Protection from the elements and a dodgy egg

[Anonymous]

Hello all

My hens had their first real taste of winter today. We had a serious blizzard lasting most of the morning and sleet and rain later in the day. They were sensible enough to gather under the bantams house but there wasn't much room for them all and they seemed quite miserable.
I'm planning on building some extra cover from the elements for them. I'm running short of pallets now so was planning on making some frames and covering them with plastic sheeting. This should be okay regarding red mite and other lurgy as they'll just be under it when it rains or snows.

Any suggestions on tried and tested shelters? I was also going to make an enclosed area to make a dust bath for them but they made their own under one of the houses so I'm going to start by bulding a lean-to to help keep that area dry and just extend it a bit.


One of my hens laid a poorly formed egg this morning. It was a very thin partly formed shell, egg white but no yolk. I've read other postings about badly formed eggs so was fairly sure of what it was.
I got my usual 1 small and 2 big eggs but this was the first time I've seen anything like this so I'm assuming one of the others is trying to lay again after her moult?
They have access to grit/oyster shells and have a good diet just in case you were wondering!


Osric

 

[Anonymous]

hi Osric,
a lean to or field shelter would be a great idea,if you can also put a perch or two inside it they will like it even more.
I have seen some ready made,think they did cost over £100 though,but I can send you the details if you like.
As regards your thin shelled egg,this usually happens when they moult,not usually after.It can also happen though,before/when they stop laying for their winter rest.
I can't remember if your girls are hybrids or pure breeds,either way,if she is stopping soon for a rest will be okay when she starts again.
If she lays some more that are thin shelled or not shelled,you could add some calcium to their water.

 

[Anonymous]

Eyup Lydia

Any info you could send me would be great!

My 5 bigguns are Welsummers and the littleuns are Pekins. I'm determined to rescue some ex batts but I'd still like some more bantams just because they're dead cute

Osric

 

[Anonymous]

Well,if my pekins breed next year and you want some, you can have some.I actually do prefer the sablepoots (but I wouldn't tell Bertie and Bella that lol)they are still cute.
I'll go and see if I can find the site,think it was called chicken house company.........

Ex-batts are very worth having,they are very funny and lovely.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi again,found it,a company called new barn timber, http://www.newbarntimberproducts.co.uk/Outhouse_&_run_Broody_coop_field_shelter.htm#field shelter
if you copy that and paste it in your browser it is a page with an expensive field shelter!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

well when i typed it,it wasn't highlighted...... :? ,so just click on it ........i'm going now 'cos I'm thick.

 

[victorias poultry]

I actually do prefer the sablepoots (but I wouldn't tell Bertie and Bella that lol)they are still cute.

Lydia
I am so glad you have the sabelpoot bug, everyone should have some, we will all be walking around looking like pirates with a parrot on our shoulders!!!!
:lol: :? :? :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Hi again,found it,a company called new barn timber, http://www.newbarntimberproducts.co.uk/Outhouse_&_run_Broody_coop_field_shelter.htm#field shelter
if you copy that and paste it in your browser it is a page with an expensive field shelter!!!!

Cor blimey missus, £165!!!? I think I can make something like that for about, hmmmm lets see......


NOWT!



Just had a look at what sablepoots look like, they're quite cute! I think my little hooligan, Rambant and his missus are the cutest though. This is of course, favouritism

Osric

 

[Lucylou]

Hi Osric,

You may have thought of this already but a large tarpaulin will make a very good weather shield.
I bought a large plastic tarpaulin (18' x 12') from Homebase for about £12 to make a partial cover to my run. It has eyelets around the edge which make it quite easy to hold it down. If you are making a frame an inexpensive way of making a large shelter would be to use one of these. They come in quite a range of sizes, (I ended up folding mine in half - didn't measure first :lol: )

I also have used an old table with the legs shortened & an old wooden desk type thing which when the drawer was taken out it makes an excellent shelter! Recycling at its best

 

[Anonymous]

Hi again,found it,a company called new barn timber, http://www.newbarntimberproducts.co.uk/Outhouse_&_run_Broody_coop_field_shelter.htm#field shelter
if you copy that and paste it in your browser it is a page with an expensive field shelter!!!!

Cor blimey missus, £165!!!? I think I can make something like that for about, hmmmm lets see......


NOWT!



Just had a look at what sablepoots look like, they're quite cute! I think my little hooligan, Rambant and his missus are the cutest though. This is of course, favouritism

Osric

I did warn you it was expensive lol,but the idea is good.
Your two pekins are delightfull.......but not as good or delightfull as Sablepoots.
Sue is right,everyone who see's me with mine on my shoulders think I'm long John silver :lol: .

