UK Member Please Say HI

[rebrascora]

It's so rewarding getting factory girls and giving them a new life. I know you will love them.

 

[rebrascora]

@Hamiam

Individual allotments are usually pretty small, maybe 10 yards by 30yards but each allotment site will vary. Usually enough to have a shed/greenhouse or poly tunnel and a couple of veg beds and a couple of fruit trees/bushes and maybe a few chickens and sometimes they will allow bees.... each allotment association has it's own rules as to what you are allowed to do with it. Some people even keep horses on them.... which usually goes down well with neighbouring gardeners who benefit from the manure. Unfortunately there are far more people who want them than will ever get one, hence the waiting lists. They encourage a community spirit along with a bit of friendly rivalry. It's a good system.

 

[timon]

Has anyone on here rehomed ex battery hens? I've just signed up to rehome a few as I have plenty of room for a few more and it will warm my heart saving a few from being slaughtered just wanted to know if I need to do anything different or keep them away from the ducks etc. Thankyou

I have done it. There are lots of pitfalls, and I wouldn't recommend it to a novice (like I was)
I can't say about drakes as I've not got any ducks, but here are my top tips:
1. Keep them separate from any other hens for 3 weeks
2. Feed them layers pellets with water in - they didn't recognise 'normal' food for about 4-5 days. A tray of pellets with water or an icecream tub with porridge oats water-soaked overnight went down well
3. Be prepared to loose some. Despite my best efforts, 2 of 7 developed issues and died.
4. Mine still don't roost. They prefer to bed down in straw.
5. People say they're friendly and have personalities.... If you're looking for a friend you can pick up and cuddle once in a while... these aren't the chickens to come to you and be picked up !

I'm sure other things will come to mind, but that's a few things for starters.

Good luck with them.

I really enjoy the eggs I've had for over 12 months now. Still laying 5or6 a week - aged nearly 3 years old.

 

[happarose]

Hello, new UK member here. I have five adult pekin bantams, two of which are frizzles, but I've just hatched six chicks that are now four weeks old (thanks to one of my broody frizzles who is being a perfect mama). The chicks are all different colours, and three are frizzles, but all are feathery fluffballs of mischief! Currently trying to sex them as I have next door neighbours and cockerels would be deemed antisocial. I don't want to get too attached to the boys as they will have to go. :'(

 

[rebrascora]

@happarose
Hi and welcome

Where in the UK are you? It helps to include your location on your profile page, so that we can see at a glance each time you post on the forum. It helps with giving advice specific to your local climate and conditions and seasons even (there are quite a few antipodean memebers who are in winter at the moment and also regarding products that are available in your location.... many products in the USA are not available here or branded differently. It can also help to identify local people in your area, enabling networking and sharing information on local resources.

I too have bantam pekins, but no frizzles (yet) They are lovely birds and wonderful layers when they are not broody....but maybe that is not saying much! One of my lavender pekins even gives me two eggs a day every once in a while. I thought I must have made a mistake the first time, but it has happened a couple of times since. Unfortunately, she is now broody for the third time this year and I promised myself that my "Chicken Maths" this year would be all about subtraction, as the past few years have been entirely addition and multiplication until things got out of control. Sadly a fox has been helping me with the subtractions in recent weeks but I am still not allowing any more multiplication.... maybe next year.

It is hard to deal with the excess Bantam cockerels. No meat on them and just too cute, but needs to be sorted for the benefit of the rest of the flock. I still have two that need to go the journey from last year. Why does the fox always have to take the females and leave the males that I am supposed to have culled!

Anyway, I wish you luck with your little brood and hope you have more pullets than cockerels.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

[happarose]

Hi Barbara, and thank you.

I'm in Essex, still trying to sort out my profile but my tablet keeps making the page jump around. After five attempts I still haven't managed to get a profile pic up.
Yeah, the broodiness is a pain: two of my five are broody for the second time this year, while the third is raising the chicks and a fourth stopped laying last year. But since they're pets first, the hens have a home for life. We lost two to a fox last year (git!) which taught us to step up our coop security. No problem since other than it scaring the girls when it makes the odd reappearance.
I researched some homes for any cockerels before committing to hatching chicks - but even so, I really wish I could keep the boys. They are all so cute!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@rebrascora

Hi Barbara

Hope you had a good weekend and a good start to the week? Can I get a flag out for you? Managed to get out on Harry on Sunday, had a nice hack out with another livery on her cob. Her cob is super steady away, she spent most of the time trotting trying to keep up with Harry who was just walking. I'm surprised she does not have rugby players legs with how much she has to use them! We had a nice canter in the stubble, but Harry knew this time after our last one so was ready to go as soon as his feet touched it!
But we stopped at the end which is the main thing. It wasn't so good in there for one of the kids on Saturday though, she fell out the side door. Pony ran off down the road and into the village but was luckily ok and was caught. That will be a lesson to her to double check her girth, apparently the saddle slipped and her heals came up so off she went.

Harmony has resumed with my hens at last They seem to have got their new pecking order and power struggles sorted so all is well again. Funny little things are polish! They are not so happy today though with all this rain, it feels a bit chilly too. Well at least to me it does, I'm always cold

How's your fox trouble? Hope they have stayed away
I heard one last night at 10 in the wood over the road from us
It was yapping really loud so of course I was on high alert then. Cars even went by and it was still at it, it didn't seem concerned by them at all. Scott & Charlie can shoot on the field behind the wood so now the rape has been cut they are going to sit out tonight and hope it pops out of the wood into the field so they can get it!

Hope you have a good week Barbara and catch you soon xx

Kim xx

PS ~ Had to laugh at this!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hello, new UK member here. I have five adult pekin bantams, two of which are frizzles, but I've just hatched six chicks that are now four weeks old (thanks to one of my broody frizzles who is being a perfect mama). The chicks are all different colours, and three are frizzles, but all are feathery fluffballs of mischief! Currently trying to sex them as I have next door neighbours and cockerels would be deemed antisocial. I don't want to get too attached to the boys as they will have to go. :'(

Welcome to thread and BYC

 

[Dave C]

Little white pheasant project, yes another one

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Little white pheasant project, yes another one

Nice "little" project Even if it is another one, addictive!!!