My attempt to keep chickens.

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bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi all , put down for 4 hens from B W Trust this morning . None in Essex at the moment .
17th Bristol area.
Bob

bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

said news when I went home to let the girls loose . I saw in a corner one of my white rangers . She was the red ring dead . She must have died this morning sometime. No obvious reason , .Not lost weight , crop had some food in it . No lose of feathers just laying in the corner . It must have been her time to meet the flock over the Rainbow bridge. She came from Simon so long ago . Was the famous girl of returning from the dead when she was missed seen as the purple ring .
So another girl has gone .
34 left .
Should never say and I have said it previously with die consequences that the flock was looking well.
Bob
Cheshire Chick
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by Cheshire Chick »

Sorry to hear that you have lost a girl Bob. Perhaps she just died of old age and like you say, it was her time to join the flock over the Bridge. It's still sad but at least she didn't suffer any illness. Can't believe you are getting more hens - don't know how you keep track of them all. They will be lucky girls joining the house of Bob. Good luck with them.
stripeddonkey
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by stripeddonkey »

Sorry for your loss Bob. Your girls are lucky hens indeed. She will have died happy.
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi all , been off all weekend and Friday .
Collected the girls from Colchester . Lovely set of hens . They are being guided when they let him by Champ. they are in the small coop . Box , 2 ring Red and 2 ring Pink seem to be keen to be Top hens and all. Characters for sure . Pretty sure as well that one is a woo . Small comb but I am sure she will give it a side parting.
Egg count has gone up (Wonder why) 5 eggs .
Stayed in bed till 7.30 am this morning . Different Sat 4.30 am all hell let loose and could not shut the boys up.
First kitchen raid since returned on sat as well. Stocking up with straw and food before van goes for repair . Girls eating well . Frog has a mucky eye so a return visit to vets again in offering . Cats have there health and jab s so do then .
Flocks in the flocks well and hope it stays this way .
feathers are back all except one of my girls that is the boys favourite and the 2 new girls . But they will grow back for sure .
Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi all , the 3 boys have just been given to me tonight .
Cardboard boxes in van . Take them home later in a break.
So that is the last of the addition`s to my flock planned .
If anyone would like a cockerel for their flocks let me know.
Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all , Well back at work for a night shift then off till next Weds. AM.
Lots of testoserine in the garden . Even the girls are having a go at the boys through the wire .
Champ has been taking on 2 newbies on his own . The newbies are queuing up to have ago through the wire at all of them . Fighting each other to get at the front .
Captain Chaos is having a field day as worked out that whilst Champ and Desmond was puffing up feathers he was ruffling the girls feathers quite happily.
This morning Champ was missing and I could not see him in the garden first think . After a while I found him in the run , far corner head facing away .
Had to crawl to get him .
Close inspection standing on one leg. (left )
Bit r wet and rough looking .
Quick phone call to vets and a appointment at 9.50 am . Alberto was doing operation and another lady (not a bird vet ) was available . Booked . Turned up to be called in by Alberto the bird specialist.
Leg not broken probably a strain/ pulled mussel . 22pounds . I had given him Metacam and plenty of it and told that 1.05kilo bird needs .3 mil or 1mil depending on strength (cat or Dog) . So all is well . 4 new girls are lovely ,always the way , rescue girls run for a cuddle and treats /food , woo and spec run away . Come out in run but keeping away from the main flock . Box and 2 ring red show lots of interest in them as they now when I head towards them the treats are about.
New boys are large between Desmond and Capt. Chaos in size . Crowing now .
Not earl as in a dark nest box ,but during the day non stop completion .love the way the girls fight them as well . Box even checkily ran in the wire extension I gave them for more room and nicked the food . Gave them a good peck and barged past them . When she had ate the lot ran back to the top hole hatch and I lifted her out .was going to put some girls with them but that might start the 3 fighting over them .
looking for homes the vets are looking out for me a couple of farmers are asking around . But their life expectancy is pretty short in my reckoning.
Shame as they would be good pets and breeding boys for sure . This is a lesson to all chick hatchers . raise chicks and get cockerels raised to be killed.
Well so much time spent with the flock from dawn to dusk and more over the next 4 days . Do not want to get to attached to the new boys and not named them for that reason. longer they stay the harder this will end . My last resort would send them to the hatchery and pay for their up keep till homed . 5 eggs a day .
Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi having had a few days off so much has happened.
First Silver Leaf died yesterday after getting Water belly and into her lungs . Nothing I could do for her . She had a gone 4-5 years of life.
Second Champ is at the vets . Taken in last night (8.30pm ) He is having the pleasure of waking the nightshift up in the morning . X-rays during the night / today . Depending on what they see they will operate / fix if possible.
Full team of vets/ nurses working on him. Yesterday they all came to take him off me and see him.
A proper show off.
Up date on his condition later .
Third Minnie the smallest of girls had a fair time has lost weight and looking poorly. she was keeping Silver Leaf company . Spent last night in kitchen with Champ - woke up and he had gone ?
She is on Metacam and Baytril .
I think she has got crop problems - Massage and feeding . She is still eating .
Forth found another Collar dove dead with no obvious signs of death . I think the wild birds must be in trouble.
Captain Chaos has his collar back on . The 3 new boys have started crowing .4 new girls have settled in well and dust bathing when the opportunity allows. Little sweaties the hybrid s are .Woo is the funniest as she has all the character of a woo .
Desmond is well and noisy .
Champ has spent since Friday in the house . Sleeping on the bed with the 2 dogs , cats and me if room .
He is better than a alarm clock . Even has a dozz mode .
Even the dogs are used to him in the house. He does not move around much and looks out the window at the flock and eats /sleeps . Other than his leg he is fine.
Certainly stopped his famous wing and leg dancing.
Well so much to say but work is getting in the way .
Snowed as well so that was a new treat for the flock as some have never seen it in the years I have had them.
Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi all , latest on Champ. NOISY .....
Did not get x ray last night sometime this am .
Told on phone he is regularly crowing .... Ha Ha , Good boy.
Probably calling for his girls and mates.
Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi , Champ has a broken leg (cage rest ) (wish it was voice rest ) . Picking up at 7.30 pm tonight , with more details etc . So looks like a kitchen friend for a while.
Also good news on Minnie front I think. She has got her tail up , eating with the flock and generally moving about the garden/run. Need to get her weight back up as her chest bone has not a lot of flesh . But maybe she will keep going for a long time to come.
Bob
Cheshire Chick
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by Cheshire Chick »

