Recent content by swanfeatures

Hi all! I'm a novice chicken owner and have discovered our first red mite infestation. (Ew! :eek:That creeped me out this morning!) So after some UK specific advice on how to treat and what products you would recommend. We have a wooden home built coop with large attached nesting box which...

This bluebelle, our Bluebell!

This is Goldie, our Gold top silkie/light sussex cross.

Yes she's proofed up, quite a cute look for her. We have one large nest box built onto the side of the coop, so they all lay in there throughout the day. But yes she's trying to sit in there on everyone's eggs. Caught her up the ramp trying to figure out why the door was shut earlier. Poor chimkin!

No we don't want her sitting. I'm not ready to be a chick mumma yet! Is her sadness and reluctance just due to the broodiness do you think?

Hi eggy gurus! I've tried searching similar posts but can't quite find an answer so apologies if this is repetitive. We have a light sussex who went Broody yesterday, sitting on eggs, not leaving the nesting box all day, got quite pecky! So I donned some gardening gloves and fished her out of...

Eek! I'll try and get a photo later, snow permitting! Advice on removing it?

Hi all, I've read from here that some hens can grow spurs so I'm not overly worried, but my silkie xbreed seems to have one next to or slightly below her back toe which seems to prevent her from putting weight on the back of her foot properly. Should I do something about it? She seems to have a...

Yup I get that! Would quite like them to perch on me though, but no joy. I will persist in being chief mealworm bringer!

Thanks everyone! Totally get that raising them from chicks is best, but as new owners we weren't brave or knowledgeable enough to do so. Sad to hear our breeds aren't great, as they were recommended but the breeder as the most kid/family friendly breeds 🙄 Will keep an eye on the silkie...

New Chicken owner, we have 3 POL bought in July last year and two POL bought and integrated about 4 weeks ago. But, they aren't overly keen on being handled. Our leghorn is completely uncatcheable, and the others will squat for a quick stroke but that's your lot! No chance of holding them...

This is very helpful, thank you!

OK, good to know. They've been in since Saturday morning together now, so that chance may have passed us by, but I will bear that in mind next time for sure. How big a cage do you need without being cruel, I just want them to scratch about but free ranging isn't possible where we are.

Ummm yes. We weren't given any advice on how to introduce them apart from a book we had which suggested removing them at night if there were ongoing issues. We've been mo itoring them closely and apart from a few pecks and chases, there's been no serious issues - so far! What advice would you...

I hope so, she's very sweet and I want her safe. Thanks for the advice. They're all tucked up asleep now so here's hoping to another peaceful night.