My attempt to keep chickens.

[Grannyof4]

Sandy knows but the chicken house is no longer available.

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi , my free tea and cake as well ....
Not to worry , Should have gone sooner.

Champ is in with Evil , sprayed and baytril .

Rubbish weather .
Sisters down to 11 -Sam has moved out next door with a orange ring right leg. She declined to go home and got bullied when I put her in there , so put her in the big coop up high.
Simone came out and done the peak run to get into the big run for there food .
Gave her med`s and put back in her run.
Trying to decided which Terror goes in what run is also hard . They choose eventually .
So . Simone , Pom Pom and Champ are the sick list .
Champ keeping Evil company .
Running around early to get to work .
Leave late and panic sets in.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all another fun day at the Flock of Penelope and Red.
Well Simone has had med`s and freedom of the garden and her pen .
Before I gave her her med`s I picked her sister up and eyed her and squirted . I then realized that she was looking good and had her toe on ?????
Back out and told her off for being naughty...
Pom Pom has been dodging me all day so off med`s . looking good and well.
Champ has had med`s and in dog cage all day with Evil .
Sam has been in the run hiding all day so brought her in the dog cage where she seems happy with her 2 friends. Eating all the food .
Terror has had me twice .
My hen RED is following me and trying hard to be spoiled . Trouble is other hens have watched and following her lead .
All well even though wind has been strong .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , well to be totally honest , I am a bit upset . My Champ that has been in my company since 2012 , an old boy and the last of the three rescued boys , Parker , (driver of my Penelope ) Lav (ender ) . He is showing his age and believe he is dying . He is on med`s and is in the dog cage with Evil . Comfortable . Was out in the front with Evil and Simone for a stretch ,
I have put dog spot on him for the bugs , Metacam and baytril just in case he is ill . Eating and drinking just not good on his legs and looking happy . Poor old boy. He has had a good innings so should not be to sad , does not make it any better .
Had to stop typing as a rabbit had been hit by a car /van on the road on the estate ,
It was dead so put by my helicopter pad for the fox to eat .
Yes I am the airport looker after as well.
pom Pom is back to normal and just keeping an eye on her .
Litalen is sitting on any egg she can find . Easy way to know if a egg has been laid.
Red is perching on the chair at the back door watching what Evil gets to eat .
She was put out the front with Evil but the pair started hand bagging it . Evil starts it and she maybe blind but manages to grab her comb , Top hen is Evil.
I kept them apart , while unloaded the van . She went missing the little devil . Found her eating the dog food in the kitchen . She is wise to where the food and treats are in the house . Just like the good old days with the kitchen raiders . Come the summer she will be more in the house than out of it.
Flock in general look really good hens and boys . Well weighty and pretty . Some have the molt`s but are baring up.
Sam has gone back with her sister flock tonight. Just must have got her pecking order back that she had previously.
Wish I could say all is well but it is what it is.
Just give Champ a cuddle when I can and keep him comfortable and see how he gets on.
Race at Henham , Suffolk Sunday , working as well . Not fair 9 in this race and 18 in the National the week after . Work cut out to get any good points for sure.
Too many of the youngsters moved up to my age group .
Have a good night .
bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi just one sentence .
CHAMP DIED TODAY AT 12.00 PM 15th March 2019 .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all, well Evil has another friend joining her.
JOAN the large hen from CROYDON has a broken/damaged left wing.
Bandaged it up and vet appointment being made this am.
Cannot believe the vet visits going on at the moment.
Well give more up dates Mon morning .

Busy day . Hope I can drop the hen off , then pick her up tonight .
Flock out this morning 5.30 am , awake and noisy.
Home check , pick bike then mad dash to sufolk.
(With a hen drop as well .)
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , Last on Joan is she stayed in the vets over night , when I spoke to them 12.00 pm yesterday she was with the nurse (being spoiled) . Had not been looked at as emergency operations where being done. Last report last evening was not sure what the problem is and waiting for the bone specialist that is in today . X rays today if necessary later today .
Simone is still on med`s but dashing about as usual . Comb still crusty and eye looking better but still dropping the med`s in .
Flock let out at 5.30 am . Boys waking up early for their breakfast (hens start it off ).
Could do with a break from dishing out med`s and vet bills .
Hate to think what I have spent on animals since Xmas .
Good job I have a well paid job for sure .
Bob

[Cheshire Chick]

Sorry to hear that you have lost Champ. Again, what a marvellous life you have given him and he was a really good age (all credit to you and your care). I know what you mean about vets bills - they are extortionate. We have to put a hundred pounds down as a deposit before they will even look at the chicken!! My friend who lives in a very rural setting pays a fraction of the price. Doesn't seem fair at all as these vets must know that our chickens are pets and they seem to exploit that in suburbs. Vets are terribly expensive anyway, but I think the avian vets more so.

