My attempt to keep chickens.

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sandy
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by sandy »

Bob Lily may be starting a moult if the avian vet couldn;t find anything wrong, same thing last month with my Beth. Fingers crossed that is what it is. I think your little madams have plenty to entertain themselves with! MY neighbours girls have a rather small home but can amuse themselves very easily. Its when they are in pens like hutches they need constant free ranging so do not worry. Your poor friend losing their hens, I am afraid it is usually only the daily check that keeps our girls safe.
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/

bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all ,I have had a bit of excite this weekend . Firstly on Friday evening I was tired and left a door open to my run all night , fortunately the girls and boys all locked up in their coops so no harm done except to myself . It proves to me that I need as many safety gates doors chambers as possible as If I leave one open there are no repocussions. ONLY if all are left then hell would let loose. Lilly 2 ring left leg is ok . She is cleaning her self and the jab the vet kicked in and the metcam and tyland is working a treat . I have been feeding her ox togne , pork and cat food fish . Hand cut grass with scissors (front garden and hand fulls from the parks ).She has made a great recovery and suspect that Penelope has taught her some tricks . Still in the kitchen (dog cage ) and will be ringing the vets to find out how long to keep her locked up . Poo is alright . She has had visitors from Penelope and Marion (no longer a maid -2ring left green ) and the cockerels have been looking in to check her tail feathers are growing . I do not think it is because the cat food is behind her cage . Penelope wants to join her in the cage but Lilly has pecked her off for eating her food / treats . Lilly is putting on weight and her breast bone is getting meaty . She does not seem to mind the attention from the cats and dogs , there after her food ...As she is getting more livelier it is good to struggle getting the medicine down her throat . Two sqerts in the morning one uin the evening and fresh water tyland every day now as she kicks the sawdust and straw in it. Price for getting healthy .Girls and boys did not go in the garden al weekend and they were please to be out all day today. sickness and foxes and birds of prey nightmares .... 4 hens coming on Sat to join the flock so all fun and games again .Going to put them in sick quarters for a few days to make sure the are healthy ,dust them down and settle them uin Not ata work from thursday till monday so will a up date on the oven readies next week .( no feathers probly . Hope all is well in the chicken world .
Bob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi again , Sorry abiout the english toward the end can not see what I have type. Sat eevening I cvame home and I looked in Cluckingham Place to see Lavendor cockerel up in the top nest boxes . Had atorch on him then suddenly behind the hen to his left I saw Parker the limping cockerel who seems to be getting alot better on his legs , and the oldest cockerel , I thought this was a turn round as they sleep in the Cook a dood1e hall with the 5 /6 girls that were originals from Aylsebury . When I shone the torch around the other cockerel was on a perch with his girl friends . I thought what was going on here... When I looked at the other coop the door was shut . I looked inside and fortunately no hens were in there . The door had blown shut so they all moved into the same Large suimmer house coop ,lots of room . I shut the poop hole and let them sleep .Sunday night all back where they belong as if nothing had happened . I was hoping they would all stay in the coop as it would make cleaning out easier one instead of two. If there happy then so be it .
