Search results

I've been mulling this thing over and I don't know the answer (if there even is one) but was wondering what you all thought... I'm imagining a Utopian free range chicken world where there are no boundaries to a mown lawn with trees and, of course, no predators! There is also a supply of premium...

Dyfi What a drama! 'Waaaah! Pointy perch!' Then missed landing on the branch sticking out of the nest - with a twang but landed with a bump out of the blue back in the nest when a fish was delivered. Priceless! :) Its a dangerous time isn't it - just realised he wasn't trying to land on the...

Just lost Betty the CLB this afternoon. Very suddenly in the same way as teabag - semi digested egg, floppy bluing comb then gone within 48 hours. I have a habit of picking the most down at heal pullets so I'm not looking too far for a reason but wont be getting more in a hurry - let things...

...I've made the crew a paddling pool with bricks in.

A friend at work has a 6 year old CLB hen (still laying) that has been on her own for some time and now has to find a new home as they are moving. I know it would be risky moving her and integrating into my flock and it would have to happen soon to allow a good month to get settled before we go...

Bonnie the black orp is really surprising me with the amount of eggs she lays. I cant remember a day in the last three weeks when she hasn't laid one. She is probably about 10 months old. Does that seem a lot? My CLB Betty seems to be in competition mode as she hes almost matched Bonnie but...

The warm weather over the past couple of days have sent the flies in the run into overdrive. Was wondering what you all did with poop collections? At the moment I have a bendy bucket on a hook. It was fine in the winter but now its a fly magnet. Once a week I give it to my neighbour with an...

First things first - its great to hear from so many poultry keepers in the past few days - chickens, geese, ducks, pigs - the place has exploded! I took down the screen in the run yesterday that gave Bonnie, our new Orp, some cover when eating and although she is still bottom of the pecking...

That's a real pity Minorcafan and sounds like it was an audacious raid. I had to google Minorca chickens as I hadn't seen one before. They look great - that white lobe and very sleek! Do you think the fox went over the fencing or got under somehow?

This may be one for Dinosaw. I've just got back from Japanese class and I cant believe how fiendishly complicated the number system is! Chinese mixed with old Japanese, unlucky number variations, numerous ending 'counters' with subtle variations for - small round things, long thin things, flat...

Had to grab the camera as Aerial has been mostly roosting in the nest box in a huff but can just about stand to roost with Bonnie (on the far end) now as long as she doesn't preen (the cheek of it!)

Finally achieved multi-colour eggdom :) Suddenly Betty's blue eggs look normal sized and Aerial's hybrid eggs look big! The colours are a little out - Belle's egg is totally white. ... I am sensing that this isnt going to be an easy introduction (and my 'g' key has broken on my keyboard which...

Unfortunately, both wisdom and patience are not my strong points! I came away with a Blue Orphington and a Hergnies. They were last summers hatch and grew up together. The Hergnies is really sweet, about the same size as Aerial but heavier. The Orphngton is a lot of girl! My lot are making...

Now I'm confident that my fox proofing is good its looking a bit empty in the run as we are down to 3; Linden seems to be recovering well (Sablepoot bantam cock, about 950g) Betty the CLB hen (about 1.8kg) - Betty has successfully laid a good egg since the attack so no worries. Aerial the...

At 4:15 this morning. I woke up to a commotion and the fox bolted as I came out the back door. Blaze must have been shaken or had a heart attack - she died. I thought Betty was in a similar state but doesn't seem to have any injuries. She's gone to sit on the nest and I'm thinking she may have...

This probably isn’t too surprising but today (a week after my alpha hen Teabag sadly passed) there was a loud cluck-clucking and general commotion from the run. When I looked out, Linden my bantam cock was chasing the 3 hens (including 2 big brown hybrids) around the place with great gusto...

Thanks Marigold. She was the brightest of our first three hens from egg industry chicks. I know she had a good run getting to 3 years old and if it wasn’t this then it would probably been something else before too long. I'll miss her boldness and crafty antics. ... I've just spoken to the...

I think Teabag may be on the way out this time. She has gone off her food and water and has been passing clear watery poop with yellow yokey bits in it for 3 days. Its my day off tomorrow and we are going to see the vet. Her crop doesn’t seem to be as empty as I would expect as she has eaten...

Seriously Bobster? I don't think your trying!

Why on earth would this happen I wonder?! Disgruntled delivery driver? I cant think why they would be in anything other than very specialised transport in the first place. Not like dumping newspapers to shorten the round...