new member

[hoggsfarm75]

Hi all,
Just after finally joining even though I've just hatched out my fourth batch of chicks. We started with 2 hens,one sadly got taken by a fox so the remaining girl decided she wanted chicks....that was 2 years ago.She gave us two lots(first was 2 roosters and a hen) and then second lot was a hen and rooster.Last summer the 2 young hens decided to brood and hatched out 10 between them,sadly most were killed by a rat so I luckily saved one hen and yet another rooster that I hand reared in the house until they were 3 months old.My latest batch have just hatched out,looks like 4 girls and a boy,these including mum have been moved to the house due to a rat sighting in the hen house and me not wanting to risk losing them.So busy summer ahead for us here in the North West coast of Ireland!

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

BYC has a very useful learning center

Good Day ,,,,, Sounds like you are having all the trials but good luck with your poultry

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us! We have a contest running for our new members, if you are interested. Rules and how to enter here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/885886/welcome-to-byc-sign-up-and-win/0_30

Enjoy the site!

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

So sorry about all the losses. You might want to do some posting in our Predators and Pests section for help with how to keep these rats out of the coop...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/13/predators-and-pests

Great to have you aboard and welcome to our flock!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[Michael Apple]

Welcome to BYC, hoggsfarm.

 

[dikbiscuit]

Welcome to the site. Sorry for your losses. I'd definitely check out the link TwoCrows posted. Hope you can solve your pred problem. Also, check out the link in my signature to introduce yourself to others in the UK.

 

[drumstick diva]

While you have the chickens in the house, could you set out rat traps and rat poison around the coop ? Or maybe someone has a Parson Russell terrier you could borrow. I know they are rough on rats.

 

[hoggsfarm75]

Sadly no,as I'd be afraid the other hens would eat any poison we put down....am just going to wait until the chicks are bigger and then re-introduce them,by then hopefully the rat will have moved on.Here they are having a run around.The chicks are healthy and happy and that's what counts to me,once again this summer I have become Mother Hen,but I don't mind.

 

[ronmauldin]

Welcome from the Ocean State!