Tough Chooks

[Anonymous]

I am increasingly impressed with the hardiness of the chook. Its been down as low as -7.7 in this area (warm compared with other areas of Britain) and the temperature doesn't seem to affect them. I find as long as they have somewhere to scratch around they're very happy. I had an egg from my Rhode Island red on the shortest day of the year, but the other one is still in molt and the Barred Rock is also . Best wishes to all for 2011.

 

[Anonymous]

Lovely chickens, I particularly like the Plymouth Rock.

 

[foxy]

Lovely photos and agree that barred PR is smashing. One question though...is that a bearded Cream Legbar??? 11

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Foxy, no, its a Cream Legbar but some people call them Cream Crested Legbars, they lay a blue egg. There is a Legbar that lays a white egg and I think thats the Gold Legbar, it has no head crest. The crest comes from the Arucana which has the blue egg gene.

 

[ncotb]

Lovely pictures!!!

 

[molliedogspabottom]

Hi,
I have three hens laying every day at the moment and a fourth sits every morning thinking about it.
I have two cream leg bars ,their eggs are a lovely soft blue ,very pretty but neither are laying at the moment.

I have an old table with a large piece of plywood on the top in their run ( which is huge, 15mts. by 30mts) and this provides a dry place to scratch even in the very bad weather and when that big yellow ball in the sky shows itself they have a place in the shade, itg works very well.

I also have their house on blocks and they scratch and dust underneath in summer and winter, I tip used plantpot compost into the holes they make and this provides soft dusting areas, they love it.

In the last cold spell I mixed soft sweetcorn with bread, layers pellets and warm water, the girls and colin really enjoyed this ,I fed it just before they went into the house in the afternoon, ther was never any waste, I also give warm water first thing in the morning.

I have deepened their shavings and some of them get nestled down into it on the very cold nights.

My husband says the hens and quail get better looked after than he does.

Happy New Year

Heather

my husband says the hens and quail get more attention than he does

 

[Anonymous]

Hi molliedogspabottom,

If I was a hen, I'd like to be one of yours!!!!

 

[molliedogspabottom]

Hi Nephets

That posting made me smile because yesterday, the hen house was emptied, vacumed and sprayed out, when all was dry it was liberally powdered with diatom and fresh shavings scattered on boards under the perches and the floor, the nest boxes were all filled with a smaller shaving for comfort and finally the windows were cleaned.

After their afternoon feast of sweetcorn, wholemeal bread and mixed grains, the girls and colin retired only to be removed one by one to have vasoline massaged into their legs and I think they actually enjoyed it.

My husband says they get better looked after than he does, I also keep quail who have a similar lifestyle and he calls their abode Quail Hotel.

I think he would probably agree with you, he! he!

Heather

 

[Frenchchickens123]

I agree rhode island reds are hardy birds i have some and rain or shine they are outside scratching away, I have kept them in their coop on really awful days but they hate it and I know if I let them they would be out, sometimes they go out in the rain and get absolutely soaking! But they dont care they come in the coop a bit earlier than usual to dry off a bit before bedtime and they are very reliable layers