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Post by debbiem on Jan 27, 2008 9:13:46 GMT 1
Like Sleepy says, we have an up-and-coming poultry forum of our own which really seems to be taking off.  But if none of us know, the PP will. What some of the members don't know about every single aspect of chicken-keeping and chickens themselves - it makes me humble. Never be afraid to ask anything on there, everyone had to start from scratch - oops sorry there's that terrible pun again. ;D And sometimes it's good to have a second opinion. |
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Post by debidoos on Jan 28, 2008 17:13:57 GMT 1
Still haven't heard from PP  |
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Post by debbiem on Jan 28, 2008 17:16:25 GMT 1
This is taking far too long now - shall I ask them again on the same thread?
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Post by debidoos on Jan 28, 2008 17:23:27 GMT 1
I don't know what to say really,  they're probably maxed out after all the battery hen stuff!!! |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 1, 2008 10:38:37 GMT 1
Debi had descovered out eggspected delivery date!!!! 8th of March. Cant wait! I've bought Holly and easter chick fairy dress : Yes such things do eggsist. |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 1, 2008 10:48:49 GMT 1
Debi had descovered out eggspected delivery date!!!! 8th of March. Cant wait! I've bought Holly and easter chick fairy dress : Yes such things do eggsist. Oh bless! ;D So the 8th of March is the day? Eggsellent.  |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 7, 2008 12:54:06 GMT 1
I saw on the news yesterday those poor hens used in intensive farming, they couldn't even walk when taken out of those conditions and when all packed in together so much featherpecking going on. Horrible. I think Debbie and Emsey are doing a wonderful thing, giving a home to some ex battery hens, and it's going to be so rewarding. 8th March is nearly here. My six hens on the other hand have been doing some featherpecking too.  It started when I confined them to quarters at the first news of the 'flu outbreak. TWO days they were confined and one of the Speckled Sussex had a completely bare bottom. This then got very red and sorelooking which is bad news as the redness attracts the others to peck so it self-perpetuates! Then the other Speckled started to get pecked with the same redness and missing feathers and THEN one of the Copper Marans has started getting a bare patch around the vent. I know there's some purple stuff that you can buy that you put on the redness which stops it looking red and deters the others from pecking but before I go down that road I thought the best thing by far was to stop them from doing it altogether. So right now I'm providing loads of oystershell to keep their calcium up(in case the pecking's due to a nutritional deficiency) and I'm letting them out earlier in case the pecking's down to boredom and frustration. The redness is going down now and the feathers are growing back so fingers crossed it's working. |
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Post by Sleepy on Feb 7, 2008 12:59:04 GMT 1
I saw on the news yesterday those poor hens used in intensive farming, they couldn't even walk when taken out of those conditions and when all packed in together so much featherpecking going on. Horrible. I think Debbie and Emsey are doing a wonderful thing, giving a home to some ex battery hens, and it's going to be so rewarding. 8th March is nearly here. My six hens on the other hand have been doing some featherpecking too. It started when I confined them to quarters at the first news of the 'flu outbreak. TWO days they were confined and one of the Speckled Sussex had a completely bare bottom. This then got very red and sorelooking which is bad news as the redness attracts the others to peck so it self-perpetuates! Then the other Speckled started to get pecked with the same redness and missing feathers and THEN one of the Copper Marans has started getting a bare patch around the vent. I know there's some purple stuff that you can buy that you put on the redness which stops it looking red and deters the others from pecking but before I go down that road I thought the best thing by far was to stop them from doing it altogether. So right now I'm providing loads of oystershell to keep their calcium up(in case the pecking's due to a nutritional deficiency) and I'm letting them out earlier in case the pecking's down to boredom and frustration. The redness is going down now and the feathers are growing back so fingers crossed it's working. Emsey often has a bare bottom (of ample proportions). I don't think it is often red and sore looking though. |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 7, 2008 13:01:24 GMT 1
I saw on the news yesterday those poor hens used in intensive farming, they couldn't even walk when taken out of those conditions and when all packed in together so much featherpecking going on. Horrible. I think Debbie and Emsey are doing a wonderful thing, giving a home to some ex battery hens, and it's going to be so rewarding. 8th March is nearly here. My six hens on the other hand have been doing some featherpecking too. It started when I confined them to quarters at the first news of the 'flu outbreak. TWO days they were confined and one of the Speckled Sussex had a completely bare bottom. This then got very red and sorelooking which is bad news as the redness attracts the others to peck so it self-perpetuates! Then the other Speckled started to get pecked with the same redness and missing feathers and THEN one of the Copper Marans has started getting a bare patch around the vent. I know there's some purple stuff that you can buy that you put on the redness which stops it looking red and deters the others from pecking but before I go down that road I thought the best thing by far was to stop them from doing it altogether. So right now I'm providing loads of oystershell to keep their calcium up(in case the pecking's due to a nutritional deficiency) and I'm letting them out earlier in case the pecking's down to boredom and frustration. The redness is going down now and the feathers are growing back so fingers crossed it's working. Emsey often has a bare bottom (of ample proportions). I don't think it is often red and sore looking though. And I certainly hope nobody's pecking at it. ;D |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 7, 2008 14:52:40 GMT 1