21st of this month is bthe longest night so the day will get longer and the birds will have more time outside . steady 4/5 eggs a day and a white egg stands out.Many shades of brown it is quite pretty to see them in a egg box.xmas presents to the lads at work for buying the eggs( egg cup ) They wanted more but it would cost more than they pay for the ehhs but it shows a bit of appreciation for there patience in time of famine ....Well thats the lot for now more good news on Lilly and her friends tomorrow ..
Bob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi , A good day and not much to say , the girls and boys out all day before the storm hits.Penelope helped put the hospital wing together for the new girls on Saturday as I was unsrewing the boards she was pointing out the screw heads and showing me where to put the drill, watching closely so as any escape bids can be well planned and passed on. All I need to do now is to sawdust / straw aand DE powder . and home is ready for a few days till given the all clear and let battle comense for leadership and maybe a new squad in the flock . Tonight I had 14 girls in Cluckingham palace so one of the cockerel a dood1e hall girls has swap over . Must have been the treats I give them .Lilly 2 ring white left leg is scratching around in her dog cage and eating garlic, pork finest corn and pellets .Still have her on medicines Metcam ,Botox and botocine ? . Nearly ended so whilst I have a sicky hen I order an extra suppy of everything another 40 pounds + , my logic says the next girl that shows signs will get the treatment , if not better in a couple of days then the vets . Save on 29 pounds consultation fee and then paying for medicines as well. Cost effective. The girls certainly like the garlic , dont think it will keep the boys off them .Might do them some good in this weather.Pootatoes backed and organic cabbage ( mistake cost twice as much as the normal cabbage ) ,hope they appreciate it. I also grab some milk thistle from the corn fields that are laying bare , to wet to plant .Something different to eat. Tomorrow I will probably keep then in the run as the Somme is bound to be back. Best wishes to all and humens.Bob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all ,
Back at work after a few days off. Unscheduled may I add. Today is the day of picking 4 and hopefully the last of the girls from fresh stat for hens as I would love the ones I have to live for ever..... Spent the last few days attaching more wire over the run roof . Have to buy some more as a bit short. Found a way to shut up the ciocks in the early morning .I grab them from their roosting area and put them in the run (cold shock treatment and let them eat bread I throw out . The rest of the girls keep them busy as they are greedy and chase them about . While this is happening for half hour they are to busy to crow.Lilly is let out for a bit off socialising and has put on weight .She will be like Penelope and Marian spoiled rotten . I sat on my bench with bread , and a few un -named girls sit on the back being feed . Penelope waits till I turn round and nicks a slice , checky dog not happy as she jumps her turn . So takes it off her and breaks it up for the others . Tease....I have decided as the vets said during the week that 7-10 days before Lilly should be let loose with the others to release her back to the flock today ,last medicine this morning . can then concerntrate on the new girls for a little while .Had a record yesterday , a hen had a piece of bread and made four trips round the garden with it before being caught . She must have spent more energy running than what she gained by the mouthful eaten . Great fun and I think I will have a sprint race and high jumps ,egg laying and eat the most food competion after xmas , training begins for Penelope and Parker . Billy and Bloomers ( she looks like a french ladies frilly underwear when she wonders around and a bit stuck up as a pedergree ) mayby a tug of war and a relay . Maybe they could join in a internation competion and go to New Zealaqnd , of course as trainer / coach I would have to come too >
Well back on Monday with up dates on new girls . (Karen who must be obeyed is coming with me so only 4 hens today ).
Bob
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KarenE
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by KarenE »

