My attempt to keep chickens.

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , just cleaned the coop out and fresh straw .Could not find Cuddles at all , I called and the new red/yellow (Box ) helped her self till I realised it was not her. Called again 2 ring Red came and helped her self (One of Penny 2 friends ) ,Then Penny 2 came , Nuisance and Quaker . Well I looked everywhere and finally found her under the inner coop . Did not come out so will check her tonight . Parker is bloodied on the comb The golden large girl was not having his attention and Desmond took full advantage when he was occupied and gave him a good roughing. No real damage just put in his place . Still locked up.
Eating a lot of food amongst them all.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all, Hope it is going ok with the lockdown.
Caught Cuddles on the perch last night and brought her to the kitchen . Her crop was pretty empty . Gave her some corn and mealworms which she ate and coo ` d in puzzlement of the special attention . Gave her a cuddle and she chirped in my ear . Put her back . It is mainly due to not getting a chance to eat at the bowls much. had not fed her on her own yesterday . trying to get her to fed her self and not totally rely on me.
I then grabbed Parker and parked him on the sink edge and washed his comb off with boiled water and cold mix. No damage just bloodied.
The big Goldie has found her place in the pecking order and demands her (large ) share of food and treats. Must be warmer as more girls sleeping on the perches outside in the run . fresh straw for the cold weather coming towards us soon.
Still 49 alive and well and not to stressed out . Boys awake at 6.00am
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , just done the survey on the other thread ???? Well very interesting . Recommend reading and filling it in (honestly) even if you do not send it off .
It could reveal a lot and areas of possible improvement.
if you do do it please let me know your thoughts in general . Could be a means of preventing people taking hens on without knowledge of what they are setting out to do.
Always willing to learn a bit more including areas I fall down in . (several I am now a where of ) .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , Well I think I have been given a curved ball.Now When I picked up the last two `girls ` from Brentwood `council .The quote was I don't know what s.ex they are , I know nothing ....
Un quote ..... Well The huge lump of chicken Goldie 2 is beating the daylights out of Parker , Parker is having a go back from behind as it does not see it coming. Desmond joins in at any opportunity on the pair of them . Now it has a large comb and does not crow , certainly no new sounds as yet . Looks fairly old 2 years .
I think she is a he and hence instead of saving her pride , he is taking over .....
Very confusing and unless he/she crows or lays an egg I will stay confused.
Cuddles had some food again last night and the rest of the flock had her left overs . Litaln (beardie ) is doing well and small enough to get in quick and run . Pom Pom was seen in the run so maybe getting off the nest .Box is getting into the flock and socialising .Dogs and cats regained the garden but the dogs are missing their TREATS......
Getting lighter in the evenings and soon be 5.00pm and light .
Cold weather coming and plenty of food and straw to keep them worm.
Bob

[kitla]

any sign of spurs coming on big Goldy bob? poor you, horrid to have an aggressive one when they're all confined like this.

[Cheshire Chick]

Hi Bob. Karen, Sandy. Kitty and all the other 'Laners'. I have just registered but have been a daily 'viewer' for a long, long time. Sorry if this post is in the wrong place, just finding out about how to do things here. Just wanted to say that I have enjoyed your diaries so very much for such a long time and am looking forward to being part of the 'Lane' and joining in with the forums, especially Chicken Forum. I think you are all amazing people the way you look after and care for your chickens. They are indeed a passion of mine (I keep 3 lovely ladies at home). When I find out how to 'Start a Diary' I will join in. The information and the friendliness here is wonderful and it's so nice to talk to like-minded people (don't know why it has taken me so long to register, I have been visiting this site for the last couple of years!!). Bob - I think you are a star the way you have rescued all those girls (and boys). Looking forward to speaking with you all and continuing to enjoy this Forum (It's marvellous Richard).

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi thank you from all of us. Always try and help and still learning .
Hope the FLU is not to disturbing for you .
Easy to start Just put a title and away you go.
Bob
Always good to read peoples stories

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi not aggressive standing there own . They get on well unless the girls go for a different boyfriend as they do . Food is another arguing point . If they were all hens there would still be a do going on.
Eyes are my worry as getting blinded is a real problem for sure.
Bob

[kitla]

Hi Bob. Karen, Sandy. Kitty and all the other 'Laners'. I have just registered but have been a daily 'viewer' for a long, long time. Sorry if this post is in the wrong place, just finding out about how to do things here. Just wanted to say that I have enjoyed your diaries so very much for such a long time and am looking forward to being part of the 'Lane' and joining in with the forums, especially Chicken Forum. I think you are all amazing people the way you look after and care for your chickens. They are indeed a passion of mine (I keep 3 lovely ladies at home). When I find out how to 'Start a Diary' I will join in. The information and the friendliness here is wonderful and it's so nice to talk to like-minded people (don't know why it has taken me so long to register, I have been visiting this site for the last couple of years!!). Bob - I think you are a star the way you have rescued all those girls (and boys). Looking forward to speaking with you all and continuing to enjoy this Forum (It's marvellous Richard).

