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Post by debbiem on Apr 3, 2008 9:43:46 GMT 1
Ah bless!  Our cats have had more than a few Ziggy moments too. : They peer through the catflap on their way out, make sure the coast's clear enough from chickens then pelt like hell to the trellis which they're up on the top of an instant! ;D Tiny and Pearl are sooo fast and so slick - they keep getting in, especially Pearl, and get the catfood. It's now got to the point where I've become attuned to the sound of a different kind of eating which differs from the sound the cats make when they eat - it's noisier but still very sneaky! And sure enough I poke my head around the kitchen door and catch them at it. This is when the kitchen door out to the courtyard's closed, they're so fast! ;D I've decided that I'm going to give the chickens the occasional tin. I can't see the harm, can you? Then maybe the fascination and need to dash in to get the cats' food might not be so urgent! |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 3, 2008 10:21:29 GMT 1
Oooer, MrsB, be careful! You don't want your chooks to revert to their ancient reptilian ancestry do you? And what sort of gunk do they put in dog food.......? All that protein might do something funny to their eggs........   |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 3, 2008 11:13:22 GMT 1
Oh yuk I didn't think of that! Oh well, I just came in from the garden to be greeted by Pearl coming out of the lounge - there is NO way she got past me when the door was open so she's definitely mastered the whole cat flap trick! ;D And of course all the cat food was gone.  I think then that apart from the times when they get past me to the cats' food, and when the cats don't like a particular tin so they get it, there'll be no more cat food for them then! They get spolit enough as it is. And far from reverting to reptiles I'm more worried that they think they're cats! ;D |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 3, 2008 16:00:15 GMT 1
The minuite I open the patio door now they're in! I was preparing a cottage pie this morn and had the usal spinking of grated carrot on the floor, in they came and pecked it up! They all laid today too, thats the first time i've had 4 eggs in 1 day!
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Post by debbiem on Apr 3, 2008 17:55:18 GMT 1
I think the cats would be eternally grateful! I'll hold fire and see if it really is a problem before I do anything. Once the grass has grown in the garden they'll probably have forgotten all about cat food....... |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 3, 2008 18:00:36 GMT 1
The minuite I open the patio door now they're in! I was preparing a cottage pie this morn and had the usal spinking of grated carrot on the floor, in they came and pecked it up! They all laid today too, thats the first time i've had 4 eggs in 1 day! Yours sound like such a well behaved lot Emsey! (But it's early days! ;D) I think I'll try mine on grated carrot - they may well like it and wouldn't I cheer! I hang up a cabbage or cauliflower for them to peck but I can't see them taking to grated carrot. I'm going to have to take this lot in hand I think. I haven't even been giving them layers pellets for a long time now and it's time to start again with a sprinking of corn only twice a day and the usual amount of scraps, but it sems that by spoiling them I'm really SPOILING them. They don't like the pellets but if a child is offered a plate of greens at the same time as ice cream which would it go for first? ;D The same goes for the pellets vs the corn. : |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 4, 2008 11:25:28 GMT 1
This morning they had rice with a load of pellets mashed into them - it worked!
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Post by emseypop on Apr 4, 2008 15:39:11 GMT 1
What I do is open the henhouse door at about 6.30 and leave them in the coop till 9.30. So they are used to staying in there till I've got Holly to school, thats when they eat the 'proper' food a mix of mash and pellets, they wouldn't mind just pellets now but i've got a sack of mash to use up £6.30 for 20kgs! Then they have scraps at 3.00ish and I put them back in the coop for the school run. The corn and mael worms are in-between treat. I've been buying the cheapo 8p noodles, they love them minus the sauce. The neighbours both seem happy with the hens too which is nice. 4 eggs again today ;D
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Post by debbiem on Apr 6, 2008 9:00:25 GMT 1
Sounds great! Mine have the cheapie noodles too, now and again, funny thing is these chickens don't seem to like spaghetti anywhere near some of the chickens I've had in the past. They now have a scattering of corn twice a day with the pellets in the feeder, a cauliflower or cabbage hung up to pick at and all the scraps which are suitable. I wish the grass would grow in the garden 'cos then they'd spend all their time round there, but until then the plants in the courtyard are going to have to grin and bear it. ;D At least the sun's shining in the yard there now which makes them chill out that bit more. : |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 15, 2008 10:58:00 GMT 1
D'you know, my old chook is now laying at least three times a week - isn't that amazing?? I wish I could remember how old she is - at least eleven I think. What a wonderful thing a chicken is.