Bob, it's so exciting to get new girls and especially ex batts and watch them flourish and get back to full health!

Sounds like you're having a great time with your girls and you'll be having a brilliant day today. Hopefully the boys will put a stop to introduction handbags (although keep them away from the new ex batts as they may not be able to stand the rufty tufty yet) although it does sound like your ladies have their boys exactly where they want them! I'm sure your cockerels refer to their ladies as 'they who must be obeyed' as well :-D
Karen
Alpha chick to: Smudge, Matisse and Bluebell
Chief servant to Marley the cat
Remembering Weeps, Rexie, Sage, Cassie, Toffee, Captain Gabby, Commander Nugget, Ronnie, Juno, Special Poetry and Reading Casper, Tigger, Tophenanall Rembrandt, Chestnut, Tiddly, Willow, Mango, Coco, Dorian Grey and Pokey.
Also my lost furries Charlie and Jasper
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all, Sat went well. 4 new girls a couple of charactors for sure. One is smaller than a bantum. She was going to be given to someone who had few or small birds , but grabbed her as I am sure she will be happy . Another little devil wheen I picked her up pecked me on the chin and I yelped like a school girl , it hurt , then as I went to put her in the box she grab the skin between my left thunb and first finger and would not let go for ages . not as painful but showed me the measure of what she was going to put up with. All looked exstremely well and healthy.Thanking Angel well done to fresh Start for hens agin. Lilly is back in the coop/runs now having put on weight and looking a lot better .Dont think it was a moult as all feathers are still on her . Just a stomach bug.She is back throwing her new weight about . I have kept the new girls in the coop/ run extension which I have for naughty girls/boys which is plenty big enough. I had to show them their beds first night as they wanted to stay out late. The cockerels were bring presents outside the wire and dancing their jigs and showing off the plumage .(as if they did not have enough girlies already. ) Some of the boss girls had a peck at the wire as a intro but soon went off to forage . All quite A week of keeping in the run/coops as working and do not want them in the garden whilst dark .Plenty water and food so should be happy.Not getting many eggs 3 / 4 a day which is to be egg spected .
Looking forward to hopefully a few quite weeks , Going to ring the new girls ,not sure of the pattern one on each leg /two differant colours on one leg . Replace the colours of past lost hens. (Not supersticious but do not want to chance it really .
Write some more later as always something the hens get up to especially my Penelope who is more of a dog than my Staf as she follows me everwhere checking onhow things work and pecking it to make sure it is right.
Bob ,Best wishes to all ,.
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all ,
Just ringed 3 of the 4 new girls 2 rings ,different colour same leg right side .4th one has got one ring on her leg but would not stand still and ran out of time . Catch her tomorrow and put another one on her . The little hen is so small. More like a large wood pigeon . All four said thanks today by giving me 4 eggs . the 19 other girls only 2.... They are sleeping together pefectly . cockerels were giving them a once over and dancing next to my arm when I put the rings on and the noise they were making was pretty loud ,trying to out do each other .I think I have fallen for the small hen already and spoiling her is going to be easy.
Must start naming more of the girls as it seems unfair to just call them by color leg and rings .
Only for played hard to get today as I did not want to leave them out in the garden in the dark . Bread works for most but rounding them up with my dog is pretty easy now as the dog is getting trained and myself come to that , and the chickens decide when they have had enough of chase and tag .
Bob
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KarenE
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by KarenE »

She can't be a bantam though can she? I don't know if they put bantams into the factory system

Sounds like they are all getting you well and truly trained already, good for them! And as for those boys, they'll soon show them who's in charge (and it won't be the boys!)
Karen
Alpha chick to: Smudge, Matisse and Bluebell
Chief servant to Marley the cat
Remembering Weeps, Rexie, Sage, Cassie, Toffee, Captain Gabby, Commander Nugget, Ronnie, Juno, Special Poetry and Reading Casper, Tigger, Tophenanall Rembrandt, Chestnut, Tiddly, Willow, Mango, Coco, Dorian Grey and Pokey.
Also my lost furries Charlie and Jasper
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi Karen ,Not a bantum, but a very small girl ,she is the size of the bantum ,lays a good size egg.Still in the med ward going to dust them up before I let battle begin. Let the old boy`s and girls have a run in the garden this morning for a couple of hours ,did not feel happy leaving them out . Coming home after dark . Boy`s did not go far from the new girls and pecking at the wire was interesting(girls far more agressive .Not sure what the hens look for but the boys puff themselves up and dance about , showing off at each other . Penelope chased them away from the girls as she does not like the competion .Lilly is doing her thing and comes and says hello and looking for the treats , does not understand why the sudden lack of special attention is missing . Not being bullied and if anything throwing her new weight about .All girls are happy but only two eggs today so far . Probably get some of the new girls when I get home .
looking forward to the longer days come the 21st . Windows were steamed up in the new girls coop so they must be generating plenty of warmth . Or planning some activities when the sentance is finished and let out on parole .Do not think foxes are around at the moment as Harley the massif is not barking at night .No signs of digging .My cat was missing this morning and found out that she was with the neighbour all night and she hid . (she has her heating on .) Woke her up with a gentle paw on her face ..... Lucky me...
Well all well on the chicken front and even the Koi are sleeping at the bottom of the pond.Bloomers came out into the garden guarded by her boyfriend /bodyguards.
Bob
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sandy
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by sandy »

