Luna's Ladies

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Luna
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Luna's Ladies

Post by Luna »

I love reading everyone's diaries and hearing the antics and tribulations of all your lovely girls, but never thought to add my own..... until now!

Our adventure in chicken keeping started in May 2011 when we realised that we were not going to be moving out of the suburbs and living a close to self-sufficent life in the country (our joint long-term dream) for many years.... But what was stopping us from keeping a few hens in the back garden? Absolutely nothing!

So, I started the research... and stumbled upon this site. Thank goodness!

We converted our shed and built a Walk-in-Run that would be big enough for 5 hens.....

Having asked many questions about ex-batts on here, I felt confident enough to welcome 3 into our home plus a bluebelle and a silver wyandotte. The 'posh' girls came first:
Is it safe to come out?
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Hettie
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Matilda
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Then just 10 days later on 31/July 2011 our 3 ex-batts came home:

Pale faced but well feathered.... Meet Flo, Eddie and DJ Cluck
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Introductions went remarkably easily, with just a little squaring up against the wire:
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We had to cope with an eye infection that Hettie got which we treated with eye drops and the dreaded mycoplasma that Eddie and DJ cluck came down with.... Thankfully they responded well to treatment and enjoyed good health for the next 10 months....

More To Follow later....
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

Mrs B

Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by Mrs B »

That is a lovely start to your diary, love your seat next to the run.
julieann
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by julieann »

looking forward to further 'episodes'! lovely girls you have there )t'
Julie x
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Luna
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by Luna »

So, to continue, the girls settled very happily into their new home and quickly became part of our family. They integrated into one happy flock ruled by Flo with a gentle but firm wing. Hettie, although growing to the largest in size, was always the bottom of the pecking order but as she was the best flier, she had no problem keeping out of the way when needs be. She made the most use of all the different height shelves and wood piles in the run. My dear old batties took several months to discover they could use the various levels of wood blocks to gain height. They also enjoyed foraging around the garden whenever we let them out to free range and as their favourite places to go were under the shrubs and bushes on the left of the garden, the grass has remained!

Then in July 2012, almost a year after she came out of the cages, my little Eddie slowed down, lost interest in food and no longer flapped onto the perches to sleep with her sisters, instead climbing into a nest box on the floor. After about 10 days she died in her sleep. I was very sad to lose my first hen, especially as she was such an affectionate character who would follow me wherever I went in the garden and 'chat' to me. But we gave her almost a year out of those cages and she had the chance to do everything a chicken should do. Watching her dustbathe for the first time and fall asleep in the sun made it worthwhile giving an ex-batt a home.....

Our Eddie
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Sadly, we had more bad news just 4 months later when Hettie became unable to walk. We saw a Vet with her who suggested it was just a sprain but although she rallied for a bit, she then went downhill and we took her back to another Vet. This one was a chicken specialist and he diagnosed either liver or kidney failure. She had no quality of life as she was unable to walk and was probably in pain, so we made the decision that the kindest thing was to have her PTS. She was only 18 months old, but I hope that the quality of her chicken life far outweighed the quantity. She was such a pretty hen and the only one I've had that has gone broody.... She did this with regularity and it felt that every few weeks I was having to turf her out of the nestbox and she would stubbornly march back in as soon as my back was turned!

Our Hettie
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So, now we have a flock of 3, but as all you good people know, that when you have space for more, you just have to fill it........

First came the extension because I told my OH we needed plenty of space whilst we did introductions. Then came the extensive research as to what breed we should get..... The photos that have been appearing recently of the beautiful mixed colours of eggs have influenced my choice and I'm hoping that tomorrow I will go and pick up a white star, black rock and skyline. Watch this space.....
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
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Luna
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by Luna »

Mrs B wrote:That is a lovely start to your diary, love your seat next to the run.


