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[timon]

Great news, my new rescue hens decided to venture outside today.
I do wonder what they're thinking, and hope they're feeling happy, but let's face it they couldn't be in any worse a condition than when I got them.

 

[Gge23]

Great news, my new rescue hens decided to venture outside today.
I do wonder what they're thinking, and hope they're feeling happy, but let's face it they couldn't be in any worse a condition than when I got them.

That's great news! They'll be back to being all fluffed in no time ^_^

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Great news, my new rescue hens decided to venture outside today.
I do wonder what they're thinking, and hope they're feeling happy, but let's face it they couldn't be in any worse a condition than when I got them.

Great to hear they have ventured out

I'm more than sure they will be very happy to be in your care!

 

[Psychochick]

I put them in the coup this afternoon, and not one of them ventured outside. I'm hoping they'll get used to their new food, and then in a few days I'll start to put their food outside and see if they become a little more brave. They've since all huddled together in the nest box to sleep.... 7 in a v.small space... I suppose they're happy.

They will still be doing this when they're fully feathered and bigger. I think it must be a comfort thing but sometimes as they're sat on each others heads I do wonder if they can breathe

. I have 2 coops for my brood of 18 ex bats and a very stupid cockerel. If they could they would all pile in to the coop that's supposed to be for 8 hens, leaving the other (christened Battlecoop Potemkin) empty. As it is they manage to get 13 hens and a very large cockerel in there! I always give mine both acv and poultry drink as a vitamin boost. At this time of year it's nice to get them used to the different types of fruit around so they actually know what it is. They look suspiciously at the blackberries at first but they're soon down their beaks Everything is a treat to them but some things they won't recognise as food.

Quick tip - get them used to the sound of food rattling in the food bowl. It makes it far easier to round them up! Also be prepared for bad behaviour. They will think they have to re-enact the great escape every single day. The amount of time I spend outside with a torch in every nettle and bramble patch rounding new girls up is ridiculous. The bonus is that they are slightly older and therefore have a bit more sense than chicks. Just not much.

 

[rebrascora]

Well it's been a day of mixed fortunes today. My little welsummer/legbar pullet chick with Marek's was not getting any better and although she was still eating, her quality of life was no longer viable. Twice I tried to psych myself up to euthanize her yesterday and each time I picked her up to do it. she started crying and so did I and I couldn't go through with it. This afternoon I steeled myself and did it but I'm pretty cut up about it. It's stupid to think I can cull a strong healthy cockerel with less emotional difficulty than a very sick little pullet that has no hope but once you have spent time giving them tlc and they are dependent on you for everything, they really get into your heart! Hurting pretty bad at the moment but on the plus side I have another clutch of eggs hatching. One has sadly been stood on and crushed and 2 eggs haven't pipped yet but I think there are five hatched and alive at the moment.

@Yorkshire Coop

Sounds like things are a bit hectic for you at your yard. I haven't heard of that event before. Shame you couldn't go too but someone has to hold the fort I guess. Hope Harry's companion is back and he's feeling better. I've ridden very little recently. I took Zak round the block a few days ago and Ian has had him out hound exercising 2 mornings running and he jumped the fallen tree on both occasions without any real problem. It would be nice to think that the work I put in has contributed to that small success but I'm not convinced that he won't dig his heels in and say "NO" again one day out of the blue. I'm thrilled of course that he has jumped it for Ian but sadly he is much less impressed and enthusiastic about it. All he can say is that he'll save his excitement for when he's jumping 4 foot rails! MeMe has pulled a shoe off just when I was gearing myself up to start work with her again which is a pain, so I will have to ask my lovely blacksmiths to pop in when they have a moment.
Think that is all my news.

Best wishes

Barbara

@timon

Good to see the new girls out enjoying the fresh air and big outdoors.

 

[Rudies Roost]

@rebrascora

Sorry about your young pullet, the hen I had with Marek's that you kindly helped me out with a while back (if you remember), passed away a few weeks back too, seems that vile disease always bites back so maybe you did the kindest thing.

On a gentler note, I wonder if any of you are any good at sexing Silkies? I know they're tough but thought I'd see...I have posted on other "breed specific sexing forums" on here but nobody has answered me either way (that always seems to happen to me!). Anyway, here they are:

Lame pictures I know but best I can do for now. They are 9 weeks old now, nearly 10.....I'd like 1 to be a cockerel for next year's breeding but I'm hopeful they're not all boys

Any feedback gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance....Sasha xx

 

[Psychochick]

Bless 'em, they are the emo's of the hen world aren't they. Have no idea how to sex them though! But they're so stroppy looking they have to all be teenagers don't they...

 

[Rudies Roost]

Bless 'em, they are the emo's of the hen world aren't they.  Have no idea how to sex them though!  But they're so stroppy looking they have to all be teenagers don't they...

Ha ha!! I love em' though. I already have 3 nine month old Silkie hens (hence wanting 1 of the chicks to be a cockerel preferably) and then these 3....they're all super friendly but I'd love to know what gender the youngsters are.....

 

[timon]

once you have spent time giving them tlc and they are dependent on you for everything, they really get into your heart! Hurting pretty bad at the moment ...
On the plus side I have another clutch of eggs hatching. One has sadly been stood on and crushed and 2 eggs haven't pipped yet but I think there are five hatched and alive at the moment.

Barbara, it's a heart wrenching story. I've not had to kill any of mine.

I hope the new ones hatch and bring you some happiness back.

 

[drumstick diva]

timon - you may need to provide some shade for them till they regrow feathers - I imagine they could get sun burn, too bad they couldn't have little hen aprons to protect their bare skin and make them feel cozy till they look like chickens again. Thank you for taking them in. They will bring you much pleasure when they settle in and bloom under your tutelage.