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 ,
Well Stargazer ,blue ring no4 left leg . Never failing to surprise me.
She has been making so much noise ,anyone that passes , feed me , feed me ...
Yesterday morning I FOUND A EGG in her cardboard box .
Soft at one end but a good attempt . She is still moulting and new feathers coming through .
She has been the longest hen moult I have had .
Still has her head back at times , walks around in circles and changes direction for a change .
The box is large but she has her chance to get out . Rabbit not in the house as well so she has freedom.
Her sister hen blue ring same side with flock has bugs and not to healthy though eating .Meds and keeping an eye on her , sprayed for the bugs . She sleeps on her own at POPE AND BISHOPS end , reminder of days gone bye .
HOUSE is on the market , will see what happens .
6 eggs on a good day , but they are seeming more interested in the nests again .
Stargazer was put with the flock and she attacked the boss hen (actually did the boy dance to her ) , but she could not take her wing hen on and got rolled around the floor .
Looks like she is in doors for the rest of her naturals may it be long.
Rest good no jab yet .
Work is not good and be glad to get out.
Not much to say , keep well all and see you soon .Bob

bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi my flock of 21 is doing well , stargazer is noisy , hungry and laying an egg a day , 3 so far .
still happy in a box looking out , six inches high .
The occasional jump out to eat the dog / cat food . She comes out the front lawn when I am out there as she needs the excersice`s .
Naughty but no choice really .
Have to be there as the fox still alive in the neighbor hood.
Not much work left to do on house but still not going to be finished it seems till April .
(PLASTERER )
Word has / is out and moving , expecting children to appear asking to help .......
(themselves )
Very busy at work end of financial year rush.
Working Sunday and day shift next week .

Stay well and safe thinking of you in quiet moments , few and far between.
SHMBO rec`d the photos and passed them on .
A few years back it seems.
8 eggs a day and going up.
Bob
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all , ground hog day ./
I thought this was about chickens and friends but seems the ground hogs have taken over .
VETS ..... I tried to book a appointment for Daisy the duck as she was limping on her right leg . NO CHANCE unless I go to a specialist in BIRDS .
So I have to have phone call appointments. Which means money for nothing .
I have given her metacam (Large doses as big girl.
Stargazer is really luck hen as she too would not be able to go .
I feel sorry for all those that do not have the knowledge when the birds are poorly or the signs .Friends on here are priceless .
Stargazer is laying eggs and has been called the SEAGULL by the builder/workers and raised an eye to the estate agents that have turned up .
House is up for sale and works finished VERY soon hopefully .
Stressed out as now I have to decide the future directions of travel (to work /or not )

All else good and hopefully the girls will stay well but ground hog continues .
Stay safe do not fall at the last hurdle.
(My jabs March and then JUNE that is only as I have had to go miles to get it.)
Bob
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sandy
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by sandy »

Hope Daisy is better? I have been lucky with vets, well not lucky as lost my girls, Tom is back off of furlough and none of this they cannot come in the surgery nonsense, he just asked if she had any symptoms resembling bird flu.
I have my jabs March and June too, luckily only 5 miles away.
Rehoming starts again Easter :-D oh for the days when we can travel
Take care Bob and dont forget to leave a forwarding address..... +f+
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.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi Sandy , Daisy is the duck that is underneath if you know what I mean and I think it must be the weight of Donna .
She is ok . still slight limp.
Star gazer aka SEA GULL (as named by workmen in house , is laying eggs and too happy in her box . She has been outside with the flock but is bullied by topenanall and her side kick .
She is a lot better but still has her head back and looking around on her angled side head position .She is so noisy when she sees someone , and when she lays and when she wants cat food and treats .
rest of the flock seem to be doing well 8 eggs a day , one duck has not laid for 2 days , but she probably started before the other one .
Wind has taken the tourp of roof of run , need to get it sorted weekend .
House has finally been plastered ,painting starts again next week , new fittings like porch going up soon . No heating as water leak on rad downstairs front room .
Furniture now being stripped down and dumped . House is getting emptier every week .
Not sure where I will end up as waiting to see when it sells.
Work is the same , but getting paid so why should I complain ?
Garden has also got to be sorted as well so that will not make the flock happy .
loved to get some rescue hens but SHMBO well shoot me .
Jabs booked for 18th March and 4th JUNE . Had to ring as doctors a waste of time . Hopefully get a catch up with some of you soon .
crazy work and home life is stopping me doing a lot of the things I want to do (cannot anyway ) so annoying .
Krep well and safe , do not fall at the last hurdle all of you . Make the last year a total waste of time .
Bob
Cheshire Chick
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by Cheshire Chick »