Hello & welcome Cheshire Chick. Click on "forum" at the top of the page, scroll down to "Members chicken keeping diaries" click on "New Topic" and start typing! We'll look forward to reading about your chooks & dont forget to try & get some photos on there.

[Cheshire Chick]

Thank you for your lovely welcome and your instructions (not very good with these things, but going to give it a go very soon). Bob - I am coping OK at the moment with regard to the Flu scare. My three girls have a run that is fairly large to keep wild birds out and them in. When I am at home at the weekends they do shout to come out into the garden (they are used to their routine and they know they always come out at weekends). A few extra treats, i.e. mealworms (probably more than is good for them) do help the situation. Hope everyone has a good "chicken-keeping" weekend.

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all, See you have started and you did not know it, If I can do this anyone can .
Well yesterday 10 eggs and a small soft shell deformed (lash) Throw out some grit mix . Food gone when home and gave the flock a bowl personally served on their perches . This morning most girls outside waiting for breakfast ever . I did not get back in the day so missed out a extra late feed.
Cannot get a good look at Goldie 2 . One good thing last night whilst feeding the girls in the run perches was that whilst the French maran (white checks ) was eating I got a red ring of her left leg . This is one I had not done fr5om Des -Desmond the cockeral`s girls . Only one not ringed now is Desmond and he has such a big leg/claw that the ring may not fit. Not much of mixing him up with Parker for sure . Working the weekend and hoping to get some time with the flock. Days Mon and Tues then night shifts for 1week and a half.
Still the full compliment of 49 .
Cold weather may keep the girls under cover today.
Giving them plenty of food but like greedy girls they are eat it by midday and then want more.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , Goldie 2 has 1 inch spurs . Does not crow , not seen nesting on eggs /laying eggs.
Fights everyone .
Will she be a he or will she be a girly Tom boy .
Very confused . If I look at her/his rear end I am not to sure what I will find or not or if I even could . Thinking she/he will not be impressed with my anti social behaviour for sure .
Time will tell.
Bob

[KarenE]

(Cough cough) if I can just hijack Bob's diary for a minute... to say hello and welcome to CheshireChick. Lovely to have you here and breaking lurking to post! Please do start your own diary. We love reading about each other's flocks - mainly because we're all nosy and can never get enough of chickens! Starting a diary us easy, just go for it and we'll post on it if you promise to give it a go

[KarenE]

Good grief Bob, things are never straightforward with you! Do you think Goldy is a boy or just an extremely relaxed metrosexual? See if the forums filters let that one by! I've had girl crooks with large spurs, so that's not necessarily a sign. But fighting with Parker is not a good sign. Have you got a pic of Goldie you could post? Someone might be able to help identify what he/she is.

Not sure it's a good idea to go peering at a chicken's rear end. I'm sure your neighbours think you're mad enough already!

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi Karen , It has now done Lav. , Bloodied . I can pick it up easy and showed SHMBO . Cannot understand why no crowing . Mute cockerel would be amazing . I will get some picks up somehow. Got the fork out in the run yesterday . Tried to lower the level. of `dirt` and old sawdust. I have after a outbreak of free running chickens in the garden with the game of one in two out . Like a distant memory rounding up the flock. 49 still around , 44 girls 4 boys and a iffy . I think I was had over by a Council again ...... One passed problem to the next local council....
The iffy is so big and spurs are absolutely massive . Could do serious harm . Iffy has certainly put his claw on the flocks. If a iffy will it lay eggs .
This sounds really terrible as any human that maybe in same position would certainly get the claws out on me.

Cuddles had a good feed . Trouble now I think most of the flock think they are a collective of Cuddles as I call her and the lot come running , they know that food is about . Egg count going up and old customers at work are asking more as others walk around with the egg boxes . as the weather has got colder at night the girls are awake earlier looking for the food .
Really healthy (fingers crossed ) and apart from less long distance running around the garden seem happy . When the sun comes back and the warmer weather arrives they will want their old sunny spots back and then there will be a riot in the cell blocks . As the egg count goes up I suppose the boys will start getting more aggressive with each other .
Marley`s bro and sis have not arrived yet so a wait and see still if they arrive .
Nothing on the DEFRA UK sight up dated . Been going to Europe web sights to see what is happening out there.
Have put a wire cage sides as a fence to contain the girls should they dodge my leg s when the door opens to the run. Freedom against food seems to get the better of them .
Bob