My attempt to keep chickens.

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bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Good morning to all , Thank god its Friday . Getting up for work takes its toll. One step ahead this morning as had a late night and burning candle at both ends is costly .
Fed the girls and watered last night so made this morning easier.Seems the cockerels were quite this morning . Half the girls out running around in the dark . Normal lazy ones still thinking about it . Weather a little bit wetter so left the open food feeder in side to keep dry. Hopefully go home later this morning to check up and get some fuel in the van.Looking forward to 21st longest night and the hols although working for Crisis 4 days of my 10 day break . So another fine start for hens . Will reflect over the last 7months and see what improvements I can make for the New Year .Maybe if I cannot get more chickens I can be more supportive in the good cause .
Bye for now .
Bob

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Richard
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by Richard »

You're doing well )t' )t' )t'

Richard
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bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Thank you Richard.Have a good Christmas. 4 eggs today , brke one thin shell but putting my weight on the box with my elbow did not help .
Diner time I managed to put the second ring on new girl so two ring green dark /light .
Penelope got out into the garden and had a half hour rumage . Easily caught as she follows me around . New girls gave me two of the eggs , eating well . noticed a claw short on the two ring green but the toe seems ok . Grow back in lenght in time no doubt. They can come out tomorrow for a stretch of legs Sat.Should be back from work before dusk .
Bob
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sandy
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by sandy »

Bob you are doing a brilliant job )t' I am loving reading your diary and you are giving those girls one of the best things they will ever have…your care
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 , WEell it is Monday and back to the grind stone , Neighbiour spoilling the chocks today left over party bits ,pork pie , fairy cakes . just like the film Gone in sixty seconds.....I have some of the best looking hens around , tails up ,bit of colour in them not just your standard hybrids . They must know that they are in a good place . The dog sits out there in the garden watching them . Keeps them well behaved . Not in the house unless I am around ,Stops the hand bags flying . cockerels away from the hens , most of the time . I have noticed the cockerels perch on the high points bench , picnic table medical ward , and call out when danger ,even if in their heads is around . The hens seem to understand and run for the run.They feed the girls food as well , call when they want them to peck on the ground .I am sure they have got there favourite hens as well .Still getting 5 eggs a day with some broken ones , shells not hard enough or being pecked. New girls are not friendly and keep well clear of me , 2 are mixing it up with the main flock but prefer to go to the Medical ward with the others." hens are smallest in the flock and keep well out the way until the doors are all shut and the 4 come out and eat and drink and sort their pecking order out amongst themseleves .Bloomers is out in the garden quite a bit now and Harley the mastif always follows her about . Not sure why , maybe she is different and noticeable or is of royalty and needs watching and protecting as much as possible.Penelope and lilly have become well up in the pecking order and keeps the boys and girls in order .Espically if I am around as the treats are their`s by right .....
Naming another hen chocolate as the colour she is really dark . Unless the girls stand out it is hard to name them. I know they know my voice as they come as soon as I appear and call .Another good couple of days and nobody on sick list or behaving off!.GOOD.Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all , Good morning , last night I let the chocks out for a late run , brisk scratch in the ex-flower beds . They soon went back to run and coops .Neighbour has cut her grass and I have put it in the run area . It was a bit late as they were tired . Left the coop doors open so the late feeders could finish off their food .Run all shut and bolted .I did not go back to shut the coop up so they had a chance to go in the run .Was not planned but forgetfulness on my part . Beauty of my set up is that I have a outer run area and a inner sanctum /sleeping area . As long as either or both are locked then no harm should become to them . Have not seen any signs of foxes or other pests trying to get into the run. Weither this is good fortune or well protected I can not say but it seems to work . I am off work now till the 5th Jan so will give up date then on the festive season . I have not seen any rescue turkeys this year I wonder why . I hope the chocks are all well and that there is no distaster`s for those who care for them . Still loving it and spreading the word .
Bob
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sandy
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by sandy »

Loving reading your diary, you have a serious case of chickenitus and aint it grand )like( Happy New Year to you and your girls…Sandy and The Pink Ladies :-D
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, Hope you have all had a good xmas and chickens and animals are all well.
Back at work again after a busy xmas.All chickens present and correct . cockerels noisy as normal ( bit worrying ) . One of the latest girls is moulting badily, she is as bad as I picked her up on the 17th Dec. Have given her a couple of good dustings to make sure she is not mite infested seems ok . little n and minnie are exploring the garden and the two mates stick together , still using the medical ward and not wanting to go in the main run/coops. Some of the other girls are wanting to team up with them .As I have been busy they have become less interested in the kitchen and following me around. still watch me for food and will run if I have any. Working days this week so they will not get much attention .
Egg count is going up and have been getting a few soft shell eggs which I am concerned as do not want any busted ones inside them . Some of the girls are sitting on nest boxes but do not lay any eggs . They are looking really pretty with the tails up and full og feathers.Already had orders for 2 dozen eggs and have kept 12 from Sat. Do not like keeping them to long as will not be FRESH . Compremise quality . I think I am mad as can understand most of chicken langauge and talk to them as if people. More imformation later on holidays.Bob
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KarenE
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by KarenE »

All sounds perfectly normal to me Bob!