Glad to hear all well in your flock )t' Yes you must name your girls {warn}
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/
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all , Half day at work so home by 11.30 this morning , Girls and boys will have fun today , DE the girls and then finishing ringing and then let battle commence , Have time to spend with my `little n ¬ , I think I have named her now ` N` Sounds good I think . Special agent N of the Essex reg..Squad 5 , light comp. Camoflage section .....
2 eggs chaulked up on wing . 2 eggs from the 19 and a soft shell .looks like they may start laying again soon .Deep clean the coops before to heavy rain starts up and cold weather .Grab some grass from the fields for a change of cabbage ,Might visit the veg farm shop and see if any grapes about cheap.They always enjoy a bunch or two . Found a slug in the coop this morning , it did not last 5 seconds before it was gone . They are looking really health at the moment and long may it last .New dates for rescue chickens in January if any one needs some extra / replacement .Recomend the bats as they deserve a good life for services rendered .Full of charactor .eggs a bonus.
Trying to find more chicken keepers nearby .Everbody with a (small )garden even could have a couple or three .Dont need to convince anyone here though .
Looking forward to a good freash air afternoon enjoying my flock for company.Bob
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KarenE
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by KarenE »

Bob, I hate to have to break it to you but I think you've caught the most incurable disease known to modern man - chickenitis!!

How many hens have you named N then?
Karen
Alpha chick to: Smudge, Matisse and Bluebell
Chief servant to Marley the cat
Remembering Weeps, Rexie, Sage, Cassie, Toffee, Captain Gabby, Commander Nugget, Ronnie, Juno, Special Poetry and Reading Casper, Tigger, Tophenanall Rembrandt, Chestnut, Tiddly, Willow, Mango, Coco, Dorian Grey and Pokey.
Also my lost furries Charlie and Jasper
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi ,Great afternoon fun. Names so far
Penelope ,Parker ,Red, Lilly ,Ginger , Bloomers , N (She who must be obeyed has said Minnie ) Mareen ? ,Billy , Orange , Lav , I can reconise quite a few from a distance as well which is better than I can do on humans .
Yesterday had some fun sorting out the girls , As it had to be the one with only one ring of the new girls (sats ) took to wandering off with the main bunch. So at the afternoon lock up 3 went to the medical ward ( N-purple /mauve colour right leg 2 rings ) and the two shades of blue d/l did not venture to far as they were haressed by anything in the garden .yellow / white had handbags with Lilly through a deviding wire so no harm done Harley the ref called it a draw .Back to lock upAfter deciding the food was better in the run she stayed there ,Head in the hopper , girls had gone to bed and she was on her own not sure where to go .There is another right leg dark green 1 ring girl but I had worked who she was .Opened the doors to the run as I could not catch her and did not want to freighten her . Opened the medical ward door and she wandered off as normal into the bed area and that was it .Shut up all the doors and said my good nights to all .I think that she will settle well and has got the hang of foraging already.May keep N and her friend together as she is very little to out on her own . fatening her up so as she may look a bit bigger .All well and noisy this morning when I left for work 5.15 am . Hopefully the cockerels will have shut up by now . Today they will have to stay in the runs as not home again to after dark.Spoil them later .cockerels seem frien dily and stand still for a stroke Depends what is on their minds I surpose .
by for now .Bob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all , Been home midday today to collect eggs and let the dogs out. 6 eggs one busted? 4 eggs , one larger than the rest , and one egg no more than 1.5 inches really small -perfect in every way .This come from the main group and a large hen .
two days ago I had a soft shell .I begining to think some of the girls are begining to lay again .Shall have to keep an eye on them to make sure no problems occure.Dont think I can do much more , plenty of grit and food around .
Dont fancy more trips to the vets....Is it true they eat more grit at night before sleeping as I have grit in the coops . I surpose it is they risk of egg laying if anything happens like broken eggs inside them. They all seem happy and look forward to seeing me at the run doors ..New girls still working out what they can eat . when they do they will be fighting for the bannanas . Home soon look up time .
Wishing all well . WSeekend is coming .....
Bob

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