Chickens, now she's done it! (cute chick content)
Discussion
Gretchen said:
There’s at least three Drakes there. I love ducks. They do lay where and when they want though so you will have to hunt as they won’t necessarily be in the nest boxes. They make a mess of everything. Gravel is something I considered for their water bathing area.
Love that Dotty is getting her strength back. Good work.
A few questions, if I may pick your brains! Love that Dotty is getting her strength back. Good work.
We knew we had at least one drake, but how do you identify them?
Is gravel in the paddling pool to filter the soil?
We weren't sure if they used nest boxes, since we've put straw in their home they've taken to making nest indentations in it.
Tinny detail, poorly hen is called Dolly (bird) Dotty is a white one with black dots in the playhouse run, maybe why the confusion if I've mentioned her before!
Hope all is well.
Gretchen said:
My mistake re Dolly. Apologies.
I’d put the paddling pool on top of a gravelled area. Just to reduce muck around it. Ducks must submerge their face completely to rinse themselves out as such so the water will always be filthy. But they don’t necessarily need a pond.
The ones with the curled up tail feathers are the Drakes.
They will sleep and nest but mine would rarely lay in a nest box. The hens eggs were always nice and clean and the ducks usually left in the mud somewhere. Best not to scrub them either as you can actually do more harm than good by forcing dirt inside through the shell, just wash before use.
No apologies needed, it's only a bloody chicken name I’d put the paddling pool on top of a gravelled area. Just to reduce muck around it. Ducks must submerge their face completely to rinse themselves out as such so the water will always be filthy. But they don’t necessarily need a pond.
The ones with the curled up tail feathers are the Drakes.
They will sleep and nest but mine would rarely lay in a nest box. The hens eggs were always nice and clean and the ducks usually left in the mud somewhere. Best not to scrub them either as you can actually do more harm than good by forcing dirt inside through the shell, just wash before use.
You two must have been reading the same book, they're pretty much what her suspicions/ thoughts were.
S still has a pic of some of ours as chicks as her phones screensaver! A small update today. As mentioned, we've been over run with eggs, probably collecting 100 a week. I'd rather compost them than give any to the d
head next door, so many of them have been fed back to the hens, or dogs.
I happened to see this place on a local Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/welbeckallotmentbox/photo...
We popped in today, and her eyes lit up when we asked if she wants regular eggs. She pays £1.25 for a dozen hen eggs, and £2.40 for duck ones (having - 1 - less bird than 50, we're exempt from commercial selling rules) That's maybe 70 eggs a week we'll send her, so essentially all of the birds food costs sorted.
A lovely little shop if anyone is this way, we even got a mention on the page today
Oh, and one more update, Dolly, the two wonky (leg) hens, and one other too attacked are now in the birthing coop (which we started Mummy and chicks in) within the greenhouse run. They'll stay there till next weekend, before we remove the coops and introduce them in to the flock.
head next door, so many of them have been fed back to the hens, or dogs.I happened to see this place on a local Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/welbeckallotmentbox/photo...
We popped in today, and her eyes lit up when we asked if she wants regular eggs. She pays £1.25 for a dozen hen eggs, and £2.40 for duck ones (having - 1 - less bird than 50, we're exempt from commercial selling rules) That's maybe 70 eggs a week we'll send her, so essentially all of the birds food costs sorted.
A lovely little shop if anyone is this way, we even got a mention on the page today
Oh, and one more update, Dolly, the two wonky (leg) hens, and one other too attacked are now in the birthing coop (which we started Mummy and chicks in) within the greenhouse run. They'll stay there till next weekend, before we remove the coops and introduce them in to the flock.
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Saturday 26th October 19:18
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Saturday 26th October 20:38
a few updates, the first one not nice. Sadly a rat got in to the coop of the (newly adopted) allotment birds last night, and killed one of the Rhode Island Reds. S was met with a hell of a shock at 7.30am, and understandably came home in tears. I had slabbed the entire floor, but unbeknownst to us there were some gaps behind the large nesting boxes. We've spent much of today ensuring this can not be repeated. Not a happy day.