I should be so lucky! Are you saying I resemble a baboon sleepy! As for the featherless situation, I have found a knitting pattern for chicken jumpers on the net. My Dads OH knitted me two navy blue ones, one has a skull and crossbones motif worked into it! My Mom not wanting to be outdone has knitted a claret and blue, villa jumper with a number 1 worked into it! However I need to work out the pro's and cons of putting my hens in jumpers Pro:keeping them warm, they are used to being packed into a warm barn Con: The stress to the bird and myself of actually being shoves into a jumper, could I face putting their wings through Little arm holes  It sounds like you are on the ball with your hens Mrs B. Are they allowed out again yet? |
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 7, 2008 17:06:05 GMT 1
Feather pecking is a very normal reaction to any stress and it's horrible quite how nasty the chickens can be. As a last resort a smear of honey on the affected area would keep it protected (I've done it on my chickens very occasionally and it seemed to work) Distraction is better though - if chickens have to be confined some things to keep them occupied like greens hung up and some turf upended and put in their run is good. A few holes dug with a spade will keep them busy.. I have lots of goaty hay and a pile of that chucked in their run was a favourite too. Emsey if you provide a nice deep hay/straw area your new hens will be able to keep warm easily enough. Damp would far more of risk to them so if the weather is very wet when they arrive blocking an area of their run on one side and above so they can keep dry might be a good idea. |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 7, 2008 17:43:41 GMT 1
Thanks 4P and Emsey. I only kept them in for the two days, but in those two days the pecking had started. The chickens now have the run of a quite big courtyard but are banned from the garden for the time being so the grass can grow back and to give the spring bulbs a chance. They have troughs to dig around in and I hang them up a cauliflour or two which they peck away at, they get loads of scraps, they can go into one of the sheds, they are just on the other side of the kitchen wall to me but I feel they are BORED. Roll on the grass growing and then they can have the garden back! I even put a mirrorball out there, but they were unimpressed. As far as the 'flu's concerned, their main food and water is under cover but keeping them in the covered run all day, which isn't very big, all day and every day, I would risk a lot more problems of the chickens harming each other than the the miniscule chance of them catching the 'flu in the courtyard. We even put a long plank of wood in their run leading up to a set of shelves they could perch/hang about on - not interested. But all the pecking started from those two days indoors. I've heard of beak clips which would stop the pecking. But after saying it was getting better one of the Speckleds is getting her breast feathers pulled out by the other one. Although they both have been pecked around their rear I suspect the main culprit is the Speckled caught pulling the other one's breast feathers out. We thought of isolating her in the run for a while. ANY advice gratefully appreciated, as it's not going right at the moment. I'm thinking of caving in and letting them into the garden where they'll eat all the grass seed but I can always put some more down in a few weeks.....4P I'd love to give them a great big pile of used straw which has been hanging around for a while, they'd love it but the neighbours, I don't know.... WHAT a selection of jumpers Emsey! ;D How lovely to have everyone knitting for you.I've never heard of chicken jumpers - have you read that they help? |
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Post by debidoos on Feb 7, 2008 19:10:37 GMT 1
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Post by debbiem on Feb 8, 2008 11:18:43 GMT 1
Oh, I see now, well I never! I can see the reasoning behind them though. I was wondering how they got them over their wings, I've never seen that before but if they're effective.... Today I bought a cauliflower, two lettuces and a cabbage for my lot, I've hung the cauliflower up and they're happily pecking it to bits(and not each other!). I also dragged one of the apple tree branches we'd just pruned round from the garden into the courtyard to see what they'd make of it. I then hung 2 old CD's from it to peck at, I know a lot of people do this. I think they liked the branch but the CD's....I don't think they're their cup of tea! The branch is just outside the kitchen door and they haven't come anywhere near, which is unusual. It's not very sunny in the courtyard at the moment, the sun's just on its way round now it's getting near Spring so the CDs aren't glinting much. Very underwhelming for them I think, and slighly creepy too maybe. It'll probably have much more effect when the sun's on them. ;D |
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Post by Sleepy on Feb 8, 2008 11:22:24 GMT 1
Oh, I see now, well I never! I can see the reasoning behind them though. I was wondering how they got them over their wings, I've never seen that before but if they're effective.... Today I bought a cauliflower, two lettuces and a cabbage for my lot, I've hung the cauliflower up and they're happily pecking it to bits(and not each other!). I also dragged one of the apple tree branches we'd just pruned round from the garden into the courtyard to see what they'd make of it. I then hung 2 old CD's from it to peck at, I know a lot of people do this. I think they liked the branch but the CD's....I don't think they're their cup of tea! The branch is just outside the kitchen door and they haven't come anywhere near, which is unusual. It's not very sunny in the courtyard at the moment, the sun's just on its way round now it's getting near Spring so the CDs aren't glinting much. Very underwhelming for them I think, and slighly creepy too maybe. It'll probably have much more effect when the sun's on them. ;D Who were the CDs by? Try David Gray. |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 8, 2008 11:29:25 GMT 1
