My attempt to keep chickens.

[Gwenoakes]

Goodness, Bob I only pop on this thread every now and then and you always have a huge amount going on in your life what with work, chickens and other animals. You must be a gluten for punishment.
How many chickens do you have?

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi , 33 I believe as one died recently.
Unfortunately not replacing them due to future plans being uncertain .
All well . Fridge Magnet has no intention of giving up dog/ cat food and the FRIDGE.
It is the nearest that I have been to being stalked.
Eggs are well down but I would rather suffer that than the EPY .
Bob
Big N is still eating and being spoiled with her meds , sprayed her as a few bugs .

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , all well , Fridge Magnet systems to have not a lot of breast bone bulk.
Have to keep a eye on her . Eating and drinking ok , out for a while on the front grass before work . Big N has had her meds still eating and not seeming to lose any weight .
Out in the garden this morning had a mass raid into Fridge Magnets domain and had to evict them .
Keep well see what happens on Sunday.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , well painting is back on in my home bath room ceiling and the next room walls /ceiling.
Local man living opposite me .
Flock good Fridge Magnet was put outside on the bench but soon as she got off she got beaten , good sign was another topenanal game to the rescue and beat the other hen up and chased her off.
She has got too get back in the garden as she is not sick just alloff to the rest.
Eggs are at 8 ish a day .
10 kilos of meal worms arrived Sat . So treats all round all day.
A hen was found nesting in a corner hidden away , found her 3 eggs. would not have known she was there but for the noise she made.
Big N is still on meds and doing pretty well. Should not tempt fate . Like to have her at the vets but not possible at moment.
Working till Friday , but it is possible in next couple of days to be different.
All good things come to an end...…
Might think different at the end of month when I see my pay packet...
Hope are well in these difficult times but it will past and become a part of history that people in years to come will say like I do the 3 day week.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all ,F M has a new hen for company.
Samantha (Sam ) the hen that had surgery at the vets a long time ago caused by the boys , has a swollen rear end and not looking well . I gave her Baytril yesterday and she had sweet corn . Add to her swollen rear she is also suffering from eye sight loss , not finding food unless in a bowl concentrated area . Gave her more meds this morning and she had drink of water . I have seen before and I do not think she will survive , although I hope for the best but fear the worst as always .
She is one of the sisters 12 in all , now being reduced . As I have suspected they have come to 4 years plus age and it is past there life expectancy . Maybe I have got harden to this .
She has I believe egg problem or more likely worse the chicken virus that makes them loose sight and not get enough food .
Penelope had this and lived on for a long time and SHE still gives me the hope that she will not recover but still have a comfortable life a head .
Big N is dashing around still on meds and hopefully again on a recovery .
Famous last words .
Rest of the flock seem ok though I am watching nervously all the time.
Keep well , Still no words if I am working next week , more than 50 per cent I reacon.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , as I feared , came home to find Samantha dead by the back door . Will miss her . I have lost many hens recently , I believed that Big N was going to be my next big loss but she seems to be doing well . Came to me \t the back door this morning . Normally she is still roosting at the top deck of the coop and I pick her up and put her down on the ground . Meds and plenty of food around .
Flock is shrinking to fast , still 30 plus have to have a count up again soon .
Not planning to replace any for a while till I move sometime in the future . Painter in the house has gone mad , painting everywhere . So more work being done for the money I was going to pay out.
See if I can get a local plaster to do some work so as he can continue.
Friday will be my last posting for a good couple of weeks (fingers crossed ) .
Possible pay off second half of year which maybe my time to go .
Well enough of that and hope all are well and healthy.
Bob

[KarenE]

So sorry to hear about Samantha Bob

If you do take the payout and move, make sure you get the internet at your new place!

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi Karen , Not a chance of being connected . I am a GA member and do not have ant Tech that maybe dangerous to my well being .
Have to wait and see .
Bob
Thanks for the thoughts .

[Cheshire Chick]

So sorry to hear about Samantha Bob. Never gets any easier does it!!?? My thoughts are with you.

[KarenE]

Oh of course, sorry Bob!

How will we keep up with your goings on though???

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi Karen , I am sure I will sort something out.
The latest is I am working nightshift next week as the fat controller on the rail .
My specialty is derailing and sending the toots and trains with the wrong vehicles to the wrong destinations via the wrong tracks .
Why me . The supervision on it do not want to come to work (Retiring LAST Xmas ) and not released .
Not happy and looking forward to todays arguments over it.
Not good needing to be wanted for sure .
Flock all good .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , wishing all a happy healthy weekend, flocks are well.
Looking forward to a long weekend with my flock .
Be back on here Monday evening sometime .
It has been a long three weeks sorting things out at work and not going home during the day to check on them . Polo the fat Staff , has a new friend and she is a puppy Rot. Neighbour has taken her to his back garden to socialise . Polo does not mix but she has taken to her as she is not sure so she has the upper hand . When the Rot gets bigger it may all change . Hopefully take the pair out together over the woods or along the Thames together .
Have to let the rabbit out during the day as not at home in the evening like I have been .
Big hen still doing well , another sister looks like she has problems and will have to keep an eye on her .
summer is here and garden is going to be a hot spot of activity as the dumps are open now.
Keep well and mentally well as just as important for us all.
Bob

[sandy]

Bob i shall be ringing you in the next few days......

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , it is good to chat , thank you Sandy.
All well at the Flock of Penelope and Red .
Leg pecker was on form today and perfected the take the hand as well as the treats and I must admit it hurt.
Big N is still with me no idea if meds are working , but she is still eating and drinking .
Goldie the little bantum had a lot of sweet corn stuck in her throat and looks a bit dodgy (canker ) Put her on the same meds as Big N. Hope not but will be over protective .
Rabbit out the front lawn as not at home to let him out. Fridge Magnet is still in the kitchen though she was in the back garden for a couple of hours as long as no 10 white ring and her bully mates do not see her .
Simone sister is broody as is Litalen eggs are increasing .
Keep well and safe .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi last night I had an unexpected surprise.
I had given to me Daisy and Donald.
2 white large ducks . They had a great time in the paddling pool as they only had a hose pipe sprayed on them . They are in with the flock and seem to have settled , the flock does not know what to make of them for sure.
Very friendly .
I have lost the respect for schools .
They seem to hatch eggs for the children without any thought of the creatures futures.
There was 5 ducks in all. The chap at work had two . In march he said they were size of his hand but now they are very large . Not had ducks for a long time . He was feeding them chick crumbs . I will continue with it and give them the fancy feed mixed corn as well .
I put it in the water pool so as the hens cannot eat it all and they have to stick heads under the water to get it .
Neighbours seem happy and hopefully get a few eggs in a while.
Should it all go pear shape they will get rehomed to Suffolk where the next door neighbours sister has a small holding with ducks on it .
Pretty quiet but have to see what the noise is like in the morning.
Aryedale ducks big white with white beaks . Not sure how to tell the difference . I think a pointed one and a round rear ended one so possible one of each. Good job they do not crow ......
Bob