Bertie & The Chooks
New member
Chuck said:
Nah, you're alright Chuck. But try to remember your wisdom was earned by experience gained on your own. We all have to learn some how. You still have 40yrs over me! Not sure about everyone else
Help! Sick hen
- Thread starter Pony Girl
- Start date
Nah, you're alright Chuck. But try to remember your wisdom was earned by experience gained on your own. We all have to learn some how. You still have 40yrs over me! Not sure about everyone else
Sue
New member
I don't understand it either Chuck! If I had known, I probably would't have started keeping poultry. I thought they were hardy, healthy birds, I didn't think they were so fragile and always having something wrong with them! I did a lot of research before I had them, reading numerous poultry keeping books and research on the internet, so I knew quite a lot about caring for them before they arrived, so was able to give them the correct care from the start, but I have still had one problem after another. I seem to solve one problem, only to be thrown into the next problem the day after!!!!
Bertie & The Chooks
New member
Sue said:
I think he meant people care too much Sue, generally the birds are kept and let to get on with things as if it's meant to be it will be. vets weren't called. I don't fuss to much with my birds either and i've (knock on wood) only lost one bird out of 9 in 4yrs. all of mine we hatched from egg and raised only by me. We feed em, worm them twice a yr, clean their coops and keep an eye out but generally let them get on. We've had sniffles, sneezes, wobbles, fights, pecking and brooders. along with three clutches which have good homes or are here now. I think i've had a vet out once in 4yrs and that was to give a jab for bumblefoot. I do fuss a little with treats and entertainment, but generally i try to let them look after each other. They are pretty resilient. i think some people jump at the slightest abnormality and they will find them if they are looking all the time... i think that was the point Chuck was trying to make. But everyone is different, and we all have chooks for different reasons. so it's no cookie cutter really.
Sue
New member
A lot more people these days keep a few hens in their back garden (like me) and the birds are pets with the added bonus of producing eggs occassionally. This sort of person will care a lot more about their birds (and fuss over them) as they would with any other pet, they become part of the family, not just something to produce food for humans or to make money. I think the majority of people on this forum probably fall into this category. Please put me right if this is not the case.
Bertie & The Chooks
New member
Sue said:
My point was the care is subjective. We all care for our birds, yes. The majority of the people on this forum have them as pets in small holdings, yes. But some(not all) people in those situations make big deals out of things at the first instance, interfere or treat, instead of just riding it out and letting nature take it's course which some others do. it's all a matter of opinion and i like to respect everyone's opinions, which is why i like the forum!
The internet can be a very dangerous tool sometimes as if you are looking for something, you will most likely find it. sometimes this can mean you may over look other things in the same instance while looking for negatives. if you watch something long enough and search you will find something eventually.
can i also add before anyone gets defensive, i'm not implying anyone in particular. i'm saying generally as a whole with forums, not just this one.
I started with around six hens up the back garden and kept them for eggs and because I liked them. Had chicks when I had a broody, all under the supervision of parents but I had to look after them completely. It has never been a commercial enterprise with me. However, I don't kook on them as pets that are to be spoiled, cosseted, fed unsuitable food and given all kinds of special treatments. I really would rather eat eggs from a supermarket and even from caged hens than some of the birds I read about on here with so many health issues.
It has also helped me to keep things simple as I've no interest in showing because once you get into that the perspective changes dramatically. However, it's a fascinating hobby for those who take it up and they clearly get loads of enjoyment.
I still see chicken keeping as a simple, mainly uncomplicated hobby which anyone with a bit of natural stockmanship will fall into very easily. A good many more people can easily learn the skills needed but some never will. I've never felt alone, as there has always been contact with like minded keepers and so much is learned form exchanging information and visiting other set ups.
I sell home bred pure breeds and bought in hybrids to help with the costs which gives me a lot of control over what people can buy and I will not sell birds to people if they have not lived together so I mix up batches in order that people can have a choice. Also help is given in making a choice which we think will suit them balancing a bit of colour with egg laying abilty and a type that seldom goes broody. New keepers are encouraged to contact me if they get any problems and many do come back to me with queries. If people followed a few basic rules when starting and kept their system simple, I'm sure there would be less problems.
It has also helped me to keep things simple as I've no interest in showing because once you get into that the perspective changes dramatically. However, it's a fascinating hobby for those who take it up and they clearly get loads of enjoyment.
I still see chicken keeping as a simple, mainly uncomplicated hobby which anyone with a bit of natural stockmanship will fall into very easily. A good many more people can easily learn the skills needed but some never will. I've never felt alone, as there has always been contact with like minded keepers and so much is learned form exchanging information and visiting other set ups.
