Wow, it's all gone so fast! The chickens have become part of the family now - we even have coordinated routines. I'm proud to say that my daughter overcame her slight fear (she thought she would be pecked often) and now she spends her time with our loving hens.
At first, we were unsure of how to approach things as this is our first time caring for poultry, so I bought some manuals, which have been really helpful. Our favourite is Chicken Manual: The Complete Step-by-step Guide to Keeping Chickens by Laurence Beekens. It's really opened our eyes.
Unfortunately, we had to rehome some hens as we had too many for the size of coop. However, all was not lost, as a kind friend took them in and they have settled in well. Our remaining six are Lolita (Lola), Rouge, Millie, Chuckles, Doodles and Finlay. At the moment, Lola is the queen, and likes to express herself by eating, drinking and going out first. It's quite funny to watch.
A few days ago, we noticed that Chuckles wasn't looking too good. She was shy and quiet, which
is strange because she is usually very confident. The ex battery hen forum was very helpful, and it turns out that Chuckles might have a bacterial infection, which may be the cause of her upset tummy. The forum recommended Retford Poultry Partnership, which examines a sample of poo and sends medicine. My daughter went to the post office yesterday so fingers crossed, everything is going to be ok.
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Monday 9 August 2010
All in a Rush
Got the boxes ready!
Car juiced up.
Daughter and friends want to come too.
Have the gardener coming as he has chicken keeping experience.
Right...start driving. I thought it would be easy getting there but an hour and a half later we were still driving and getting very lost despite the sat nav. Several panicked calls to Jemima I we had reached.
The birds did not look that bad. Some had feathers missing - mostly tail ones and their necks were mysteriously without any feathers - did the farmers shave them off!
An hour later we were back home and the birds entered their new coop. Food and water were all put out. The children stood and watched. The dogs too! Left the birds to get acquainted with coop but kept coming back anxiously to check on them. As night fell, they looked really lose. So we went in and put them to bed.
God! They felt strange those feathers. Kind of soft yet plasticky. Children were not too sure if they wanted to hold the birds. But the chickens themselves quietly went to bed!
Car juiced up.
Daughter and friends want to come too.
Have the gardener coming as he has chicken keeping experience.
Right...start driving. I thought it would be easy getting there but an hour and a half later we were still driving and getting very lost despite the sat nav. Several panicked calls to Jemima I we had reached.
The birds did not look that bad. Some had feathers missing - mostly tail ones and their necks were mysteriously without any feathers - did the farmers shave them off!
An hour later we were back home and the birds entered their new coop. Food and water were all put out. The children stood and watched. The dogs too! Left the birds to get acquainted with coop but kept coming back anxiously to check on them. As night fell, they looked really lose. So we went in and put them to bed.
God! They felt strange those feathers. Kind of soft yet plasticky. Children were not too sure if they wanted to hold the birds. But the chickens themselves quietly went to bed!
Sunday 1 August 2010
Gods are smiling!
Came back home to find there was still no message. Better call them. Lady who answered remembered me from the day before. Sorry! I'm way down the list. Probably next month? but, but, but...
Oh well. I'll have to wait another month. Just as I had convinced myself the phone rang. Jemma rang back saying they had managed to squeeze me onto tomorrow's list. I check my mail for final directions. I have everything I need. Just the girls to bring home now!
Oh well. I'll have to wait another month. Just as I had convinced myself the phone rang. Jemma rang back saying they had managed to squeeze me onto tomorrow's list. I check my mail for final directions. I have everything I need. Just the girls to bring home now!
Went down to Pets at Home to find food - smallholders exbattery hen crumbs. Lady in there was very helpful about other stuff I would need including some herbal worm control for chickens Verbex which I had read about. She also told me to let my neighbours know about the hens and putting them to bed every day with 'the door shut'! Must call council to check regulations about keeping hens. Call Defra to see if I needc to be registered. What have I got myself in for?
My plan for open nest boxes are now looking like a foolish idea. What shall I do now. Baack to the internet for some alternatives. Maybe the plastic garden storage box would do? Well we will have to see. Haven't got that call from the trust and it is Friday afternoon.
On the way back from the pet shop stopped at Tesco and begged for some cardboard boxes. Customer service was ever so helpful. Got mor than enough for me and got the security guy to carry them to the car for me. Gods must be smiling!
My plan for open nest boxes are now looking like a foolish idea. What shall I do now. Baack to the internet for some alternatives. Maybe the plastic garden storage box would do? Well we will have to see. Haven't got that call from the trust and it is Friday afternoon.
On the way back from the pet shop stopped at Tesco and begged for some cardboard boxes. Customer service was ever so helpful. Got mor than enough for me and got the security guy to carry them to the car for me. Gods must be smiling!
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