Growing chicken feed help

Does

I cant be bothered moaning about the problems,they keep updating so there will be more soon enough again
Ive got virginia creeper m,love it when it goes red no way are them chucks getting near it!

 

Hi again,its been a busy week ..darran decided he wanted to pick the cockrel up that wa in with the price when we bought the white sussex hens
Welcome sid

Also i nipped out to sutton for toiletries yesterday but came back with 6 new chicks ,approx 9 week old really cute ..hope they are hens

 

Some of the new chicks

Loli free ranging on monday ..

Russia(my cat) wondering how to chat to a hen

 

chicks are loverly Joolz, such a mix of colours! & Mr Sid is quite the handsome chap isn't he, the other girls must be smitten

 

Thanks HB they are a cute mix up but it was basically buy what you could catch
We moved the white ones into the large run again today,it did go pretty smooth
Not much fighting this time between the ladies and sid was being a cockrel ..too often!
We had to put them all to bed thou as they didnt know where to roost!
Im hoping tomo onwards til spring will be chill out for them all to settle in and all laying by then Im shattered !!x

 

if male chickens are anything like male quail....there's absolutely no fear of them ever being considered gentlemen, thats for sure!

 

He was a tad clumsy today,he is only young and working it all out at the moment thou,it seemed to me that some of the hens knew how to help him out (balancing him etc )
Loli is his favourite she has strong box shape wings so im sure that helped ..he stalked her the most

 

....Blimey Joolz....you don't do things by halves do you....brilliant.....I've lost count already.....i love them all the picture with Russia is great.....
and what about our Sid....he's a handsome chap.....i can see a few 'Hen Parties' taking place now

 

What a great thread this is.
Gonna be one hell of a party going on Joolz,
xx Jenny xx

 

Oh Joolz, you have succumb to chicken maths

E.g I'm getting a couple of chickens .... erm, and a couple more .... erm and a cock ... erm and some chicks ... and ... erm ... then ducks (?)

Been there, worn the T-shirt (and their poop!)

Addictive little blighters aren't they!

So, now you have all these hens ... which you hope will all come into full lay by next Spring ... have you calculated how many eggs you will be getting daily? And, if so ... what are you going to do with them all??? Just putting the thought out there

 

Thank you ladies
We need to start a chicken/hen gossip thread to report their antics they are so entertaining,i dont get to sit down till about 9.30pm when they have finally gone to bed.
Loli..head count at 13 chucks now,not a good number so that will alter soon
M..im addicted! but no ducks,i am wanting some land thou now to keep more hens
Jenny,our warrens seem to be racist,they just wont mingle with the white ones yet the young chicks are mixed and seem ok up to now x
Any1s chucks molting?? lilacs breasts are bald needs a chicken bikini top

 

Moult can happen anytime. I find it more disturbing when it happens during late Autumn when the cold is setting in and the poor girls are like oven ready specimens: I find it worse when the ground is covered in snow and my girls are "nekkid" However, the chooks don't appear to share my concerns

If she is bald now, you need to consider a couple of things first: is there any possibility that her feathers have been plucked out by her girl friends? If that is not the case, then double check your mite issues/potential.

And, if neither are the case, have a thunk about: is she getting enough food? Is she under any stress? Where does she lie in the "pecking order"? Is she getting her share of fresh water?

Knowing your own chooks pecking order is a key indicator in understanding some of the health issues they may be subject to. A huge worry would be if the top chook was showing signs of ill health. Having said that, chooks are very clever at hiding any health issues until the Grim Reaper is making his rounds (NOT that I'm suggesting that may be the case with Lilac! But, I would be extra vigilant for mites, all the same).

You have introduced a number of chooks, in a relatively short space of time: less than a month, (not a criticism, just an observation - and guilty of doing the same myself ) and that can cause them to feel stressed. They need a bit of time to sort out where they are, their surroundings, establish their pecking order and ... to be honest ... get used to *your* chook area, *you* and ... each other!

I can't fault enthusiasm, but I will caution: patience 0 - 13 in just under a month is a lot for you, and for them, to adjust to.

Let them settle down: give yourself a bit of time to observe them (and learn from them) and I have no doubt that your flock will thrive and flourish. However, a word to the wise: be prepared for those days we all dread; those days where we see a chook we *thought* has settled in well, clearly had not!

I wish no offense, but I fear you may encounter the sad side of chook-dom by rushing things. They don't have a long life span by nature: try to put yourself in their shoes is what I'm saying

 

I understand totally M and thank you xx
the warrens and white sussex all came from gene,top guy and all checked for mites etc at the timei also checked again today,i wondering if it has anythng to do with shorter daylight hrs with them no being let out til around 7am and now 8am cos of the cockrel
I know it seems like ive taken on alot but its small scale to what i see with some.
I watch and worry to much about trust me mum,im breathing hens at the mo all input welcome as daz thinks im over para if 1 as the runs x

 

@joolz68 ....how are the girls doing ?.....hope Sid is behaving himself....i've a couple of hens thinking about moulting but all the time i've had them they've never had a complete moult....just had 'bad hair days'.....and usually in winter.....
You'll soon become an expert on chicken poo.......i was obsessed when i first got the chooks and follow them around to check who'd done the dodgey looking 'one'

 

Hi loli,i do stalk them but i know they love it i think this one is a great chicken site,i follow her on fb as well loli,she has a great easy to follow blog..http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/
She has lots of poop photos aswell
Sid is being good he is a big dope thou!! we got another 5 hens last week so he now has 11 ladies to keep him busy plus 6 maybe hens in the other coup when they are old enough
How are your gals doing now? ive been mixing neem oil and spraying inside an out,possible bug deterant maybe x