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Post by debbiem on Jan 23, 2008 12:50:41 GMT 1
Another great reason for keeping chickens - when you cook rice and it all gets stuck to the saucepan put the pan out for the chickens and they'll pick it clean, no more scraping, brilliant! ;D
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Post by debidoos on Jan 23, 2008 15:19:41 GMT 1
When my Hen House arrives, I was planning on painting it with a blue wood preserve. Will this be ok? I was only painting the outside, but i don't want to harm the hens!
I've chosen Blue so it will match the other garden structures.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 23, 2008 15:54:11 GMT 1
There's a good article in the Jan 17 issue of Country Life about free range chickens. ehhh you are posh Mick, country life! ;D We get lots of posh mags in the office Ems. |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 23, 2008 17:48:14 GMT 1
When my Hen House arrives, I was planning on painting it with a blue wood preserve. Will this be ok? I was only painting the outside, but i don't want to harm the hens! I've chosen Blue so it will match the other garden structures. I think it'll be fine, Debbie, but to make sure I've asked on the PP Forum. So far there's been 11 viewings and no replies so I take it from that nobody else knows either! Up until now, anyway...... But I think as long as it has plenty of time to dry before the hens come what harm can it do? It'll protect the henhouse and look lovely too.  |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 23, 2008 18:05:40 GMT 1
I've had an email from the company who are sending it to me saying it'll be here in 10(ish) days, as soon as I get it, i'll treat it, so it'll have a good few weeks to dryout before the hens come.
how big do the vetilation holes have to be? and wouldn't they cause drafts? they say make sure it's draft proof and then go on to say about ventilation holes! I'm getting confused!
Sorry to keep bombarding with questions!! I like to know exactly what i'm getting into!
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 23, 2008 22:24:18 GMT 1
It should tell you on the tin if the blue stain is safe for livestock, Debbie. Most of them are OK I think. As for ventilation holes...what do they say you need them for? (Ventilation....DOH!). If you must have them I would only drill small holes along the top of the hen house well above the perch height,some each on opposite sides. I have a metal grill over a small window in mine which I cover with plastic most of the year which you might consider as an alternative to drilling holes.. For just a small number of hens it's not likely they will have many problems caused by lack of ventilation overnight, although they can overheat on very hot summer nights.
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Post by debbiem on Jan 24, 2008 12:20:37 GMT 1
Apparently Cuprinol Timber Care is safe for animals and pets and comes in blue - like 4P says, just check what it says on the tin regarding it being safe for them. Re ventilation, when OH made our first chicken house he cut out a square in the floor of the house which we covered it with a removable bit of chicken wire in a wooden frame with a some heavy bricks or rocks on it. This chicken house was on legs, and the removable mesh had bricks on it, and the chicken house was enclosed within a fox-proof fence, BUT even so 'somebody' bit their way through the fence, manged to nudge their way up through the square, rocks and all and get some of our birds.  A few drill holes, much safer. We don't have any at the moment but I think we'll have to put some in when Summer comes. |
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Post by emseypop on Jan 24, 2008 12:43:23 GMT 1
i think i'll go for the drill hole option. I hope OH makes a start on our hen house this weekend, I dont want to pressue him but I really dont want it left till the last minuite!
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Post by debbiem on Jan 24, 2008 13:14:32 GMT 1
Oo, hope he does make a start on it - did he say he was going to? |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 24, 2008 14:04:54 GMT 1
When my Hen House arrives, I was planning on painting it with a blue wood preserve. Will this be ok? I was only painting the outside, but i don't want to harm the hens! I've chosen Blue so it will match the other garden structures. I think it'll be fine, Debbie, but to make sure I've asked on the PP Forum. So far there's been 11 viewings and no replies so I take it from that nobody else knows either! Up until now, anyway...... But I think as long as it has plenty of time to dry before the hens come what harm can it do? It'll protect the henhouse and look lovely too. I applied to join PP 2 days ago and i haven't been activated yet, I don't think they want me!  |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 24, 2008 14:28:44 GMT 1
I can't remember how long it took when I first joined but that does seem a long time - how long did they say it would take to get your email from them?