Moving on. Remember Dolly.... her and three others have been in inner runs within the greenhouse run, and were released in to this today. Three of them, Dolly and two with wobbly legs, have been rather timid, keeping themselves very much to themselves. The forth, who I nick-named Thug (when in with Dolly and the wobblys she picked on them too much) was more than happy around them, and sent herself to bed this evening amongst them all on the perches. The other three settled themselves on the straw floor in a corner. Wifey wasn't happy with her being called thug, so she is now Thelma (thug)
Dolly today below.
Also a few of the now mahoosive Cockerels, firstly Enzo, and then Morph (white) and Billy Big Balls.
We are keen to move 3 of the 6 Cockerels (3 in our run, 3 on the allotment run) on. We had a guy lined up, who has now disappeared off the face of the earth. The plan then being to move Enzo and Billy to the Allotment run, and keep Morph in with our girls.
We'll pop over the again in a few hours, just to check there is still harmony with the new girls!
Moving on. Remember Dolly.... her and three others have been in inner runs within the greenhouse run, and were released in to this today. Three of them, Dolly and two with wobbly legs, have been rather timid, keeping themselves very much to themselves. The forth, who I nick-named Thug (when in with Dolly and the wobblys she picked on them too much) was more than happy around them, and sent herself to bed this evening amongst them all on the perches. The other three settled themselves on the straw floor in a corner. Wifey wasn't happy with her being called thug, so she is now Thelma (thug)
Dolly today below.
Also a few of the now mahoosive Cockerels, firstly Enzo, and then Morph (white) and Billy Big Balls.
We are keen to move 3 of the 6 Cockerels (3 in our run, 3 on the allotment run) on. We had a guy lined up, who has now disappeared off the face of the earth. The plan then being to move Enzo and Billy to the Allotment run, and keep Morph in with our girls.
We'll pop over the again in a few hours, just to check there is still harmony with the new girls!
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Sunday 10th November 17:58
A shout out to anyone who can help!
One of the girls, Amber, seems unwell. Out of all of our girls (greenhouse run) she is the one who objects the most to being touched/picked up. I picked her up today, to take her out of the playhouse, and noted that there was far less protest than usual.
Other signs she's not quite right.
Spending a lot of time in the nestbox.
Last night she didn't go to her normal go to bed, the perch, instead tucking herself away in a corner. Tonight she's put herself away in a nestbox
When I threw her out the play house earlier (not chucking - how you launch a hen!) instead of landing on her feet she belly-flopped, like a stricken plane.
She didn't seem as interested in chicken treat as usual.
We've checked, and she's not got red mite, her rear is clean. Her crop feels normal.
Could she be egg bound maybe? Just a stab, as when I Googled 'lethargic chicken' that gave many matches.
Anyone with any ideas?
One of the girls, Amber, seems unwell. Out of all of our girls (greenhouse run) she is the one who objects the most to being touched/picked up. I picked her up today, to take her out of the playhouse, and noted that there was far less protest than usual.
Other signs she's not quite right.
Spending a lot of time in the nestbox.
Last night she didn't go to her normal go to bed, the perch, instead tucking herself away in a corner. Tonight she's put herself away in a nestbox
When I threw her out the play house earlier (not chucking - how you launch a hen!) instead of landing on her feet she belly-flopped, like a stricken plane.
She didn't seem as interested in chicken treat as usual.
We've checked, and she's not got red mite, her rear is clean. Her crop feels normal.
Could she be egg bound maybe? Just a stab, as when I Googled 'lethargic chicken' that gave many matches.
Anyone with any ideas?
There is no experimenting on her, vets aren't open this late. It's better to be prepared, as with knowledge we know how to best tend to her, before a vet is available, if there's a need. She's just been pissy with S when she went to check her, a hopeful indicator that's all may be OK! (IE her normal self....)