Sorry to hear about Silver Leaf Bob. Sure would have had a wonderful full life with you. Poor Champ with a broken leg - yes it definitely looks like you will have another house friend when you put him on bed rest. Hopefully he will make a speedy recovery.
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KarenE
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by KarenE »

Sad news about Silver Leaf {hug} And of course Champ and his broken leg - do you know how he did it? Poor litle fellow. t least he's still in good voice, and will hopefully mend. Maybe pop a bit of limestone flour into his feed for a calcium boost, and some cod liver oil, as that might help his bones knit a bit better. I'm sure the vets will advise. I hope he doesn't lose his harem!

What are Minnie's symptoms? How are her poos?
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 Karen , watery when I saw her yesterday , crop firm . I think massage and feeding up and meds will sort her out . I will check her when I get home.
Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi Champ has effectively broken his wrist . 6 WEEKS cage REST . Looks very much like he will be a kitchen and T V expert . Left in the large dog cage and now reduced his freedom to roam.
Minnie was ok last night , see how she is later .
Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all , I think today will be the last time Little hen Minnie will be alive , she has taken a downward slide . Put her on Sulphatrim and massage her crop again . Lost a lot of weight and not moving . . In the cat cage that champ was in . if anyone has any connections with the higher forces and the Rainbow bridge she needs it .
A lovely little hen same age as Chops was as got together . It seems 4 years +/- is the age for a rescue girl .
Bob
I have said previously that it seems the period now that the flock will loose some darlings that have been with me for so long.

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