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Post by emseypop on Apr 15, 2008 19:20:17 GMT 1
She's a star! ;D
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Post by debbiem on Apr 16, 2008 6:35:13 GMT 1
That's brilliant 4P - she must be one very healthy and happy chicken. |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 16, 2008 9:26:52 GMT 1
Did you see that man in Somerset on the news this morning with all those cockerels crowing and driving the neighbours mad? Apparently they were starting to crow at around 2.30 in the morning - I can't believe that, I thought they crowed at dawn?  They showed his garden with all the chickens in it, more than a hundred I think, and they look a happy and healthy bunch,cockerels and all. AND they don't seem to have any grass. I think I'm going to show this to my mere six chickens who think they're having it bad if they can't go out into the garden and have to make do with the courtyard with cabbages and cauliflowers hanging up and all sorts of snacks coming their way, and troughs to dustbathe in and plants to destroy. ;D. They've been so fed up in the past few days that I caved in and let them into the garden for a few hours. And of course they start off merrily scratching on the lawn with all the dandelions in it, perfectly legal, and as soon as my back's turned they're destroying something else! So until the grass and plants have grown enough to withstand a substantial onslaught they are very much restricted on garden wanderings. But Pearl sits outside the kitchen door and moans like Hell. : They don't know they're born, this lot. ;D |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 16, 2008 13:35:36 GMT 1
They are a lucky bunch Mrs b. Mine have destroyed my lambs ear, and all the poppy and marrigolds that were coming up. The sweetpeas I overwintered have gone too. I've given up on the boarders now  The football would have got them in the end anyway I suppose. I'll just have to stick to rose bushes. The theory is, is theres plenty to keep them busy in the boarders, the grass wont fair too badly. Next door let me trim her thorny bush (good job Mick isn't reading this!) and I put the trimmings around some plants but it hasn't worked. |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2008 15:45:27 GMT 1
They are a lucky bunch Mrs b. Mine have destroyed my lambs ear, and all the poppy and marrigolds that were coming up. The sweetpeas I overwintered have gone too. I've given up on the boarders now The football would have got them in the end anyway I suppose. I'll just have to stick to rose bushes. The theory is, is theres plenty to keep them busy in the boarders, the grass wont fair too badly. Next door let me trim her thorny bush (good job Mick isn't reading this!) and I put the trimmings around some plants but it hasn't worked. You called Ems..... (The mind boggles.....) |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 16, 2008 16:15:34 GMT 1
;D Well hello Mick - you don't often venture into here Emsey someone started a couple of threads on the PP forum regarding which plants the chickens'll eat and which they'll leave alone - I think it's in the Green Fingers section. I think as long as a plant's got going long enough to be established and is HIGH enough it'll be able to fend off the chickens but anything at ground level's not going to be so lucky! : That's why all my ferns are in hanging baskets as they demolished them and they weren't big enough to hack it. I dunno - slug and snails and chickens, it's a tough life being a plant! Maybe put the prickly branches upright against the shrubs - they might not be able to get through them? |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2008 16:19:33 GMT 1
;D Well hello Mick - you don't often venture into here Emsey someone started a couple of threads on the PP forum regarding which plants the chickens'll eat and which they'll leave alone - I think it's in the Green Fingers section. I think as long as a plant's got going long enough to be established and is HIGH enough it'll be able to fend off the chickens but anything at ground level's not going to be so lucky! : That's why all my ferns are in hanging baskets as they demolished them and they weren't big enough to hack it. I dunno - slug and snails and chickens, it's a tough life being a plant! Maybe put the prickly branches upright against the shrubs - they might not be able to get through them? I can't contribute but I do read. Just as well Sleepy hasn't seen it actually... |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2008 16:19:49 GMT 1