She's inside in a dog box crate, with food and water. From what I've researched this evening the best thing is to soak them in warm water for 10 minutes or so, to sooth the 'areas'. What we also read is that an egg bound bird will walk penguin style, head up, arse down, as an indicator that there's something needing pushing out, she's not. She's 5.5 months old, not sure if she's laid her first egg yet. Any other knowledge gladly received, of course.
Sadly this morning Amber was PTS. A grown man here crying over a bloody chicken. I loved that girl.
The vets prognosis was a severer sour and impacted crop. He did try to drain it, but he wasn't having success, and believed we'd be prolonging her suffering, with little hope of a positive outcome.
Amber, in the middle, behind the logs. RIP my beautiful little girl
The vets prognosis was a severer sour and impacted crop. He did try to drain it, but he wasn't having success, and believed we'd be prolonging her suffering, with little hope of a positive outcome.
Amber, in the middle, behind the logs. RIP my beautiful little girl
Gingerbread Man said:
Just building a small coop and run for Ducks at the moment. Any tips? Not yet got them, we were thinking of getting a few indian runners.
To start off it'll have guinea fowl (currently we have 17 keets in our back bedroom under a heat lamp!) in it so they learn to call our plot home, then they'll live wild and roost in the trees by night, eating ticks by day. Once they have had their short stint in the house, it'll become the permanent home to some runner ducks.
Ignore the burn pile. We had to tidy up the random wood around the place due to the local bush fires.
Only a small run as they'll be free range during the day. The run more for when they get up before us and during their locked in period while setting their home instinct.
How much ventilation do you have in your coop? I hear that ducks let off a lot more moisture than chickens, so (not having had chickens before) I'm trying to design some in but not have drafts blowing through.
Firstly, Ducks are absolute sods to round up and put to bed at night. To get them in to the habit you probably need to do it as a pair of you, with some large plywood (or cardboard) sheets, to steer them sheep dog style to bed.To start off it'll have guinea fowl (currently we have 17 keets in our back bedroom under a heat lamp!) in it so they learn to call our plot home, then they'll live wild and roost in the trees by night, eating ticks by day. Once they have had their short stint in the house, it'll become the permanent home to some runner ducks.
Ignore the burn pile. We had to tidy up the random wood around the place due to the local bush fires.
Only a small run as they'll be free range during the day. The run more for when they get up before us and during their locked in period while setting their home instinct.
How much ventilation do you have in your coop? I hear that ducks let off a lot more moisture than chickens, so (not having had chickens before) I'm trying to design some in but not have drafts blowing through.
Maybe get on of these, so their daylight hours are maximised, you can always shut it manually at bedtime. The solar element is key, as those with timers will need changing manually, as sunrise changes.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Automatic-Chicken-Door-...
Ducks will lay their eggs anywhere, not just the coop. Get used to hide and seek.
Not knowing your area, you want to concentrate on making the coop predator proof. I'd consider a slab base covered in wood chip, no rat or fox can dig through that. Also don't use chicken mesh, a fox will have no problem ripping that apart. You need 2mm minimum welded wire mesh. Take up their food at night, as that is what attracts the rats.
Regarding the drafts, this is one we're still figuring out, as the (mess) of a coop we adopted needs some doing up.
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Sunday 17th November 11:36
Keep the thread updated GBM, it will be interesting to see your progress. We have 16 ducks, and unlike a certain Gretchins ours are most definitely feral runaways!
Buried Amber this afternoon, in a box, her on some straw and wrapped in a towel. Left some Amber flint stones and a photo of all her housemates in with her, S feels like they can watch over her. Oh, and got called an attention we in the depression thread, after posting there last night that it had quite upset me. Bloody keyboard warriors.