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Osric,

You may have thought of this already but a large tarpaulin will make a very good weather shield.
I bought a large plastic tarpaulin (18' x 12') from Homebase for about £12 to make a partial cover to my run.

Funny you should say that...

I bought some cheap tarps today. One 12x8 feet, one 9x6feet, and two 6x4 feet. I think the biggest will end up covering logs, the middle sized one will be used to finish off the windbreaker come shelter I already started and the smaller ones will be used for moveable shelters.

So, my shelters didn't quite end up costing nowt but still a lot cheaper than £165! Not quite as pretty though.

I've also bought some shrubs to plant and they'll eventually give some protection from the elements and look pretty as well. Next week I'm going to plant some prickly to discourage the local kids from hanging around and stop dogs from leaving as many messages behind.

I'm getting a pear tree and perhaps one or two other fruit trees but haven't made my mind up yet. What do hens like that will grow in cold windy places? Palm trees and coconuts are out!

Osric

 

[Anonymous]

I did warn you it was expensive lol,but the idea is good.
Your two pekins are delightfull.......but not as good or delightfull as Sablepoots.
Sue is right,everyone who see's me with mine on my shoulders think I'm long John silver :lol: .

I hope you don't have the peg leg and a trail of doodoo down your back to match

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,a lot of hens enjoy apples,but,otherwise I'd go for strawberries and toms,and cabbages .
Well,apples are trees/shrubs.
Mine enjoy eating the leaves off my rose bush and stinging nettles.

 

[Anonymous]

I did warn you it was expensive lol,but the idea is good.
Your two pekins are delightfull.......but not as good or delightfull as Sablepoots.
Sue is right,everyone who see's me with mine on my shoulders think I'm long John silver :lol: .

I hope you don't have the peg leg and a trail of doodoo down your back to match

Sablepoots do tiny little poo's,that fall off with out sticking....although they have sometimes gone down inside my tee-shirt .
As to the peg leg,well-that would be telling :lol: .

 

[Anonymous]

Got a load of bok choy to plant for them. (I might have some as well!)

If I can get a greenhouse then I can have toms, peppers, chillis etc for curry and other spicy meals.
Also planning various herbs - I think these will have to be secured away from small beaks!

I was thinking of roses, got some clematis to plant as well. I read that hens don't eat clematis but I suspect it won't stop them from scratching it up. Got six hazel plants to go in as soon as I can remember to collect them.

I've never heard of hens eating nettles, although the only experience I have of other hens is my friends up the road. They'll have a go at anything in his allotment but won't touch the nettles.

Osric

 

[Anonymous]

Sablepoots do tiny little poo's,that fall off with out sticking....although they have sometimes gone down inside my tee-shirt .
As to the peg leg,well-that would be telling :lol: .

You wouldn't believe the strange visions I have in my head now, the mind boggles

 

[Anonymous]

You wouldn't believe the strange visions I have in my head now, the mind boggles

Erm,you have to have a mind to boggle :lol: -only joking.

As to stinging nettles,a friend said to me that hens are supposed to love eating them,hers wouldn't,but I suspect it's because she had other foliage they prefered,mine can't get enough of it.

 

[Anonymous]

Erm,you have to have a mind to boggle :lol: -only joking.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Handbags at dawn!!!

I have a mind. I lost it once, so now I keep it safe in a box under the bed

 

[Anonymous]

Erm,you have to have a mind to boggle :lol: -only joking.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Handbags at dawn!!!

I have a mind. I lost it once, so now I keep it safe in a box under the bed

LOL :lol: your bag wont be as big as mine :mrgreen: .

 

[girlracer265]

Got a load of bok choy to plant for them. (I might have some as well!)

If I can get a greenhouse then I can have toms, peppers, chillis etc for curry and other spicy meals.
Also planning various herbs - I think these will have to be secured away from small beaks!

I was thinking of roses, got some clematis to plant as well. I read that hens don't eat clematis but I suspect it won't stop them from scratching it up. Got six hazel plants to go in as soon as I can remember to collect them.

I've never heard of hens eating nettles, although the only experience I have of other hens is my friends up the road. They'll have a go at anything in his allotment but won't touch the nettles.

Osric/quote]
My Greenhouse is full of growers to protect them from the cold atm, guess i'll get it back as soon as it warms up a bit .
my hubbys chickens love nettles but my pekins don't even look at them which is a shame as it means i still have to dig them up at home