Recent content by Spikes Chooks

  1. Spikes Chooks

    Shells are cracked when layed...

    I have one hen who regularly lays a very thin-shelled egg, regardless of diet. (She has other problems too, but so sweet.....). I bought golfing carpet (for practising golf indoors, apparently). I have heard fake turf works too, though is harder to clean. I cut it into shape for the 3 nesting...
  2. Spikes Chooks

    Help naming my chickens?!

    Perhaps Molly for the first no-name? (I have a Sylvia too!) I also like insect names - Ladybird and Beetle are two of mine. Some people choose a theme like herbs (Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Corainder). Or old-fashioned flower names (Petunia, Rose, Dahlia, Lily). It seems hard to decide when it...
  3. Spikes Chooks

    What happens if I don't break a broody hen?

    There are other reasons to break her of it, including that it can seriously damage her health. She won't eat or drink enough, and can badly lose condition. There is more you can try to break her of it. I use a dog crate, with the plastic tray at the bottom removed, and place it on four bricks...
  4. Spikes Chooks

    Can someone help me here PLEASE??

    I agree with Pyxis. It is true that IF your chickens get mites, then they can hide in such places as under wood and in the curtains. The fact is that, if they do get mites, then there would be many places they might be hiding and you would have to treat everything. Whilst mites can be a...
  5. Spikes Chooks

    Laying an egg without a shell?

    I have a RIR that does this from time to time. She also lays some eggs where all the colour pigment is at one end. So I guess her shell-producing metabolism is a bit out of whack. They are all 2 years old. I give them all chicken vitamins once a week and this seems to have kept it in check. I...
  6. Spikes Chooks

    Hello everyone

    Welcome! I only got chickens last year for the first time and I have found this forum so tremendously helpful. Lots of information and support, too. All the best
  7. Spikes Chooks

    Chickens afraid to go into the coop

    Wow, they really have been spooked! I have no experience of this, but it does sound a good idea f=to keep them in the coop for a few days, to re-establish their sense of "safe home". If they are in there long enough - and the freaky new litter doesn't attack them - I would have thought they...
  8. Spikes Chooks

    Hoping to start a chicken garden in the spring.... pending hoa. Need some pointers.

    As another poster noted, chickens, when they are younger, will fly more than when they get older and heavier. The safest thing to do is clip one wing on each of them. It is easy to do - probably with another person holding them the first time. There's advice and pictures on this forum and also...
  9. Spikes Chooks

    Should I add anything else to the ground of the "garden run"?

    I thought that would happen but it hasn't worked out. They are 6 month old Bengal cats, so very athletic and vocal. They chased the chickens so much they got really stressed out and stopped laying. They never would just peck one - that's what I wanted them to do. I persevered but have given up...
  10. Spikes Chooks

    Should I add anything else to the ground of the "garden run"?

    My four chickens have a raised coop and a permanent run of coarse river sand, about 8m2 (roughly 85 square feet). I clean it with a cat litter scooper and it is so easy. They used to spend 3-4 hours each afternoon free ranging in our garden, but two new kittens have put an end to that and we are...
  11. Spikes Chooks

    things that make you go hmmmmmm....

    BTW, your Dad was right!
  12. Spikes Chooks

    Hen Trying to Pass Broken Shell... What DO I DO???????????

    I aso happy it has all ended well. This forum is great for getting advice and support in times of need - I have greatly appreciated it myself. All the best
  13. Spikes Chooks

    bare ground in run....MUD!

    Agree
  14. Spikes Chooks

    HELP my chicken is limping.

    I think so - Betadine is just a liquid antiseptic for dabbing or putting on wounds, so detol should achieve the same result
  15. Spikes Chooks

    bare ground in run....MUD!

    I don't use gravel but I do use coarse river sand. There is a wooden edge about 15cm high around the run, filled with the sand. It drains very quickly, is easy to scoop poop up, and never gets muddy or stinking. I'd really reommend it if you can. You might also consider covering the run, or part...
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