Chortle Chook

Oh that's truly horrible. Perhaps I'll revise my view

Sometimes I really do wonder how ducks have survived as a species. My little call ducks are such nice little beings. Nicer really than my chickens who can be quite vicious. My ducks' rounded bills mean that their pecks don't hurt even on the palm of my hand, and the worst my little drakes seem to do is to grab the bottom of my jeans and make funny quacky noises.

Welcome Stepnout. In Canada you just might find the Omlet harsh weather cube cover helpful

I am glad Robin is better again. Prolapses are grim especially when it gets hot and flies come out. Over the years I've kept chickens I have come to the conclusion that they are one of the hardest to keep pets I've had. Fancy rats and hammies and even dogs you just keep clean and well fed on the correct food and take them out and have fun with them. Chickens seem to get all sorts of nasties however clean they are kept and regardless of whether or not I fork out on the most expensive Garvo food.

Reminds me of your avatar, Valkyrie

Despite the warm weather this has really put the shivers up me

I certainly think that as Shakespear's Hamlet said "There are more things in Heaven and on Earth, Horatio Than are dreamt of in your philosophy" Whether they are spirits or just strong impressions imprinted in places I can't decide. What seems clear is that unhappiness seems to imprint itself more than joy which is a tad depressing in itself.

Aren't they pretty girls! I love the way they are all so different. Do you buy that tonic or do you make it up yourself?

I love Facebook but have never seen the need for Twitter. I find myself wondering how on earth people have the time for all that 'following' . . . but then I realise I can spend loads of time on Facebook and it has taken over almost completely from my Omlet fixation

What lovely breeds you have chosen! Looking forward to the pictures even if it will make me green. Love their names.

Well that's me sorted . . . I've agreed to have another Poland so perhaps not giving up any time soon after all

I do hope your operation is not as big as you think, Margaret, and that all goes really smoothly. We'll be thinking of you. I keep thinking that the wise thing would be to not get new chickens as the old ones toddle off this earth and am now down to 6, but whether I really can bite that bullet I don't know. I have been so put off by the fact that it is easier round here to get treatment for a pet hammy than a chicken. I long for a sort of 'Yorkshire Vet' situation where if I spot one not looking well I can pop round to the vet and get her some decent treatment, but I guess I am in a rural area where chickens are still very much considered as a disposable commodity I have lost another one today (she was old at 7 but . . . ) and thinking about it, I can't imagine my garden without chickens. I think it would seem very barren after all the bustling that is always going on in it. And who would eat the left over sweet corn?

Just wondering what would make people on this forum give up keeping chickens. There have been a few posts recently about early morning noise. Mine make little noise in the early mornings (and I even have a cockerel all be it a very old one aged 9) so that wouldn't be the issue for me even though I would sometimes like not to have to get up quickly on a weekend in the summer to make sure my girls get maximum fun before it gets hot. For me it is the poor veterinary advice. I've found it really difficult to get decent care over the 6 years I've been keeping chickens. On the one hand I've had a vet suggest I keep a rather sleepy chicken on a drip for a week at a referral centre when she (the chicken, not the vet) had lice in her crest that a good powdering got rid of and on the other I've had a vet refuse to stock baytril antibiotic because "it is expensive and has a short shelf life". I've also had one tell me that a chicken I had definitely had Mareks when it turned out to be a cancerous growth.

I agree - though the letter may sound somewhat condescending, I think the environmental health officer has shown sense and done his best to show 'due diligence' while not exactly up-holding the complaint. I think this year, because of the warm winter, the rat problem has been quite bad. On Crocus you can get a Squirrel-proof seed feeder and I can vouch for it being anti rat too. It has a sort of metal thing that comes down over the food if anything tries to climb down from above. It is on offer too at the mo. One customer has reviewed it and says it does not work but that could be because they have not hung it up correctly. There is no point hanging it where the squirrel (or rat) can lean over to it.

Did you know, today is "International Respect for Chickens" day. My chickens have all had sweet corn to celebrate. Have yours celebrated at all?