I sell home bred pure breeds and bought in hybrids to help with the costs which gives me a lot of control over what people can buy and I will not sell birds to people if they have not lived together so I mix up batches in order that people can have a choice. Also help is given in making a choice which we think will suit them balancing a bit of colour with egg laying abilty and a type that seldom goes broody. New keepers are encouraged to contact me if they get any problems and many do come back to me with queries. If people followed a few basic rules when starting and kept their system simple, I'm sure there would be less problems.
Pony Girl
New member
Bertie & The Chooks said:Sue said:
My point was the care is subjective. We all care for our birds, yes. The majority of the people on this forum have them as pets in small holdings, yes. But some(not all) people in those situations make big deals out of things at the first instance, interfere or treat, instead of just riding it out and letting nature take it's course which some others do. it's all a matter of opinion and i like to respect everyone's opinions, which is why i like the forum!
The internet can be a very dangerous tool sometimes as if you are looking for something, you will most likely find it. sometimes this can mean you may over look other things in the same instance while looking for negatives. if you watch something long enough and search you will find something eventually.
can i also add before anyone gets defensive, i'm not implying anyone in particular. i'm saying generally as a whole with forums, not just this one.
Well I'm glad I acted when I did or Bella would certainly not have pulled through! I think hand feeding (or 'mollycoddling' if you like!) bought her enough time for the antibiotics to kick in. I took her back to the vet's on Saturday and she couldn't believe the difference in her! She is now back to normal and has even put a bit of weight on.
Also interestingly the vet said to ignore advice about feeding pellets only in the morning!! She told me to feed them a mix of half pellets and half mixed corn (which has got wheat and maize and sunflowers hearts in it) as their main feed. She also told me to sprinkle it on the ground as they don't like using the hopper. And she said that for protein it's good to add a little minced beef or cat food to their diet.
I know this is bound to cause some controversy and people here will say what I am doing is wrong but this is what my vet advised me (she is an experienced chicken keeper and breeder as well as a vet). My birds are now going to bed with full crops and I can finally sleep at night!
Bertie & The Chooks
New member
Pony Girl said:
I'm surprised she has advised you to feed cat food as it's against her code of ethics as a RCVS qualified veterinary surgeon. Between botulism, cannibalism and the poor nutritional balance for the animal, it's not good for them. But I guess she can do as she likes, many people do, but i choose not to and i do not encourage it. My best mate is a RCVS veterinary surgeon and she advised me NOT to feed cat food to my chickens when I asked her, as i had some kitten food left over from breeding a while back.
p.s. no contraversy we all have our own experiences, gut feelings and opinions. nothing wrong with voicing how you feel and why. i respect that it's your choice, it's just not mine. Glad Bella is better
foxy
Active member
Pony Girl
New member
foxy said:Really pleased that Bella is on the mend, I have a particular soft spot for faverolles having bred them for years!
Some of mine PonyGirl..
Wow! What a gorgeous photo!! They're such lovely birds - I love the noises they make.
Sue
New member
PonyGirl I'm really please she is getting better. Just shows what a bit of 'mollycodling' can do!!!!!! Well done.
I was going to have two Faverolles recently (ended up having Sussex instead) as I read that they have a tendency to panic if they lose sight of the flock because of their ruffles around their head. Is this true? Also do they mix well with other breeds?
I was going to have two Faverolles recently (ended up having Sussex instead) as I read that they have a tendency to panic if they lose sight of the flock because of their ruffles around their head. Is this true? Also do they mix well with other breeds?
Well I'm pleased she has pulled through. I have no problem with coddling sick chickens to pull them through, my opinions are around coddling non sick ones. As for your vet's advice - I wouldn't print an answer. I've never seen mixed corn with sunflower hearts in it !!!!!
Does no-one remember that just a few years ago, putting animal offal into cattle feed caused BSE ?
Does no-one remember that just a few years ago, putting animal offal into cattle feed caused BSE ?
foxy
Active member
Sue said:
I don't find that mine panic at anything, very laid back hens to be honest. They will mix perfectly well with other breeds, most chickens will as long as the conditions are good, by that I mean plenty of room, (the girls do get rather erm large...) and they are a similar age
17
Bertie & The Chooks
New member
Chuck said:
10 i wasn't going there...
Bertie & The Chooks
New member
foxy said:Sue said:
I don't find that mine panic at anything, very laid back hens to be honest. They will mix perfectly well with other breeds, most chickens will as long as the conditions are good, by that I mean plenty of room, (the girls do get rather erm large...) and they are a similar age
I love your chooks, and Jubes' I just want to pick them up and cuddle their lil fluffy feathers!!
