Chickens.

Discussion in 'Livestock' started by rustyroots, Mar 1, 2013.

  1. honeybunny

    honeybunny Head Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2013
    Messages:
    1,213
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Ireland
    Ratings:
    +1,915
    they do indeed look great :thumbsup: fine feathered friends you have there Rusty :thumbsup:
     
  2. Beckie76

    Beckie76 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2015
    Messages:
    3,123
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk
    Ratings:
    +8,435
  3. rustyroots

    rustyroots Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2011
    Messages:
    2,264
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Solihull, West Midlands
    Ratings:
    +2,946
    Hi All,

    I have stump grinding on the floor of the chuck run, and they seem to have gone very dusty in the last couple of weeks. I am thinking that this is not good, so I want to replace them. I think I am going to replace straw. Does anyone else use straw?

    Rusty
     
  4. "M"

    "M" Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
    Messages:
    18,607
    Location:
    The Garden of England
    Ratings:
    +31,885
    I don't use straw.

    When I had a walk in run (and a different budget) I would use Arboise on the run floor. Now, I am back to using bark chippings. The girls scrape it back for grub finding/dust bathing and then ... scrape it back again :heehee:

    With straw, they would struggle to dust bathe, plus, they may try to eat it and may end up crop bound? :noidea:
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • rustyroots

      rustyroots Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Oct 18, 2011
      Messages:
      2,264
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Solihull, West Midlands
      Ratings:
      +2,946
      [​IMG]

      Very unhappy broody hen. I read on the internet about putting her in a cage for 3 days or so. Does this look about right to break her?
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • Beckie76

        Beckie76 Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 26, 2015
        Messages:
        3,123
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk
        Ratings:
        +8,435
        Oh goodness I have a broody hen too! Nora is a miserable old woman at the moment! Yes your lady will be fine in the cage, obviously make sure her water is changed everyday, (but you know that). I'm lifting Nora out of the nesting box as often as I can, hubby is also lifting her off, when I got home tonight I left the nest box lid off & the door open, she wasn't interested in going in there then! I hope for both our sakes they soon return to their normal selves! :fingers crossed:
         
      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

        Joined:
        Dec 5, 2010
        Messages:
        16,524
        Location:
        Central England on heavy clay soil
        Ratings:
        +28,996
        Had one hen go broody 4 times in one year, after that we've stuck with hybrids that don't go broody.
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • "M"

          "M" Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Aug 11, 2012
          Messages:
          18,607
          Location:
          The Garden of England
          Ratings:
          +31,885
          Looks about right.

          I have two who are broody at the moment. They went broody a couple of months ago too :doh: I don't do the cage thing anymore simply because, the call of "nature" is so powerful, they just go broody again a while later. :doh:

          I lift them up to collect eggs but that is about as much fuss as I bother with.
           
          • Informative Informative x 1
          • Beckie76

            Beckie76 Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 26, 2015
            Messages:
            3,123
            Gender:
            Female
            Location:
            Near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk
            Ratings:
            +8,435
            Nora is still broody, yesterday a friend told me it can last a month! :doh:. she's a little devil as soon as I get her up she goes straight back to the nesting box :nonofinger:, this morning I took the lid off the nesting box again so she stood on top of the coop shouting, I shouldnt laugh but it was so funny! She's a vicious old woman too she pecks my hands when I lift her out! :nonofinger:......the saga continues!
             
            • Funny Funny x 1
            • Trunky

              Trunky ...who nose about gardening

              Joined:
              Apr 23, 2011
              Messages:
              2,926
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Professional Gardener (retired)
              Location:
              East Suffolk
              Ratings:
              +10,739
              When one of my hens goes broody I partition off a corner of the run with some spare wire netting and leave her in there all day until she's cured.

              My daughter calls it 'chicken prison'. :chicken:
               
              • Funny Funny x 2
              • "M"

                "M" Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Aug 11, 2012
                Messages:
                18,607
                Location:
                The Garden of England
                Ratings:
                +31,885
                It can :heehee: So: 28 eggs lost ;)

                Thick gloves :)

                :lunapic 130165696578242 5: She's not wrong! :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
                 
                • Funny Funny x 2
                • Beckie76

                  Beckie76 Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Jan 26, 2015
                  Messages:
                  3,123
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Location:
                  Near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk
                  Ratings:
                  +8,435
                  I picked Nora up tonight & gave her a cuddle, that went down really well :whistle:. She's eaten some very sloppy porridge I'm worried about her in this heat :rolleyespink: not eating or drinking :doh: I will get back for lunch tomorrow so I can feed her then & get her out....worry worry fret fret! :doh:
                   
                  • Friendly Friendly x 2
                  • "M"

                    "M" Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Aug 11, 2012
                    Messages:
                    18,607
                    Location:
                    The Garden of England
                    Ratings:
                    +31,885
                    Please, do not worry and fret! :grphg:

                    I can promise you that she *is* eating, she *is* drinking ... just *not* when you are looking! This is precisely how they would appear to be behaving when they have chicks - you simply do not see them going for a drink or something to eat during the first few days of hatching. But, they are! They are just very quick.

                    That dash she does when you've taken her off the nest? That's the same dash she will use to go and get fed/watered and return to the eggs.

                    They're not stoopid ;) just doing what nature intended :dbgrtmb: (and nature does let them have time off for good behaviour so they can feed and water themselves).

                    Don't believe me? Ok, take a peek and see how many poohs are in that nest box. Not just any pooh mind, I'm talking the cricket ball sized first-thing-in-the-morning poohs!! (And imagine 28 days of *that* building up in the nest :eeew: )
                    None? Thought not; now, why would that be? :whistle: ;)

                    Hope that has put your mind at rest :grphg:
                     
                    • Like Like x 2
                    • Beckie76

                      Beckie76 Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jan 26, 2015
                      Messages:
                      3,123
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Location:
                      Near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk
                      Ratings:
                      +8,435
                      Thanks mum (@"M" ) :heehee:
                      She's up this morning, standing on the top of the coop shouting! :whistle:
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                      • Friendly Friendly x 1
                      • "M"

                        "M" Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Aug 11, 2012
                        Messages:
                        18,607
                        Location:
                        The Garden of England
                        Ratings:
                        +31,885
                        Aww, bless her.
                        Wonder if she's shouting: "Oi! You thieving wotnames, bring my eggs backs!!"
                         
                        • Like Like x 1
                        • Funny Funny x 1
                        Loading...

                        Share This Page

                        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                          Dismiss Notice