (she's always been top hen) despite the fact she prolapsed the day after I first got my chickens! At the time I thought what the heck have I done, but since then things have got easier and I love keeping chickens.
This is them when they first arrived in June 2011. And a few weeks later getting used to the good life. Of my three original girls I lost Red and No3 last year but they had a good year with me. Purple is called purple cos she was purple for months from anti peck spray, Red had a beautiful red head and No 3 was always at the bottom of the pecking order until I got my new girls and she enjoyed a few months lording it over them! Last year I added Bud and Lou a speckledy and bluebelle and they are lovely placid girls who lay beautiful eggs virtually everyday - introducing them was hard work but I got there in the end. I will maybe add a couple more in the spring. I will write more about their housing etc in another post but that will do for today! Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg."
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryI had my first girls in June 11 as well ,in fact the 17th ...What a lot I have learnt . I can not believe from the person who was writing on here panicing at every move i am now giving advice.
Lovely photos of your girls and I would love a speckldy..working on it. 4 lovely girls~~ Clover, the oldie and top chick Bonnie second in command .new girls Bluebell and Blossom.
2 lovely new girls 19-01-2015~~ Chelsea and Ruby. Eva , Florry , Poppy ,Annie and Rosie R.I.P The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” - unknown
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryIf you add in the Spring wil you go for ex batts or do you have your eye on a special lady?
It will be alright in the end , if its not alright, it isn't the end .
Quote from the proprietor of the The best exotic Marigold Hotel for the elderly and beautiful
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryI think I will go for some hens from the lady I got the new girls from they have been such healthy girls- maybe a Warren as I do love them and she has araucanas as well and some other purebreds - not quite sure yet.
Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg." Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryThey look gorgeous, I love their very fashionable home
The Pink Ladies..Audrey,Ingrid-Bergman,Madeleline,Norma-Jean,Dora,Janice,Jo,Robyn,Chrissy and Joyce
The Peds…Mork,Mindy,Bell,Saphire & Vorky ,Blueped,Ginger,Ninger &Linky Sunny Clucker was ere July 12-21 2012 Sunny Clucker was ere July 6 2016 to Sept 9th 2017 Sunny Clucker is here , rehomed Aug 18th 2018/
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryI took a few up to date pictures of them today (January 6th) as they were playing out before bedtime and they've had so little chance to play out recently with the weather and the dark nights. They wouldn't go to bed today - apologies if the photos are a bit dark but it was dusk.
My lovely fat purple - she's been moulting all over the place but she still looks well - not laid an egg for a year and much healthier for it now all the softies have stopped. Bud and Lou - got great big combs now they're all grown up All together for once! Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg."
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryBy the way Purple is the chicken on the right on the first post when I first got the chickens - what a difference 18 months make eh?
Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg." Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryIt's incredible how Purple has changed in those 18 months you've had her..... Given care, attention, freedom and the time to be chickens they can put behind their miserable previous existences and become beautiful, affectionate ladies.
She's got some beautiful friends in Bud and Lou too. Jo x
"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." Atticus Finch in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryWhat gorgeous girls. Purple looks like my Esme who is also a batty girl, she has just moulted and now looks like a proper chicken for the first time in her life. I got my batty girls in July 2011, I had 4 to start with but lost two just before and just after their first year of freedom, I am so glad I was able to give them that year out of those cages though
I also love your house and run, mine is so boring but when I get my new shed I am going to go all out to make it look fun Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryIts great for Purple that her egg laying machinery has turned off, so many end up with softies etc in older age dont they.
The Pink Ladies..Audrey,Ingrid-Bergman,Madeleline,Norma-Jean,Dora,Janice,Jo,Robyn,Chrissy and Joyce
The Peds…Mork,Mindy,Bell,Saphire & Vorky ,Blueped,Ginger,Ninger &Linky Sunny Clucker was ere July 12-21 2012 Sunny Clucker was ere July 6 2016 to Sept 9th 2017 Sunny Clucker is here , rehomed Aug 18th 2018/
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryJust love your pic of all 3 together, it looks like it should be an advert for free range happy chickens
sharing my home with Kasa the Kelpie Dog, Trouble & Chaos the cats, 8 ex batts and an ever suffering animal suffocated OH
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diarylovely little trio they look lovely together
[center]HELPING THE LITTLE BROWN GIRLS OF THIS WORLD FIND FOREVER HOMES
Humble chicken maid to a happy little flock Frankii Whippers leading the way with Dorey,Prila(aka Mrs Brown),Ann-a-Lou Greta, Delphine my adorable silkie,my twin girls Lana and Boudica (aka The Jedward Twins ) ,Augustine Eizabeth(aka Pippy), Rheima, Marnie and Fleur aka little miss chatterbox[/center] Still loving and missing Skinnie Minnie and Queenie xx Marlene you taught me how to live and laugh again xx Isabella my darling top hen ,you stole my heart xx Porscha my sweet little girl ,you left so suddenly xx
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryWell, a day off work today and the sun was shining so the chickens have had a play out and thoroughly enjoyed themselves for once .. they're as sick of this weather as we are.
They did make me laugh tonight, I put some pots in their run full of weeds just before bedtime and they were having a high old time picking through all the weeds. Suddenly one of them looked up and it was just like she'd looked at her watch and gone "flippin' heck is that the time" and set off at a run for the henhouse. The other two then chased after her and they all ran off to bed in five seconds flat. I do enjoy their antics - cant wait for the warmer weather and the longer days - I know their run is big enough but I do enjoy sharing the garden with them. Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg."
Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryI've ordered a couple of ex-bats from the Fresh Start for Hens re-homing at the end of March. My little chicken house and run is sitting empty - I was in a bit of a dilemma about whether to get two new young hens in the spring, but the two young girls I got last year are still laying really well so I reckon this year I'll give a home to two ex-bats and then I can always get two youngsters next year. I'm sure I'll get enough eggs for our little household.
They can live in the little house while they build up their strength and get used to the big wide world and then over the spring/summer I can introduce them to their three neighbours in the big run and house. Be interested to see how long it takes me this time - it took months last summer - I think I was too soft when scuffles broke out - I hated seeing the little uns getting bullied. I've only got one of my original little brown hens ex-bats that I got back in 2011 and I've got to admit she's my favourite - so friendly and sweet - I'm really looking forward to nursing a couple more back to health and teaching them about the big wide world and all the lovely things there are to eat and dig up Julie
“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg." Re: Julie's chicken keeping diaryOh Julie how exciting bet you cant wait
The Pink Ladies..Audrey,Ingrid-Bergman,Madeleline,Norma-Jean,Dora,Janice,Jo,Robyn,Chrissy and Joyce
The Peds…Mork,Mindy,Bell,Saphire & Vorky ,Blueped,Ginger,Ninger &Linky Sunny Clucker was ere July 12-21 2012 Sunny Clucker was ere July 6 2016 to Sept 9th 2017 Sunny Clucker is here , rehomed Aug 18th 2018/
|
Down the LaneRegular entries focusing on Nature in the Garden and beyond
Click here to go there
Poultry Supplies•Chicken Fencing •Drink & Food Feeders •Health & Wellbeing •Red Mite Products •Poultry Feed •Automatic Door Openers •Chicken Keeping Books
Chicken BreedersOver 400 Breeders across the UK now listed.. Chicken Breeders & Other Poultry UK Pages
Ex-Battery Hen |