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I clipped the wings (one per bird, of course) of my first flock of ex-batts. If you're doing it to a cockerel, does it matter which wing you do?

Hope you're having a good holiday BYM. Who's looking after your neighbour's animals while you're away? 😵‍💫

Besides which, if I find myself with an aggressive cockerel, I think I'll have far fewer reservations about dispatching it!!!

I'm thinking of getting a cockerel when I get my next flock, but I've already been round to check whether they (the neighbours, that is) mind. Our previous neighbours bred chickens for competitions, so they wouldn't have minded at all... I've only had two hens make it across the fence to next...

Hi David2. It's good to see you on the forum, & reminding us of some previous posts. Do you have any hens, ducks quail or other birds?

That's what worries me- breeders running out of stock worth having. It transpires that (unlike Marigold) I don't have the heart to dispatch my 2 remaining 4 year old ex-batts (with the feather pecking habit that I don't want passed on to my next flock). They're still happy, laying about 7 eggs...

And whether Kate at Hens on Oxney still has the birds that I want...

Thanks Hen-Gen. If I get one, it'll be a Silverudds Bla https://hensonoxney.co.uk/collections/rare-breeds/products/silverudds-bla?variant=39836622717033 . It's a layer of green eggs, so I guess there are somd arucana genes in there- they're not legbar shape. I guess I'll have to wait & see. I'm...

Once again I'm debating getting my first cockerel. This'll sound like a daft question to HenGen, but my mental health does benefit from a good cuddle with my hens on a regular basis. If I've got a cockerel, will I still be able to cuddle my hens? Will the cockerel let me pick up his girls for a...

Hi HenGen. I've just clicked on "reply" directly under your post in this thread. You should see it include what you'd typed in quotes, followed by what I'm typing now? Give it a go & see what happens...

I've only downloaded the British birds onto my phone, so I wouldn't expect it to recognise any exotic escapees. What did you think you'd seen or heard?

I just click on "reply"...

The other thing that's cheering me up is the "Merlin" app. It's wonderful to discover the birds in my garden that I hear but seldom see- bullfinch, nuthatch and a nightingale this afternoon as well as green woodpecker & greenfinch. It wasn't at all sure what to make of the chickens though 😄

Thanks BYM. I'm having computer troubles, & needed a laugh. Much obliged!

If there was a party simply called "none of the above", they'd win by a mile!!!

Oops!!!

If the starlings on Fetlar are that clever, thank heavens you don't have grey squirrels, Hen-Gen!! You could try gluing a weight onto the lifting lid. But you'll need to check that your lightest hen can still open the feeder, of course. If the mass of starlings needed to counterbalance the...

How many starlings does it take?

I found something equally unhelpful on a tube of toothpaste the other day. "Do not use if the seal has been opened." So how am I supposed to get the toothpaste out? :unsure:

That's helpful! At least you'll never get there & find it full...