;D Well hello Mick - you don't often venture into here Emsey someone started a couple of threads on the PP forum regarding which plants the chickens'll eat and which they'll leave alone - I think it's in the Green Fingers section. I think as long as a plant's got going long enough to be established and is HIGH enough it'll be able to fend off the chickens but anything at ground level's not going to be so lucky! : That's why all my ferns are in hanging baskets as they demolished them and they weren't big enough to hack it. I dunno - slug and snails and chickens, it's a tough life being a plant! Maybe put the prickly branches upright against the shrubs - they might not be able to get through them? I can't contribute but I do read. Just as well Sleepy hasn't seen it actually... |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 16, 2008 16:25:00 GMT 1
Oh, Sleepy pokes his head around the door now and again. |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 16, 2008 17:50:00 GMT 1
;D Well hello Mick - you don't often venture into here Emsey someone started a couple of threads on the PP forum regarding which plants the chickens'll eat and which they'll leave alone - I think it's in the Green Fingers section. I think as long as a plant's got going long enough to be established and is HIGH enough it'll be able to fend off the chickens but anything at ground level's not going to be so lucky! : That's why all my ferns are in hanging baskets as they demolished them and they weren't big enough to hack it. I dunno - slug and snails and chickens, it's a tough life being a plant! Maybe put the prickly branches upright against the shrubs - they might not be able to get through them? I can't contribute but I do read. Just as well Sleepy hasn't seen it actually... Why? Just as well Sleepy hasn't seen it?  |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 20, 2008 17:17:36 GMT 1
I've got a very depressed hen its been 2 days now, she rarly comes out of the HH.  |
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Post by emseypop on Apr 21, 2008 9:24:58 GMT 1
I've got a very depressed hen its been 2 days now, she rarly comes out of the HH. Does she prefer the sunshine Emsey? - not had much of that just lately. They all love the sun I think this Hen is broody, I've read dunking thier bums in cold water sometimes snaps them out of it, but i'll wait and see. She is very fluffed up. I've spotted her haveing a feed a few times so at least she is eating, and her comb is still nice and red |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 21, 2008 9:32:09 GMT 1
Sounds much like it, Emsey. If she won't move, sometimes taking her out and putting her somewhere safe and quiet for a few days will often bring them out of it. Don't let her sit on any eggs! She souds as if she's just reverting to her natural behaviour pattern, which is brilliant. As you say, as long as she's eating and drinking she'll be fine - just keep an eye out for any bullying though - sometimes a broody hen gets put upon. Sometimes they brood for days and days so be prepared...prolly she'll suddenly get up and rejoin the others quite soon though. Dunking their bums in cold water sounds a bit unnecessary though! Would you like it?? (Don't answer that!) ;D
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Post by emseypop on Apr 21, 2008 12:54:58 GMT 1
They all love the sun I think this Hen is broody, I've read dunking thier bums in cold water sometimes snaps them out of it, but i'll wait and see. She is very fluffed up. I've spotted her haveing a feed a few times so at least she is eating, and her comb is still nice and red Goodness me - really? I think it would snap me out of anything! ;D If it was a lovely summers day, I may be tempted to try it I'll just leave her to it, and hope she rights herfself soon. |
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Post by debbiem on Apr 21, 2008 14:15:19 GMT 1
She sounds to me too that she's broody - do you know what breed of chicken they are Emsey? Some breeds are much more likely to go broody than others. Like 4P says if she is broody she's back to behaving as nature intended so well done you. |
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The football would have got them in the end anyway I suppose. I'll just have to stick to rose bushes. The theory is, is theres plenty to keep them busy in the boarders, the grass wont fair too badly. Next door let me trim her thorny bush (good job Mick isn't reading this!) and I put the trimmings around some plants but it hasn't worked.