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Post by debbiem on Mar 23, 2008 8:37:32 GMT 1
I'm even feeding them back out through it - teaching them bad habits! ;D
We haven't got any snow but it was freezing howling gales yesterday - the hens hated it.
I'd let them out in the snow, as long as they've got some shelter somewhere. I think it depends on how much they want to go out. If they're restless and pulling at the leash to go out then I would let them out.
Everytime the cat flap goes I have to go out and check it's the cats and not those two. ;D
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Post by emseypop on Mar 23, 2008 8:41:22 GMT 1
I'm even feeding them back out through it - teaching them bad habits! ;D We haven't got any snow but it was freezing howling gales yesterday - the hens hated it. I'd let them out in the snow, as long as they've got some shelter somewhere. I think it depends on how much they want to go out. If they're restless and pulling at the leash to go out then I would let them out. Everytime the cat flap goes I have to go out and check it's the cats and not those two. ;D I'm going to let them out, one escaped thorough the half opened pop hole when I put the noodles in! You can get catflaps with magnetic collar keys that go on the cats, my Dad had one for pip as other cats kept following her into the house. |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 23, 2008 8:47:35 GMT 1
I'm even feeding them back out through it - teaching them bad habits! ;D We haven't got any snow but it was freezing howling gales yesterday - the hens hated it. I'd let them out in the snow, as long as they've got some shelter somewhere. I think it depends on how much they want to go out. If they're restless and pulling at the leash to go out then I would let them out. Everytime the cat flap goes I have to go out and check it's the cats and not those two. ;D I'm going to let them out, one escaped thorough the half opened pop hole when I put the noodles in! You can get catflaps with magnetic collar keys that go on the cats, my Dad had one for pip as other cats kept following her into the house. We might just have to get something like that - we'll see how it goes! I think when OH gets round to doing up our kitchen the cat food'll have a new place anyway. But then again the kitchen's just about to be started on, for 2 years now... :  Also, if the hens want to go out and you keep them in it could encourage feather pecking - that's how it started with mine. In two days of confining them because of the flu outbreak 2 of my hens had changed from having intact magnificent plumage to looking very straggly and bare.  And it's still happening so I let them out as near to the day dawning as I can manage. |
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Post by emseypop on Mar 23, 2008 8:52:33 GMT 1
I'm going to let them out, one escaped thorough the half opened pop hole when I put the noodles in! You can get catflaps with magnetic collar keys that go on the cats, my Dad had one for pip as other cats kept following her into the house. We might just have to get something like that - we'll see how it goes! I think when OH gets round to doing up our kitchen the cat food'll have a new place anyway. But then again the kitchen's just about to be started on, for 2 years now... : Also, if the hens want to go out and you keep them in it could encourage feather pecking - that's how it started with mine. In two days of confining them because of the flu outbreak 2 of my hens had changed from having intact magnificent plumage to looking very straggly and bare. And it's still happening so I let them out as near to the day dawning as I can manage. I think your right Mrs B, they love thier freedom so much, It doesn't feel right leaving them inside. I've left them in the coop tho, I was chasing them round the garden in the snow yesterday as they hadn;t the sense to take shelter : Maybe I just hadn't the sense to klet them get on with it! Am I mollycoddling them d'you think? |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 23, 2008 8:55:45 GMT 1
Not one bit! You're just looking out for them. They WILL stand out in the rain when shelter's available so they'll stay out in the snow too. : |
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Post by emseypop on Mar 25, 2008 12:28:30 GMT 1
Why is it I can only see 3 hens everytime I look out into the garden? There is always a 4th for me to worry about! Why do they insist on try to get into all the tight spots i've tried to block off? Its mainly the same Hen too. : |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 26, 2008 9:24:36 GMT 1
I know exactly what you mean! My wonderful carpenter of an OH, with praise galore from whoever he works for, put the cat flap on upside down so when the cats come in the flap remains open - and of course any canny chicken is going to take full advantage, aren't they? ;D |
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Post by emseypop on Mar 26, 2008 11:24:40 GMT 1
I popped to the shop this morning so the hens didn't get let out of the coop till 10. When I opened the door there wasn't the usual stamped, I looked inside and they were all tucking into an egg! I cleaned it up as best I could and chucked some mash on the spot where it was, they were still bickering over it tho, I hope they don't do it again!
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Post by debbiem on Mar 26, 2008 15:14:16 GMT 1
That can develop into an infuriating habit - let's just hope it's a one-off. It sounds like someone's trodden on it by accident and then they all piled in. ;D
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Post by debbiem on Mar 26, 2008 15:35:30 GMT 1
OH NO you don't missus;  |
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Post by Sleepy on Mar 26, 2008 15:36:44 GMT 1
OH NO you don't missus; Oh bless. She just wants to be part of the family ;D |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 26, 2008 16:02:23 GMT 1
You're right! She's been evicted from the front room before now. Chicken-brained she isn't! ;D She could play for the British Lions the way she dodges her way past me to get inside. |
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Post by emseypop on Mar 26, 2008 16:19:20 GMT 1
awww what a sweetie! How could you turn her away ;D Debi has had a hen in her kitchen for days now I'm sure she'll tell you about it when she comes online, she hasn't been about on the pooter for a while tho. |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 26, 2008 17:08:21 GMT 1
Thing is, she/they are soooo silent when they come through the flap, since the cats have opened it halfway anyway so they just have to glide through. So this morning I went into the kitchen and was completely surprised to see her over the cats' food, silently dining with door firmly shut.