If you're worried about soft shells, add a bit of limestone flour to their feed - it will help add calcium. If the shells remain soft, add a bit of cod liver oil which apparently helps with calcium absorption. If your little ex batts are laying soft shells, it's likely because their bodies are pretty low on calcium as the battery systems do take a toll on that.
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 , I put in feeders /trays the mixed grit/oyster shell stuff. I also spread it around generally in the run so they find it themselves . Free range them in the garden so they pick up the bits in the dirt etc. I have been feedinga various ammount of different feeds pellets in the morning , corn afternoon and evenings ( takes longer to diggest I believe ) and for the night foraging in the coops ,They do like to have midnight snacks . I am not an expert but do they lay they soft shells when they start laying after a break ? they are all looking good . Getting a few eaten eggs if not collected becfore midday .probably the not thick shelled being moved around in the nests.At lunch time when I went home they were all on the branches waiting for me and when I went in the run, went for the garden , saw the bread ( brown of course )turned and dashed back . The cocherals combs are so red , unbelieveable .They are like balls of feather all fluffed up . Little n and minnie are so sweat , they would make a lovelly kids pet as small enough not to be intimerdating spellings ( teriable ,sorry ) 9 too lazy to look up a dictonary ) They just have a change around in their groupings just to confuse me . Found dirt in the coop uckingham Palace and I reacon a fury was visiting. I throw some bricks at the rear and should stop it running in . Looks like my cat indie has a job to do there .Penelope escaped the coop as she could not understand why she should stay locked up .I had to gather her up and stick her in the stable door top part of coop . Not bested pleased and vocal with it. The other girls where giving her incourage ment and wanted to join her and I am sure they where laughing at her when she was returned . I was only home for 30 mins but makes my day more bearable as I have to go back to work. Next time I see them they will be settling for sleep .BoB
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KarenE
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by KarenE »

Yes, they can lay soft shells when they're coming into or out of laying (like before/after winter, or a moult), I guess it takes a bit of effort before their systems get back into or out of the swing of things.

Oyster shells are good apparently. I roast their egg shells and feed them crushed back to them, and they love them as well so that could be a good free alternative to oyster shell. Plus limestone flour mixed in a bit of mash if they start laying softies for no reason (ie they haven't just restarted or are stopping)

It's great when the nights are lighter, especially in summer and you can spend ages out there in the evening with them. Mine come and snuggle up next to or on me for a quick sunbathe or a preen.
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.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi all , Has taken some time to write this morning as very sad and unhappy.
Have posted a girl on Rainbow bridge .

After seeing them yesterday midday to come home and find her dead is upsetting to say the least , un expected and shocking.

I will write up some more later but today I will have to check the rest of my flock to see if they are all well..
Good bye my 2 ring blue left leg , a short but happy stay .
Bob
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By Halves
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by By Halves »

So sorry to hear that. It's such a shock when they haven't even seemed ill {hug} Hope the rest of your flock are all OK.
~ Annie

Two little kids, one big one and two grandchildren
Spongebob the cat on steroids and Gus who doesn't like him; silly Kittles and sensible Rags
lovely bantam girl Phoebe
and retired working girls: Florence, Miss McCluck and Mrs Brown

RIP little Rainbow and beautiful Angel xxx
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all , Back at it again.Dusted them . (what I could catch and the rest be done today) . Yesterday something was up . cockerel a dood1e hall had 2 hens and the cockerels in it . Cluckingham Palace had the usual ammount but the medical ward had 7 in 3 more than normal . I left them as they seemed comfortable all cuddled up last night .I grabed
2 this morning and put them back in the main run the other was out in the med ward run so left her . 5 in the med ward is reasonable , room to move around . cockerel`s still noisy . Today on a half shift so spend afternoon checking there weights .May indicate their health. I was going to weigh them on a regular basis , but this would seem wierd and the scales would then be needed , kitchen -bath fish ? Then I would have to record it for the next time .Goes on . I thought it was going to be cold today but water was not frozen so my guess is it is not as bad as it could be.
Cutting grass when going out with the dogs with scissors and a bag . Must look a sight ... A man double tasking ....May do a bit more wire work on the roof of run as not completed from before xmas . Does the job but will not hurt . Well thats all ,Oh ordered another 4 rescue hens ,30 chocks at the end of Jan 15 in my flock , as long as I dont loose any more ........I think I will not say to much in future about there condition as it seems asking for trouble .
Best of wishes to all.Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all , A very pleasent day chicken watching . It is a shame at the moment as they have been un socialised and spend more time scatching around then getting under my feet . Will be spending another afternoon with them as another half day off. 5 eggs and a busted one , pecked , I believe it is being done when moving it as not eaten . boiled it and eat it my self ...... Fixed the wire together ,need to get a bit more as a section is only 1 wire thick. Placed bamboo cane fence over the top as cover sp that it gives a bit of weather protection . Hard roof / open roof .Can not make my mind up as 1 will keep the rain etc out and stop the sun other opposite , surpose a combination or moveable cover is best .My girls can get on branches out of the wet or stay in coops as plenty of room in them. .still cannot believe a hen with such lovelly plummage and no obvious signs of illness can keel over and die...
Stop of at Tes.... and buy some treats for the animals on the way home and start them socialising again . bread is a good knee collector and back bench perching .
Storm on the way so heads down for the next few days.Bob

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