Hi Guys, just to add my two penn'th, having worked for a couple of the major seed suppliers, I know that the guys in the marketing departments who produce the catalogues are not gardeners and rely on info from books, or 'borrowed' from other catalogues. Often descriptions are copied from one season ...

Westland Horticulture own Marshalls and Unwins, and buy their seeds from Kings............. Fothergills now own Eastfields, who went into voluntary admin leaving many bitter staff with no pay Perhaps the consumers should now decide............ Me, I still buy my seeds from Kings and seeds of Italy Loz

How about trying one of the rare breeds - they are my bird of choice There are a number out there literally dying for some conservation, and after all it was their laying abilites that gave rise to the modern hybrids. Once the blood line is gone - it's gone Hybrids on the other hand do provide the n...

Hi Chantal How did your pekin fare? I have had three prolapse in the last year, and all but one were OK and now laying. John is quite right in that often it is an ongoing problem, especially if the prolapse was a bad one. I have found that it does tend to be inherited too, with some lines being more...

Hi Sue

I'm doing nothing different. If AI comes to Britain then I will deal with it then. Life's too short to worry about what ifs, and I intend to enjoy my birds for what they are, a productive hobby

Loz

Hi Fen

I always move mine in the dark when they are docile, causes far less problems.

Loz

Hi Jo Mature chickens will usually moult once a year, usually as a result of physical exhaustion (end of laying cycle, and, as Sue says, reduced nutrition brought on by reduced daylight). You should find that egg production stops as moulting commences as the bird's system finds it easier to produce ...

Hi Deb

I run a cattery, and have to use a industrial waste disposal service (boo!)

However the waste from my house cats, dog and horses all go on the compost heap - makes for great pumpkins

Loz

Some birds will not perch despite your best efforts! It does depend on how they were raised, and believe me, if they want to perch they will, regardless of the type of perch. You can try picking them up at night and placing them on, they may get the hang of it. The only problem that non perching bir...

Diane - I've got a bundle of silkies broody at the moment - no chance of them laying anything until the new year!


Loz