52fish

Vet's appointment booked for 4pm

Would welcome suggestions.... One of our Faverolles has a runny bottom and either can't or won't get up. It's currently "slouched" in a corner and refusing to move. Would comment suggestions on what to do. Thx

We have a mixed flock with one Amber Link, hwho quickly became the family favourite. Very friendly, inquisitive, good health, beautiful eggs which as big as the others, talkative, without being noise and a real character - wouldn't be without her. We too live in a residential area and would definitely recommend Amber Links.

Thanks for the help / comments / suggestions. At this stage just seems to be the sneezes. If there's any deterioration, I'll head for anti biotics.

One of our Faverolles is sneezing (poor thing). We've added poultry tonic to the water - any other suggestions? It's our first chicken to get a cold, hence not sure what we should do and appreciate all help. Thanks!

Ours have a low, but wide plant pot, filled with play sand. Should warn that they go through a bag a week or thereabouts, but when you see them luxuriating in it, there's no doubt that its money well spent

+4 =870

And who could forget Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (however you spell it )

If you contact British Hen Welfare Trust who rescue all the abttery hens, they have numerous celenrity patrons, many of whom keep chickens... I bet they'd help. Phillippa Forrester and Jamie Oliver as a starter for two!

Alternatively, change the water and food before you let them out on a morning and after they've gone to bed. Ours come running to whoever appears in the hope of food. A gentle push helps. Alternatively, sprinkle a small amount of corn through the run at the other end to where you need to get in. This will buy you about 30 seconds to nip round and open up

Gorgeous!

Worth trying smaller grit - Omlet's is smaller than some brands I've come across. This minor change helped ours eat more.

How about getting fertile eggs and incubator, so they hatch around the same time and grow up together?

We put a large round shallow plant pot in the run and poured in sand - they love it!

Our chickens have gone on holiday for the weekend - back to the breeder for a couple of days The garden feels empty with them ...but we sent 3 and there are 4 coming back Have to say that Raw Green Cottages are great - they'll look after the introduction, whilst we're away. Definitely recommend them for anyone within travelling distance of Barnsley.

Avoid bark and ensure you get wood chip - should last for 6 months so you only need to replace twice a year. Our love mucking around in the wood chips. We added a sand bath which gets scattered everywhere and so when it rains it gets a little muddy, but not quite a mud bath - the girls love it

Keep working on your mum - they tend to give in eventually. If not this time, then maybe next

Our developer said they wouldn't look to enforce unless we were keeping a cockerell. Their head solicitor also confirmed that only the developer can enforce it, hence neighbours have to complain via the developer to enforce a covenant. If one of several houses, they'll be reluctant to remove. Some small developers will, for a fee. Happy to share which developer in case it helps, but send me a private message and I'll reply. We had exactly the same problem, but the developer was fantastic and even provided a letter we could share with our neighbours saying they supported our decision to keep chickens. Once we had that the stress levels subsided big time!

Dropped off our 3 chickens for their holiday, picked out the Sussex who went straight in with our 3 and they all managed to get on with life without a fuss - no pecking - they just ignored each other and went off exploring. All 4 will return on Sunday

Only people that can remove the covenant is the developer. They're also the only ones that can enforce it. A neighbour would have to go via the original developer if they wanted the covenant enforced.

We explored all sorts of options and in the end wrote to the developer, who is the only person able to enforce the restriction. They were actually very supportive, but suggested we not keep cockerells to avoid issues on noise pullution. The Allotment Act is referred to by many - it's entirely untested in law. So my advice, write to your developer and speak to your neighbours!

Try the new glug that goes with the cube, but can be purchased separately. Holds enough water for 5 birds and they drink from the open top - should be fine.

No doubt about it - go for the cub from day one. Prepare for "Morehens disease" and you'll have space to house then

I'm convinced... have spoken to the breeder and our 3 chickens will return from their weekend vacation with a Sussex. Now just need to find the right time to tell the wife

Wow... didn't know you could get WIR envy