Search results

Poor little Daffodil, a RIR hybrid. She is about two, having arrived as a rescue from owners who were told she was a pullet 12 months ago -old stock more like it. Her feet are even more swollen now and there is no fallen fruit for her to eat either. She is an absolute delight nature wise but is...

I have chopped loads of kindling up from coop leftovers and customer jobs. It is cut into two sizes as some narrowboat stoves are very small - short 4" and standard 6". We are packing it into 20Kg feed bags and making a sign for the back door. Problem is, although the bags are 'large' by any...

After 7 days penned in during Flubenvet treatment I opened the door and let them out. I have never seen our chickens so excited. Margo, an 18 month old Gold Laced Wyandotte, actually flew from the door to the soil bath area under the hedge. The distance is about 25 yards and she reached an...

I know next to nothing- well nothing really -about geese. I have read that the Toulouse came over from France in about 1850 and has been selectively bred here so that it is now about 50% larger than its French counterpart. I have also read that fertility levels and egg production is very poor...

The fourth one in two years has died suddenly, perfectly healthy without any apparent illness. I've gone down to the Orchard and just found them lying there. All in exactly the same position; as if they have stood upright, stiffened up and then fallen over onto their side. All had their eyes...

Went to the vets today with Charity, an 18 month old Buff Orpington hen. She has a badly swollen eye and a runny nose. I couldn't keep her still to look in there closely although her eye was OK as was her inner eyelid so put her on Synulox to see how she went. One day and no noticable...

We went to the show yesterday and left with mixed feelings. Didn't think there were anywhere near as many entries as last year but could be wrong. No Marsh Daisys in the rare breeds section but some terrible examples in the for sale (but unsold) section. A lovely trio of Naked Necks but had...

Can you be arrested for being 'drunk in charge of a chicken' ? Which reminds me of a chap I met who was the last of the cases heard at Lichfield Court before it closed. 'Drunk in charge of a wheelbarrow' and arrested whilst pushing it through the town centre. "How did they know you were drunk"...

Lucy, who is 4, has been moulting but unusually appears in good health and spirits, although a bit slow. Her face started to puff up and we attributed that to an ILT flare up caused by the stress of moulting. But on closer examination today her face has got more swollen and the skin is very...

I just thought I would share my experiences as it is that time of year again when rats become hungrier and start raiding the hens food. I leave mice alone generally as they are not so destructive, until they nest in my horticultural fleece that is! This isn't a subject for the squeamish and I...

We have two Buff Orpington hens over 2 years old. They both carry huge crops. One has wasted away so she has a very prominant breast bone and is now a bit sluggish. She's had cod liver oil and a good massage for the last week but still isn't pooing solids. I first assumed impacted gizzard as her...

Hello all, Yesterday we received notice from the Council that we were being investigated for an alleged statutory noise nuisance caused by our cockerels. They were not specific so we don't know what aspect of our cockerels presence is the problem. We have had cockerels for 4 years and had 20...

After a few skirmishes fought off with insecticides we thought we had the Red Mite beaten last year. Much investigation came up with what appeared to be the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. A biocide called Elector. It attacks the nervous system sending the mite totally gaga. They can't find...

Hello everyone. We have one hen with a peculiar problem with her feet. On the pad she had what looked like an infection which I thought was bumblefoot -an impaction wound. She was limping and got taken inside for examination. I cut away the 'scab' to find cream coloured fibrous tissue and no...