Recent content by ellahere

I have an older copper Maran hen called tatsie, who is now perhaps 3 years old and is head of the flock. She was bitten badly by a dog some months ago but has bounced back into health since. For the last 2 weeks her eggs have been soft shelled. Should I cull her? She lays well and eats layers...

Do you ship to the UK? Charges?

That's a great idea! Will do with the wax and see if she continues sitting. I cleaned out the dirty patches as you suggested. As for newly hatched chicks - we don't really have hatcheries like that here in the UK as far as I know but I have rung round a few local farms and all their chicks are a...

Hi, I have my first broody hen - she is a Silkie bantam and I got her 6 eggs to sit on. She is sitting tight in her own coop and is getting up once a day to eat. We are on day 14 at present. I candled the eggs at 7 days and 1 was infertile so I dumped it. Then, I think a magpie got into the coop...

A sad post. My Golden Partridge Silkie managed to drown quietly (and hopefully quickly) in the pond that I just put into the garden a month ago. Just to warn others; perhaps this breed is particularly susceptible.

Hi, I have 3 silkies who are now 13 weeks old, two are Golden Partridge and one is Black in colour. Any ideas on gender? The largest golden partridge looks kind of fluffier than the others, so I am guessing a roo. But the others - any ideas? Thanks

OK - I have tried the food. and tried the light in the coop (both with a heat-lamp and with a standard white torch/flashlight). I have 3 silkie chicks and I think silkies may just be too dim to figure this out. They are not keen on roosting at all! I call them chicks but not they are 11 weeks...

The answer was, for those out there who like to know, that Tweety is in fact a cockerel. I caught 'her' doing the dirty on the lawn today with one of the other hens. Tweety will now be known as Mr T, and will be dispatched shortly. The weird thing is, this bird has no large comb and no large...

Thank you all! You will be pleased to know that yesterday they all started squatting like mad, so you are all right and they are all hens! So pleased. I will have to sell some on (garden is too small) but at least they won't get eaten, or make a noise. Phew.

The black barred hen is a lady and she hunkers down as you try to pick her up. These birds are nearly 6 months old. I've heard no crowing from the 3 reddish pullets; anyone have any ideas? I know the pics are not great - they all have yellow legs, small tail feathers, wide body, crests and...

I hatched 7 welsummers a year ago and ended up with 4 cocks, 3 hens. They are sexable even from hatch; the blonder ones are deffo cocks. So, at a guess (assuming your pics are under a white light, not red) I would say from the top pic that the one second from the right is a cock. That photo from...

Are you sure they are all the same age - sometimes even a few days different will mean one is bigger than the rest

Yes she is - good quality layers pellets. Today I found a whole load of lice on the chicken she hangs out with most. I have dusted everywhere with louse powder and will go and check in the farm shop to see if there is anything else to use for treatment. Another hen, who is only 5 months, is now...

Tweety is now 9 months old and has a large, red comb. She is a good weight and well-feathered, with healthy-looking feet. She is in a mixed flock of 6 chickens. However, she has never 'come into lay' and does not hunker down when you try to pick her up - she's never in fact done this. She will...

thank you! I live in the UK but think you are right about them being mixed... Any idea what an 'easter egger' is in England? I am sure there is another name for them?