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi I put money behind the counter as I do not want to have to think about money when a animal is sick . If I have it spare it is better than trying to find it.
On vets Simone 10 day visit return Thurs 12.30 pm . Joan is going back on Mon 25th .
Joan had a X ray .Not broken just well bruised , rest and Metacam.
Buried Champ in the garden near to Parker , Lav.
60 pounds in egg tin this month , going towards the vet bills.
At the vets someone asked about Capt. Chaos . Explained and said Scramble Junior will come and visit as soon as I can bring her.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , well Joan`s wing is hanging down not sure why. See Monday .
Boys decided that Spring is here and 4.00 am is time to wake up .....
Hungry flock . Evil and Joan had a stretch on the front lawn.
Red is getting even more checker and where the food bowl is that is where she goes . Followed by her friends . Chickens are not stupid I have decided .
Plenty of eggs around.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all well back from vets with Simone .
Her condition is described as puzzling . (for the vets )
First she had a stick tape stuck on her to check for bugs . Nope none on her crusty bits.
Then she had worming med`s.
Then she got Coxie med`s.
So one dose of the worming and five days of Coxie med and Baytril and see in 2 weeks.
She has got to a full 1 kilo in weight . Up a fraction .
They want to send a poo sample of .
No eggs to be eaten . Keep on her own ???? 49 pounds the visit.
Sam went with her to the vets for support . Not looked at as we was in the vet s for ages .
Next visit is Monday with Joan.
Boys now waking up at 4.00 am . looks like winter is well over .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , re stocked with pellets and corn today.
Grapes , Toms ,melon , cabbage , sweetcorn (whole bag frozen ) grass cuttings from neighbor and a huge sack of saw dust in all the runs.
Simone had a deep sawdust bath . Mixed corn in it for them to scratch around in .
Locked Jack in his nest area with his hens . Got out of bed at 6.15 am this morning.
Joan `s wing seems a lot better today . Still in dog cage with Evil .
Red is a real character . She follows me everywhere and helps her self with out asking .loves a cuddle and puts head under my chin . it is these simple things that make me feel that my chickens are happy with me in the garden .
When death arrives ,like Champ , I know it is worth all the effort and the sad endings which will be the end result.
Boys attacked me several times . Desmond shares the banana with Evil and is a gentle giant . Even Jack had a go at me tonight.
Well hopefully Baycox and Baytril will sort Simone out and Joan will be fit to return to the flock on Monday .
Bob
Mansfield Sunday morning.
Bob

[sandy]

Bob so sorry about Champ condolences coming by post

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi Sandy thank you . Got it .
Should save your money you know .
Joan at vets this morning . Saw the Xrays . Saw Alberto .
She has had her photo taken as well . Another famous hen.
Her wing is still down .Asked if her wing feathers at the end could be cut back so she would not walk on it . He suggested a hair clip to hold it up .
Great fun watching him cut of her feathers . Then he tried stapling he feathers to the upper part of wing , did not work . Had a chat and not much more to be done . Off med`s as not in pain . She (Joan ) is back with the flock . Evil out in the sun standing on back of bench . Fed her , her banana and Desmond had some as well . Litalen came of 7 eggs and had some as well. Not really I took the eggs against her wishes and then thought about a bit of food .
Goldie from Dagenham had some . Red the Hybrid helped her self as she does.
Both Terrors had a go at me just because they can ....
looked for Champ but quickly realized he is not going to be there so went to Simone instead . She is doing well though her head is still crusty .
Lots of eggs about . I seem to get to about 3 dozen then have none left .
12 sisters are doing good and Sam is getting her feathers back. Jacks hens are well and want to join the flock .
Scramble is getting on fine and can only catch her when roosting am or late evening .
So near normal (Simone is the last one on sick list ) as it could be . How long will it last , big question mark.
For those that maybe interested 21 st out of 22 (one never finished the race ) yesterday .
Hope all are well .
Flock of Penelope and Red.

[KarenE]

Bob, such sad news about Champ. He had a wonderful life with you, I'm sure he would have said that.

Hope Simone and Joan perk up