Keeping chickens for the first time.

old codger · Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:44 pm

I have just finished building a chicken house and a large chiicken run,to keep about 20 chickens. Has any one got any good tips as this is the first time i have kept chickens. :?:

richard p · Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:05 pm

hope you like eggs, weve had some ex battery hens about 3 months now, the 7 birds are averaging 5 eggs a day. they love getting in the polytunnel and digging big holes, dust bathing in the loose dryish soil.

oldherbaceous · Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:56 am

I've heard it is very good luck for the flock, to give the second half dozen eggs you collect to a good friend.

I have an empty egg box if this helps. :lol:

alan refail · Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:24 am

oldherbaceous wrote:I've heard it is very good luck for the flock, to give the second half dozen eggs you collect to a good friend.

That's quite true, OH. It's in return for the good friend offering to look after the flock whenever the owner goes away

oldherbaceous · Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:48 am

Dear Alan, me being me, i have aready offered these services.

alan refail · Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:50 am

oldherbaceous wrote:Dear Alan, me being me, i have aready offered these services.

I knew you would have :wink:

For that you deserve a regular supply of eggs, not just half a dozen

old codger · Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:09 am

Morning Alan, he has helped me quite a bit with the building of the house and i will no doubt reward him. He can clean them out and have the droppings for his garden, :wink:

Diane · Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:30 pm

I'd suggest - have a good look at each hen before you buy. Check for clear eyes and clean nostrils and with smooth legs showing no signs of scaley leg. Listen to them breathing - no rattles or coughs. Watch them walking and feeding - make sure they are moving freely.

Worm them all when you get them and give a good coating of mite powder.

Check to see what feed they were on before you bought them and continue feeding the same for at least a week - to allow them to recover from the stress of moving. Keep the feed regime simple to start with, no treats.

If you buy them all at the same time - that's good - but if you add to the flock, then add in groups. Single newbies added to the flock will be bullied, at least to start with.

That's it for starters.

old codger · Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:09 pm

Good evening Diane.

Thank you very much for your expert advice.

old codger · Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:56 pm

Has any one heard of a lesbian chicken as i have a white chicken that keeps on jumping one of my brown ones, she realy fancies her, what do i do about it. :?:

alan refail · Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:09 pm

old codger wrote:Has any one heard of a lesbian chicken as i have a white chicken that keeps on jumping one of my brown ones, she realy fancies her, what do i do about it.

Wait for him to crow :shock:

oldherbaceous · Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:15 pm

Old Codgers hens are into there second year and it's only just started doing it.
And it doesn't look like a Cockerel at all.

Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:18 pm

Didn't someone have a chicken that changed sex last year?
Seriously, wasn't it on the BBC?

alan refail · Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:21 pm

OC

Cop this then :shock:

oldherbaceous · Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:36 pm

Now thats strange, but what is really worrying me is, if the local girls will be eating the eggs, i hope they won't start getting hairy backs, or even worse. :shock:

Back to the hens, i wonder if this can happen when there is no Cockerel running with them.

Keeping chickens for the first time.

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