Oh, I see now, well I never! I can see the reasoning behind them though. I was wondering how they got them over their wings, I've never seen that before but if they're effective.... Today I bought a cauliflower, two lettuces and a cabbage for my lot, I've hung the cauliflower up and they're happily pecking it to bits(and not each other!). I also dragged one of the apple tree branches we'd just pruned round from the garden into the courtyard to see what they'd make of it. I then hung 2 old CD's from it to peck at, I know a lot of people do this. I think they liked the branch but the CD's....I don't think they're their cup of tea! The branch is just outside the kitchen door and they haven't come anywhere near, which is unusual. It's not very sunny in the courtyard at the moment, the sun's just on its way round now it's getting near Spring so the CDs aren't glinting much. Very underwhelming for them I think, and slighly creepy too maybe. It'll probably have much more effect when the sun's on them. ;D Who were the CDs by? Try David Gray. If I was stuck in a confined space with a David Grey CD, I'd peck my own feathers out! If I had feathers and a beak to peck them out with........whats the likely hood? ;D |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 8, 2008 11:53:26 GMT 1
Oh, I see now, well I never! I can see the reasoning behind them though. I was wondering how they got them over their wings, I've never seen that before but if they're effective.... Today I bought a cauliflower, two lettuces and a cabbage for my lot, I've hung the cauliflower up and they're happily pecking it to bits(and not each other!). I also dragged one of the apple tree branches we'd just pruned round from the garden into the courtyard to see what they'd make of it. I then hung 2 old CD's from it to peck at, I know a lot of people do this. I think they liked the branch but the CD's....I don't think they're their cup of tea! The branch is just outside the kitchen door and they haven't come anywhere near, which is unusual. It's not very sunny in the courtyard at the moment, the sun's just on its way round now it's getting near Spring so the CDs aren't glinting much. Very underwhelming for them I think, and slighly creepy too maybe. It'll probably have much more effect when the sun's on them. ;D Who were the CDs by? Try David Gray.  One's a Thomas the Tank CD-ROM and the other's an old counting ABC/123 CD-ROM - to educate them, you know. |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 8, 2008 11:55:22 GMT 1
Who were the CDs by? Try David Gray. If I was stuck in a confined space with a David Grey CD, I'd peck my own feathers out! If I had feathers and a beak to peck them out with........whats the likely hood? ;D |
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Post by debidoos on Feb 8, 2008 13:34:53 GMT 1
Still waiting for my Hen house  |
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Post by emseypop on Feb 8, 2008 14:33:39 GMT 1
Did they give you any idea of dispatch time? Have you emailed them yet?
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Post by debidoos on Feb 8, 2008 14:49:45 GMT 1
I emailed them on Sat and they said they'd get back to me.
I've emailed them again today!
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Post by debidoos on Feb 17, 2008 10:14:50 GMT 1
I've got my Hen house!!! Built and ready for painting! Pictures to follow, do I need photo bucket? not sure how to post picks now, any advice? |
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 17, 2008 10:31:13 GMT 1
Coo! How exciting! Can't wait to see photos Debi...yes, you will have to use Photobucket as Image Shack stopped working so Sleepy removed it.
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Post by debbiem on Feb 18, 2008 10:35:34 GMT 1
I've got my Hen house!!! Built and ready for painting! Pictures to follow, do I need photo bucket? not sure how to post picks now, any advice? Looking forward to seeing them, Debbie. We let ours out into the garden for a few hours at the weekend - not too many casualties amongst the plants! I'd better not cave in again for a while, though. : |
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Post by debbiem on Feb 21, 2008 16:37:37 GMT 1
I can't find my camera manual - a blessing in disguise, I think. I've managed to transfer pics from the camera and get them onto here, without that massive book of instructions. : Here are my girls;  And here's Pearl, the top dog;  |
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they're probably maxed out after all the battery hen stuff!!!
It started when I confined them to quarters at the first news of the 'flu outbreak. TWO days they were confined and one of the Speckled Sussex had a completely bare bottom. This then got very red and sorelooking which is bad news as the redness attracts the others to peck so it self-perpetuates! Then the other Speckled started to get pecked with the same redness and missing feathers and THEN one of the Copper Marans has started getting a bare patch around the vent. I know there's some purple stuff that you can buy that you put on the redness which stops it looking red and deters the others from pecking but before I go down that road I thought the best thing by far was to stop them from doing it altogether. So right now I'm providing loads of oystershell to keep their calcium up(in case the pecking's due to a nutritional deficiency) and I'm letting them out earlier in case the pecking's down to boredom and frustration. The redness is going down now and the feathers are growing back so fingers crossed it's working. 
It sounds like you are on the ball with your hens Mrs B. Are they allowed out again yet?