It sure seems you are having a very busy time Bob. Also must be quite an exciting time for you with your move in the future. Have you any idea yet where you would like to move to? I expect it will be somewhere where you have a lot of land for your flock and other animals (and I will be green with envy!!). Hope it all goes well for you and keep us updated on your progress. Glad that Daisy the duck seems to be a bit better now - there's always something isn't there with this animal keeping lark!!! I have also got my first jab due 24th March and second in June. My husband had his nearly four weeks ago at the local surgery, but I am having to travel a few miles for mine (don't know why they didn't do us together. Anyway, I think I will feel a bit more relaxed and relieved when I have had mine. Good luck with everything Bob.
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

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Hi all, well the house is still being worked on , but I had one viewer .
Made an offer the same afternoon 35,000 lower than my minimum , really wanted it (CHEAP ) . Said I do not think so .
Have another viewer on Sat afternoon .
Sorting the garden out now and a trip plus to the dump every day .
Have a couple of plans Wickford and ST.Lawerance . Both have potential for building .
Wickford is nearer and could still work but the other one is to far .
Stargazer is well and have to hide her and the box when visitors come.
Woman saw Polo and near jumped over the car .... Locked up in bed room under the blankets.
The flock seem to be doing well and ducks are still performing , for which I cannot understand other than a power thing.
8/9 eggs a day and most days two duck eggs which are popular.
Crazy times and the latest word at work is REJUVENATION PROGRAM . So it could be coming down the line .

Cats are just doing their own thing .
Work is just a pain and I am getting the work done and making it look like it is VERY hard to keep up.
Weather is doing my head in and I have had my ASTA JAB . yesterday.
4 June next one .
I have had debates with the workers and the number of gospel goers are not having it .
I lost it and said die then but do not moan when you can not go on holiday and out without the pass port card.,
I can understand why so many people died . Trust in god , I would rather trust a jab and enjoy the devils work.....
Stay safe HAVE YOUR JAB . Free and does not hurt .
Someone should have said they cannot have it and they would have insisted .
Europe thank god we are out , doing our own jabbing.
Bob
Work is the cause of all my moaning .
bikesandbirdsbob
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi all , well happy days was supposed to be back again .....
Trust you are well and flocks are happy .
sad to here so many little ones have crossed the bridge .
Speak to you again soon Sandy .
Well it has been a long winter .
So many things on the go.
I have had star gazer (Sea gull ) in the house for so long .
She has now got 2 other hens with her in the KITCHEN .
One is suffering from Scaly mite and has compacted crop . Massage and leg treatment for the last two days , but decided due to her hiding and the cold weather she should stay in the house (heating being on tonight .)
Also a hen that has had a dark small comb and has got compacted crop and has been out the front lawn with Stargazer has also had a few nights in the house .
both hens have had a good dose of METACAM daily which seems to help .
21 in flock including the ducks .
9/10 eggs a day .
House is up for sale and had offer but not enough .
Work not completed STILL .
Paid work is the worst I have had .
I have lost interest now and just do what I have to and go home .
No idea where I am going to live once house sold , to be truthful do not care as long as the animals are ok , which I am sure they will be.
Now I have plenty to write about (the flock) I shall be back .
Had plenty previously but not going to write about it for sure .
Last thing the hens found a way to the next door garden and 2 had to be put back (so I am told) It has to be the fact that they throw food over the fence and like all hens they cannot wait and go look for themselves and found grass and flowers and bird seed from feeders and bugs and basically heaven . Would n`t you too jump the 5 foot fence . and back again when ready.
well enough for now .
SHMBO said I had to many egg boxes , never been to the house for months , see it on the house sale sight . No secrets now for sure.