Till the other side baby girl
Buried Amber this afternoon, in a box, her on some straw and wrapped in a towel. Left some Amber flint stones and a photo of all her housemates in with her, S feels like they can watch over her. Oh, and got called an attention w
e in the depression thread, after posting there last night that it had quite upset me. Bloody keyboard warriors.Till the other side baby girl
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Sunday 17th November 19:32
A few small updates. The 3 cockerels on the lower run were found new homes at an animal sanctuary in Derbyshire, where they have 5 acres to roam. They were taken on Saturday, and now the car temporarily stinks of Chicken st!
This has facilitated Enzo and Billy being moved to the lower run, and Morph staying in the greenhouse run. This gives cock to hen ratios of 12/1 in the greenhouse run, and 13/2 on the lower run, much healthier. We decided this way round for two reasons. Firstly 3 of the weakest girls, dolly and the wonkies are in the GH run. Secondly, on the 14th Dec we are collecting 8 battery rescues, to go on the bottom run, taking the ratio to 21/2.
Photos to follow, it will be interesting to see what state they are in, and how they improve.
Edit, to add. What is lovely is that the 13 girls on the lower run are now, a few months on, looking much plumper (they were gaunt on adoption) and much thicker on the feather front. He was a bd to them, couldn't give a flying one about them.
Should these be separated for a bit, so they're not easy pickings for Enzo and Billy?
t!This has facilitated Enzo and Billy being moved to the lower run, and Morph staying in the greenhouse run. This gives cock to hen ratios of 12/1 in the greenhouse run, and 13/2 on the lower run, much healthier. We decided this way round for two reasons. Firstly 3 of the weakest girls, dolly and the wonkies are in the GH run. Secondly, on the 14th Dec we are collecting 8 battery rescues, to go on the bottom run, taking the ratio to 21/2.
Photos to follow, it will be interesting to see what state they are in, and how they improve.
Edit, to add. What is lovely is that the 13 girls on the lower run are now, a few months on, looking much plumper (they were gaunt on adoption) and much thicker on the feather front. He was a b
d to them, couldn't give a flying one about them. Should these be separated for a bit, so they're not easy pickings for Enzo and Billy?
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Sunday 24th November 20:30
Dont like rolls said:
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
Could batteries have red mite infection? Hadn't considered that....
Who knows, a friend got some and swore they had "bald" areas of scales on their legs.No harm in the added separation of food/bedding etc until they are settled anyway.
A bit of a testing day today. I was woken by wifey at 7, who had just got back from letting the chickens out. Billy and Enzo, as per yesterdays post moved to the lower run, had been scrapping. Lots of blood drawn, probably at it for 15 minutes. I went over and decided to put Billy back in our run till we figured out what to do. This afternoon I put him back in, and Enzo made a bee line for him, I chucked a bucket of water over him to break them up.
Enzo afterwards was stting it. Hiding, staying right out the way. At bedtime they'd all seen themselves in, so I scooped Billy up and put him up on the perch. To begin with he was nervous, not a murmur out of him when I stroked him (not like him) and he was also shaking, head down low. I was unsure if it was best, but locked them in. When I went back after locking the others in, maybe half an hour later, he was turned around, and vocal when I stroked him.
I've said to S to be ready with the water in the morning, in case it kicks off. Not having had Cocks before, what now? Is hierarchy established, and that's it? Will Billy remain nervous? Can they move on to live in piece?
It seems Billy Big Balls balls are not so big......
Enzo afterwards was s
tting it. Hiding, staying right out the way. At bedtime they'd all seen themselves in, so I scooped Billy up and put him up on the perch. To begin with he was nervous, not a murmur out of him when I stroked him (not like him) and he was also shaking, head down low. I was unsure if it was best, but locked them in. When I went back after locking the others in, maybe half an hour later, he was turned around, and vocal when I stroked him. I've said to S to be ready with the water in the morning, in case it kicks off. Not having had Cocks before, what now? Is hierarchy established, and that's it? Will Billy remain nervous? Can they move on to live in piece?
It seems Billy Big Balls balls are not so big......
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