That seat has now been moved so that we could extend the chicken run..... But I insisted that we built another deck area right next to the Walk-in-Run so I can continue to watch my girls. Told OH that decking flush to the run would stop the foxes digging under....! That's currently a work in progress. )t'
Jo x
"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."
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aishakali
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by aishakali »

Looking forward to reading more )t'
LYN
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Linda S
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by Linda S »

Luna how you have described your lovely girls is smashing and im looking forward to reading more about your growing flock :-D Lindaxx
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sandy
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by sandy »

Eddie and Hetty looked lovely girls, Eddie had a great life after those cages, what a lovely home )t' Who is the inquisitive doggie?
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/
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Luna
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by Luna »

sandy wrote:Eddie and Hetty looked lovely girls, Eddie had a great life after those cages, what a lovely home )t' Who is the inquisitive doggie?


That's our Darwin. We got him from Dogs Trust when he was 5 months old.... He's the girls hero having twice woken me in the middle of the night whining to be let out and racing into the garden to chase off Mr Fox who was trying to get into the chickens.

Well, I've been out with the girls for 2 hours tonight getting everything ready for the new girls arriving tomorrow )t' I can now remember what it's like to be a kid on Christmas eve as that's exactly how I feel! Although a little part of me felt guilty as I locked the girls away tonight as I know tomorrow a few feathers will be ruffled!

I'll post some photos of the new girls and introductions tomorrow......
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
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sandy
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by sandy »

Darwin looks very handsome, and obviously very intelligent )t' How exciting for you, I couldnt sleep a few weeks ago, new girls )t'
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/
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Luna
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by Luna »

They're here..... And they're gorgeous..... )t'

Let me introduce you to....

Treacle - She just conjures up the image of black treacle to me......
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Honey - To continue the theme of sticky, sweet treats....
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Syrup - With the wig!
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I got Syrup from one breeder which was a 2 hour round trip, but fantastic set-up, so well worth it. Then I travelled to another breeder only 10 minutes from home for Treacle & Honey. I left them in their boxes with lids open, so they could get out in their own time. Treacle was first, then a few minutes later Honey followed. Syrup spent several minutes popping her head up for a quick look and then ducking down quick to hide again! But finally realised all was good and jumped out....

They are quite comfortable with each other....
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I am finding it hard to drag myself away from watching them... Thank goodness the weather is dry and sunny as I have let the other 3 free range the garden to give the new girls more time to settle without being shouted at....

That said, Flo and Matilda have not stopped bokking as they explore the garden - they are normally so quiet. The old girls have all been up to look through the wire but so far are not too bothered. Please let that continue.... >fi<
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
LisaB

Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by LisaB »

Absolutely beautiful girls, Luna! :-D

What breed is Honey? (really sorry if you've already said and I've missed it :oops: )
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Luna
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by Luna »

LisaB wrote:Absolutely beautiful girls, Luna! :-D

What breed is Honey? (really sorry if you've already said and I've missed it :oops: )


Hi Lisa, Honey is a white star. She's about 15 weeks and is the youngest, but oh boy, can she fly!! I haven't had one able to leap & fly immediately about 4 foot off the ground - my Wyandotte flew first to the log, then the low table, then to the shelf... It means I'm going to have to add to the partition separating them as she just flaps up and sits on it!

Treacle is a black star - not sure if this is the same as a black rock.. Looks the same to me. She's about 16 weeks and very chilled.

And Syrup is a skyline - might also be known as a columbine? Again I'm not sure if this is same breed but given different name by different breeders...? She's the eldest at 17 weeks.

Whatever they are, I'm already besotted!
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
LisaB

Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by LisaB »

Aww she's gorgeous (they all are - but I have a soft spot for white animals :oops: )

Are columbines bred from cream legbars? They have the same hair do :-D will she lay blue eggs?

I love your set up too, I wish I could find a really long log/branch like the one you have, and stumps are a great idea for raising feeders. I have some short chunky longs, might cut them up tomorrow and use them instead of bricks.
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Luna
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Re: Luna's Ladies

Post by Luna »

Yes, I believe she has been bred from cream legbar. There is an 80% chance that she'll lay blue or green eggs... I just have to wait and see....

Right now my problem is the oldies won't go to bed, but the youngsters obviously want to... I was advised put old ones in first, then once settled the youngsters should go in. No-one told me what to do if oldies refused! They're normally well tucked up by now!
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

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