It really would be something to catch on camera, one of the cats coming throuhg the flap followed by a chicken in hot pursuit. ;D
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Post by bogmyrtle on Mar 26, 2008 17:15:26 GMT 1
Thing is, she/they are soooo silent when they come through the flap, since the cats have opened it halfway anyway so they just have to glide through. So this morning I went into the kitchen and was completely surprised to see her over the cats' food, silently dining with door firmly shut. It really would be something to catch on camera, one of the cats coming throuhg the flap followed by a chicken in hot pursuit. ;D What a wonderful photograph - so sweet, you see, I would be daft enough to encourage her! (So would hubby) |
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Post by emseypop on Mar 26, 2008 17:15:37 GMT 1
I'm sure Harry Hill would give you a few bob to see that!
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Post by Sleepy on Mar 26, 2008 17:20:22 GMT 1
Thing is, she/they are soooo silent when they come through the flap, since the cats have opened it halfway anyway so they just have to glide through. So this morning I went into the kitchen and was completely surprised to see her over the cats' food, silently dining with door firmly shut. It really would be something to catch on camera, one of the cats coming throuhg the flap followed by a chicken in hot pursuit. ;D What a wonderful photograph - so sweet, you see, I would be daft enough to encourage her! (So would hubby) And me ;D |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 26, 2008 17:22:48 GMT 1
What a wonderful photograph - so sweet, you see, I would be daft enough to encourage her! (So would hubby) And me ;D I'll try - can't promise anything. ;D |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 26, 2008 17:23:48 GMT 1
Thing is, she/they are soooo silent when they come through the flap, since the cats have opened it halfway anyway so they just have to glide through. So this morning I went into the kitchen and was completely surprised to see her over the cats' food, silently dining with door firmly shut. It really would be something to catch on camera, one of the cats coming throuhg the flap followed by a chicken in hot pursuit. ;D What a wonderful photograph - so sweet, you see, I would be daft enough to encourage her! (So would hubby) Must admit - I do feel a bit guilty evicting them when they've managed to get that far. ;D |
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Post by emseypop on Mar 26, 2008 18:14:45 GMT 1
I left the patio door open dispite the cold in the hope edna would pop in, but she got distracted by the bucket of suff for the compost bin  |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 27, 2008 8:26:25 GMT 1
I left the patio door open dispite the cold in the hope edna would pop in, but she got distracted by the bucket of suff for the compost bin Ah bless, brilliant! ;D We're off on holiday for a few days so I was a bit worried about the chickens getting through the flap, eating all the cats' food and then not working out how to get back out and working their way through the house.  So OH had a closer look at the cat flap this morning and found that a screw 'had been misaligned' which had resulted in the flap staying open. I love OH and his passive tense - instead of admitting he hasn't screwed it up properly it had become 'misaligned'. So I replied 'Misaligned by who then? The cats? The chickens?' ;D It should be OK now, so hopefully my brother-in-law who's coming by to feed everyone won't be met with flapping chickens and furious cats in the house, I can just imagine it......... ;D |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 1, 2008 17:43:19 GMT 1
Flossie made it into the house yesterday. She didn't clock the cat food. The girls are all getting new quills round their necks and laying more. They've been chomping all my plants too, but its worth it, they're such cheeky little characters! We've heard a fox about the last few nights which is a bit of a worry....
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Post by debbiem on Apr 2, 2008 8:08:50 GMT 1
Sounds like everything is going great! Flipping foxes - just make sure the girls are shut up at night. I've had them making attacks during the day before which is really freaky but I lived out in the countryside then - I doubt they'd do that in town though. Too many people and obstacles to negociate. |
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Post by bogmyrtle on Apr 2, 2008 9:39:06 GMT 1
Flossie made it into the house yesterday. She didn't clock the cat food. The girls are all getting new quills round their necks and laying more. They've been chomping all my plants too, but its worth it, they're such cheeky little characters! We've heard a fox about the last few nights which is a bit of a worry.... Good old Flossie, how about the others, do you think they will follow her in at some point? It must be lovely to watch their individual characters developing - I know I'm enjoying reading about them! Thanks! |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 2, 2008 9:45:52 GMT 1
I'm sure they'll all come in, in time when its warm enough to keep the door open. The cats hadn't finished their food, so I put the bowls on the decking for the hens. Poor old Ziggy came down the garden, I've never seen a cat look so depressed!!! ;D His face just said, those guinea pigs hogging all the attention was bad enough, but this..... He just sat amongst them while they pecked away looking so sad, I tried to take a pic, but I couldn't get the camera going, I may have took a vid by mistake.
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And it's still happening so I let them out as near to the day dawning as I can manage.
