I did a lot of reading of official Defra and Government reports today. Whilst it was heavy going it was really useful. Sorry I didn't make a note of the websites but Google Avian Flu 2020 and find the official government reports.
The 'housing order' has to work with increased biosecurity...
For those of you in the USA, please check with your department of agriculture(or other relevant agency) regarding the status of Avian flu in your state.
I know for a fact that Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has put out an alert for all bird owners to be aware of the threat of Avian flu...
My small flock of four chickens usually have the run of my garden. I will confine them to their chicken run, which they will hate, but it will have to be done.
My runs are wire mesh with roofs and tarpaulins, but I'm going to shore up defences by covering the wire mesh with bird netting so that...
The weather was atrocious this morning so I didn't let my chickens out to free range in the garden.
They were calling me all sorts of names that I couldn't possibly repeat.
Sorry to hear about your shopping woes.
I think I'm OK, if my deliveries arrive today, as promised.
Then I just need to get the chickens their present. They are getting mealworms, sshhhh, don't tell them. They will be so excited.
Yes, she did moult. It was a light moult, not a hard gone naked moult.
She is also top hen, and the most inquisitive and friendly one. The others follow her lead.
Meghen, my light Sussex, is laying every day. This is her second winter and we are currently in the darkest part of the year. Sunrise is at 8.30am, sunset at 3.30pm, although it doesn't really get very light at all. I don't use any lighting so Meghen is a real trooper.
Charlotte, my Scottish...
The chickens would kill for their snacks and I didn't think much of it. That is, until one of them was suddenly in distress. They'd been fighting, and they'd finally thrown one of their feathers. It hit me hard and I ran up to them to see if they were okay. I found them on the floor, one in a...
I tried to grow pumpkins for the first time this year. It was a little experiment of mine, and the intention was to give any resulting pumpkins to my chickens.
But my chickens had other ideas and couldn't wait - they ate the plants!
Definitely take out the bottom netting. It helps when the chickens can dig and churn up dirt, woodchips and the poop. It will act as a sort of composter. You will need to replace the woodchips every now and then as they compost away.
You will also get woodchips everywhere and massive holes. You...
There is a back story to this photo. I had gone to a Spice Girls concert wearing inappropiate shoes and had got some awful blisters. I was showing my husband my horrible blisters. As I whipped off my socks I also whipped off the blister scabs and my feet started to bleed (luckily you can't see...
Velociraptors.
I totally get the skirts and petticoats, that's funny. But I always think that my Sussex's big ole feathery butt makes her look like she's wearing a diaper(nappy).
My BCM is more streamlined and she looks like she's wearing black cycling shorts.
I researched keeping chickens for a year before I got any. Every question I googled led to this site and it has given me so much valuable information. I then lurked awhile before actually joining.
My pumpkin plants have full leaves too - at least the ones that have not been eaten by my chickens do.
The flower reminded me of a courgette (zucchini) flower. In fancy pants restaurants we can get stuffed courgette flowers and they look just like that.
My three girls can hoover up a banana in 2 seconds flat. Gave them a piece of watermelon for the first time this weekend - they were in heaven. Left over salad - gone.
But what they have really enjoyed was the pumpkin plants I was trying to grow :barnie
The plants didn't even get to flowering...