Recent content by The Harlequin

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    Keeping the chick safe from would-be mother

    We have a flock of 10 hens of a variety of breeds. The cockerel died last year. Last month two black marans became broody. We got 6 eggs from a neighbour with a rooster and put them under the two hens. One chick has emerged, but each maran is sure that she is the mother! We isolated the...
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    What's the best thing for the chick, and rescuing Mrs Broody ...

    Also, the chick keeps returning to the hen that DIDN'T hatch it. Does that matter?!
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    What's the best thing for the chick, and rescuing Mrs Broody ...

    Good Morning. Our set up is thus: we have a hen house with nesting boxes, and ten hens of ages 6 months through 4 years of a variety of breeds. The hen house has a hatch which we close at night but otherwise the hens can use to get to an outdoor area protected from Not-So-Fantastic Mr Fox by...
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    Time to be cruel to be kind ...?

    >> flock position dynamics Yeah, he's always been Top Banana, obviously, as the only male, but when his comb got torn a few years ago the hens did peck at it mercilessly, and we had to isolate him for a few days until it healed. This time I don't see anyone picking on him, but he doesn't...
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    Time to be cruel to be kind ...?

    Our cockrell is pretty elderly (almost 7 years). In his early days he was very fiesty - I have the scar to prove it! - but in the past year or so has lost much of his bounce. In recent days he has struggled to walk, especially when first released into the run, falling on to his belly and...
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    Pink Rooster

    Our 4-y-o cockerel has a raw, bald pink patch under his wattles; also his rear end is bright pink too. Other than not being as sprightly as he once was he doesn't seem to have other issues. Anything to worry about? I can take better pics later when he's roosting if needs be ... Thanks H
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    Avian flu - keeping ducks entertained ideas needed

    I wondered how others are finding general compliance on this? We've restricted our 14 hens to a tiny covered area. They seem lethargic, and egg productivity is down, but maybe it would be at this time of year. Wandering about my Somerset village I see that no-one else, including the farmers...
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    New, smaller hens being chased/harried

    Yeah, I'm an idiot, soz. FOUR, not eight, original hens remain.
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    New, smaller hens being chased/harried

    Yes. They are free to go anywhere including the house and the A-frame, but are locked only into the pen at night. During the day they are free to range wherever (within the wide confines of an electric fence). How big are the pens? (In feet or meters). The big pen is about 5m x 4m. The...
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    New, smaller hens being chased/harried

    There are only 13. And they don't sleep in the coop. Nonetheless thanks for the link to the sanctuaries - some great ideas there!
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    New, smaller hens being chased/harried

    Here are some pics. The original chicks, and the 4 added least year, have always roosted on the ugly old car-park railings thing. Unless broody they never roost in the chicken house itself, except very occasionally one or two might if the weather is foul (we have fairly calm winters in SW...
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    New, smaller hens being chased/harried

    Hi We have 8 hens and a rooster about 3 years old which we have raised from hatching. I think they're RI reds. About a year ago we added a pair of buff orpingtons and a pair of australorps. These were initially timid but are fairly well integrated now. About 3 weeks ago we added 4 leghorns...
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    Self-isolating hen

    We did all that was suggested but she was so weak at the end of it, we decided to put her out of her misery. Need to be more on the ball next time. Thanks for the wise advice.
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    Self-isolating hen

    Thank you, on the case right now!
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    Self-isolating hen

    Her cloaca is absolutely swarming with maggots. It looks like Flystrike as described on another site.
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