Bob

Have the JAB.
Cheshire Chick
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by Cheshire Chick »

Lovely to hear from you Bob and glad you and animals are doing OK. I was wondering where everyone had gone!!? Exciting news about your house and I hope you get the right offer very soon. You better start looking for that piece of land and a caravan!!. Good luck with it all.
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sandy
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by sandy »

Bob you must be careful wht you leave lying around {rofwl}
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 , lots to say .
Well first 3 hens in the kitchen and I am feeling rather bad because I am taking Eagle my harmless and gentle giant to the vets with Cookie the rabbit .
Cookie is in for jab and health check .
Eagle started to limp right leg . I lifted her up as she is a big hen and put her on a hutch and I was as guilty as hell.
Her ring pink , had cut into her leg .
It was so bad I could not undo it . I got scissors to get it off .
It looked a mess. I bandaged it with sud cream and hib scrub . Changed it the next day . Being concerned that it might get infected I booked a vet trip . Earliest . Today. Well Thursday she was up to her head in a hole dust bathing kicking dirt up in the air all over the bandage .
Yesterday I checked her leg and she had removed the bandage and it was healing . Though she has a slight limp seems a lot better , Maybe she does not need to go to vets , but i want her checked out to be sure a jab to be safe if possible .
Hopefully a good end . BUT A warning to all , If you put rings on hens check them often as their legs get thicker as they get older . needless to say I have been doing a claw inspection when I can catch them.
Next Star gazer (Sea Gull ) is still in kitchen and during the afternoon in the hutch. She is fighting all comers and the wing girls get her from behind when she takes on the boss hens.
She wins one on one most times but two on a blind , running round in circles hen is a no hoper .
So I seperate her when not around .

the second resident is the hen that has a purple comb and looks sad if you know what I mean . She eats and stays well with Star gazer so I am trying to mix them but she is excepted by flock so wanders around as she likes . I believe a touch of old age and while she is still happy enough let her go on .
The third hen is not so good .
Started with treating her for scaly mite , sud cream , hibby and general watching . She seems to have Star gazer as she is blind I realised as feeding her by hand . She could not stand either . Well now she is feeding her self with me topping her up . Trying to stand up which I assist with . Plenty of wait . She also had a solid crop for massaging .Might be because she is not active enough . Also she eats a lot of cabbage lately and hard to mash in crop.
rest of flock pretty good . Ducks noisy as to be expected and lovelly eggs .
House has had tiles put up in kitchen and loo /shower room .Too much going on at work , house and other bits .

I write again when I get a chane . Overtime today and enjoying a bit of peace and quite.
Bob
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sandy
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by sandy »

Oh Bob sorry to hear that, absolutely nothing you would do on purpose is let a creature suffer.
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.

Post by bikesandbirdsbob »

Hi all,
Well Eagle is well and running around on both legs and happy.
Star gazer is so noisy .
Purple comb girl has paled up with her and they are happy IN THE GARDEN . She still being hassled by boss hens but she has help from others when they are around . Still pair in kitchen over night.
My hen with scaly mite legs is being looked after in the kitchen but not moving around much .
Little black hen is / was having a very bad moult , that is what I have put it down to , she is still looking sad and on her own but still manages to eat a whole pouch of cat food .
Rest of flock are very good and enjoying the longer sunny days.
Now the interesting bits.
1 I sold my house for more than the guide price .
2 I will be put of the house 30.06.2021 (stamp duty )
3 Flock are packing their feathers and going to the seaside again for a period of time .same as previously . Visitor rights still and will have plenty of time to see them .
3 cats are a major problem and where they can be cared for , for a while .
Polo the fat dog will stay with me.
I have no idea whhere I will end up (tree house in a local wood ) .
caravan has been an option but it had gone before I could get involved (traveller site ) .
2months is not long to find a base but pressure on and I work pretty good under that .
Work has put me on period of lay off so not likely to retire to soon . caravan may turn up in there car park with a washing line outside ......
Maybe a pacakage coming up at shutdown time so will stick it out till July food in kitchen and showers etc .
Watch this space for the sofa surfer story of the 21st century.
With the cash from home I plan to get into auctions / buy a parcel of land etc . They say cash is king I am about to find out .
Hi sandy trust you are well and may get down to see you some time in May and or June . cannot stay ( do not worry ) as have to get back for animals .
House hold items going into a 20 foot countainer not far away .
Cannot live in it as 3 containers high up.
Could have been a room with a view .
Will keep an up date with gaps when layed off .
stay well and safe .
Bob
Cheshire Chick
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by Cheshire Chick »

Congratulations on the house sale Bob and good luck with finding suitable accommodation for you and your animals. Exciting times ahead for you I am sure. Keep us updated on your progress.
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sandy
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Re: My attempt to keep chickens.

Post by sandy »

So Bob you will be in a caravan very soon? I know you arent on here not being at work but when you do get on here get SWMBO to get you a laptop so you can give us live on the spot reports :-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/

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