UK Member Please Say HI

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Got this as a surprise today from the other half! He's earned lots of brownie points with this one

Hope your good? How's the egg production going? Still not bad here, which ever polish it is, is still laying, got another one today
Been naughty and still not been out on Harry it just seems to have not stopped raining and have you seen the forecast for Thursday Just seems to be no light at the end of tunnel right now.

Hope your warm and dry up there Barbara

 

[rebrascora]

Oh boy! That is wicked!! What an amazing guy you have! And Harry looks far better in it than the horse modelling it in the brochure picture. I couldn't bear to see it get dirty though and of course that will be all of 5 mins after you turn him out in it no doubt!

I have new rugs for Cora and Rainy (just boring plain ones though) but I'm loath to put them on at the moment as there has been a spate of rug thefts in the area. I must get my postcode spray painted onto them so that I can use them as they currently just have light weight rugs on and weather now turning cold as well as wet.
.
Good to hear that your egg production is also improving. I've been getting 4 most days, but had 6 a few days back and then the other night I thought I had 5 but I found another one in a secret nest before I let them out the next morning so I'm counting that as 7. The Leghorns will not lay in the hen house and even the sneaky nests I've set up for them in the tractor shed and hayshed are used once in a while but then they start hiding them elsewhere again. The others will use my sneaky outdoor nests and I've got to the point of leaving eggs in them to encourage them... white eggs one day and blue the nest so no eggs get left longer than 48hrs (fake eggs don't fool my girls, even the realistic rubber ones).... they either refuse to use nests with them in, even if it was previously a favourite nest box, or they kick them out.... Arrgh! The joys of free ranging!

 

[GGBEAR]

Oh wow that coat is cool my father in law keeps buying me surprise chicken thing's up till now he has bought me
A chicken photo frame, a cockeral clock, coffeeand sugar pots with chickens, Choping board with a cockeral plates with chickens a mug with chickens and last but not least plate coasters and cup coasters lol

 

[philyc]

evening guys,

new to chickens and the forum, based in suffolk (between ipswich and bury-st-edmonds)

i have two exchequer leghorns, a partridge peking and a buff peking. got my first egg today, must have been one of the bantams but have only had them for a day, so thought it would take longer for them to start laying.

Just been out to check on them and just noticed that the buff peking seems to have lost some feathers on her lower back, not sure if this is pecking or molting though :S

 

[GGBEAR]

Hmmm could be either to be fair one of mine went through a molt a couple of weeks ago and she looked right mess none of the others have molted at the moment I think its down to this bizarre English weather not to worry if it is that.
However if it is the other and theres some plucking going on then you may have to separate, is there any chance you could post a picture of her feather loss on her back it might be easier to tell then??

 

[philyc]

ill try and get a picture tomorrow during my lunch break. my two leghorns arnt molting, and the other two i think are still too young i would of thought (its their first winter) the partridge peking has a slightly bare patch on her neck but i noticed that when i picked her up so not worried about her as its not got any worse. the buff one i only just noticed when i checked on them as she was roosting at an angle ive not seen her at before.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Thanks on the rug! You were so right, I let him go in the field and the first thing he did was roll in the new rug!! Muddy and dirty now but you can still see some of the chickens!!
Rug thefts are just a nightmare, the bleep bleep bleeps just can't leave leave folk alone!! Nothing is safe nowadays I tell you. Hope you can get yours postcoded and on them in time for any cold weather that may be on the way.
Sounds like you are on the egg hunt there They sure do sound very sneaky indeed and even when you have set them up some secret nests!! Just not their secret nests I guess!
Hope your well up there and not too wet.

@GGBEAR

How you feeling now? Ready to drop? Oh wow on the 10 pounder and possibly another I have various items of chicken decor!! I got a new biscuit barrel and cup and coaster for Christmas but the rug has to be my most favourite chicken item There is a thread for chicken decor I will dig it out for you.
Hope your feeling well?

@philyc

Welcome to the thread! The feather loss could be molt or them being over bred. Did they have a cockerel with them at their previous home?

 

[philyc]

yes they both did, thats what i thought the feather loss on ones neck was, but because the other looks like broken feathers on her rum/tail i thought it may be something different.

probably just me being inexperienced etc, only had chickens for 4 days.

cheers all, will get a picture tomorrow and just keep an eye out

 

[GGBEAR]

Yeah good idea philyc as for them being to young with it being their first winter thats the same as my black rock.
Like I said pics will be the best bet try not to worry says me I worry about the slightest thing lol
Don't think hubby would be to happy if I strolled in with a chicken rug lol
@ Yorkshirecoop oh indeed ready to drop so so so uncomfortable ill be able to give you a better idea on the 12th thats me last scan so scared now

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Philyc and welcome to the thread and the wonderful world of chickens.

Congrats on your first egg. Don't be too surprised if you get a couple and then no more for a few weeks. The stress of moving can cause them to stop laying but the eggs already in their system will work their way out first.

Exchequer leghorns are very pretty but can be quite feisty and dominant, particularly over bantam pekings, so they may be responsible for the feather loss. Hopefully it is just moulting or cockerel damage, but if it is feather picking, it may just be because they are new to each other and stressed at the change of environment and will settle down soon. Keep a close eye on them though. Leghorns need a lot of stimulation to keep them from getting bored so if you don't free range, make sure there are lots of things in their run to keep them occupied.... hang up brussel sprout plants that are finished producing sprouts for them to jump up and eat the leaves or hang them up high with a roost bar below for them to fly up to. Allotment gardeners will have a ready supply of such plants if you don't garden yourself.

Good luck with them and keep us posted with their progress.

Regards

Barbara