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Post by debidoos on Jan 24, 2008 15:59:00 GMT 1
They said should be within the first 24 hours but may take longer, i've asked for the same login i've got on here. ;D
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Post by debbiem on Jan 24, 2008 17:53:35 GMT 1
I've asked them whether 2 days is a bit long to wait and whether it would be better to try again......I didn't say your name, just a general enquiry. Let's see what they say...... : |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 24, 2008 19:07:47 GMT 1
Thanks Mrs B! I'm still waiting! I've been having a look around the site, where I can go that is and been absorbing some info.
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Post by emseypop on Jan 24, 2008 20:50:04 GMT 1
Oo, hope he does make a start on it - did he say he was going to? He just said he do it and asked when I needed it for, but good signs today, he's been up the garden with measuring tape, and talking about making one from upvc (he makes double glazed windows) It'll be more scrambled egg that omlet tho ;D It may be wood yet we've got to get a quote on the upvc first. |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 25, 2008 10:53:58 GMT 1
Oo, hope he does make a start on it - did he say he was going to? He just said he do it and asked when I needed it for, but good signs today, he's been up the garden with measuring tape, and talking about making one from upvc (he makes double glazed windows) It'll be more scrambled egg that omlet tho ;D It may be wood yet we've got to get a quote on the upvc first. Brilliant! It's looking good, as if he's really getting into it. |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 25, 2008 10:54:45 GMT 1
Thanks Mrs B! I'm still waiting! I've been having a look around the site, where I can go that is and been absorbing some info. There's a bit more too when you log on.  |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 25, 2008 10:57:46 GMT 1
Goodness this thread is popular - glad I started it now, even though I don't keep hens, chickens or bantams. ;D Would be great IMO if new threads were started on this board, covering the various crucial topics though - just a thought. ;D They would be easier to find in the future too, rather than having to read through the whole of this thread.  I was thinking the same thing a day or so ago, The witch - if you hadn't posted those photos, would we be several pages down the line on a poultry thread I wonder? Well done you!  If we carry on at this pace I think it would indeed be a good idea to split it up into sections - and I love the behind-the-sofa-smiley. ;D |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 25, 2008 19:02:44 GMT 1
I still haven't been "accepted" by PP I don't think they want me!! |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 25, 2008 20:06:53 GMT 1
I've just been reading the horror stories on PP about Albany Pets Ltd. That's where my coop's coming from!! Making me a bit nervous!
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Post by Sleepy on Jan 26, 2008 11:04:22 GMT 1
I still haven't been "accepted" by PP I don't think they want me!! Never mind - we have a poultry section anyway. And we have the experts. |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 26, 2008 19:58:17 GMT 1
Yeah! You are right Sleepy!
It's prob because I mentioned I was only into The Ex-Battery Hens!
I much prefer chatting with all the People on here!!!!
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Post by debbiem on Jan 26, 2008 20:12:34 GMT 1
I've just been reading the horror stories on PP about Albany Pets Ltd. That's where my coop's coming from!! Making me a bit nervous! What's their feedback like? I wouldn't worry about it - at all. |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 26, 2008 20:23:15 GMT 1
Yeah! You are right Sleepy! It's prob because I mentioned I was only into The Ex-Battery Hens! I much prefer chatting with all the People on here!!!! It looks like they've got a bit of a backlog Debbie - yesterday they told me that nobody had done any activating for three or four days so a lot of accounts had been activated the previous night, and they hoped that yours was one of them............ You must be in the next lot then. : Of course they want you. |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 26, 2008 21:27:32 GMT 1
Albany Pets have over 25000 positive feedbacks, the lady from the Battery Hen Welfare Trust recommended them to me. i think i've just gotta wait and see what happens. I'll treat it as soon as it is built, as I said before!
I really can't wait now!
I'll just have to patient in waiting for PP to get back to me in terms of activating my membership.
Thanks again Mrs B for all of your help!!
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