HasSumAmi Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Well I've got the bug obviously, and two just wasn't enough. I blame it on my son of course. He really wanted a chicken of his own (the two we have belonging to his sisters) and I couldn't just get one, now could I? So we drove to Crofters Farm in High Wycombe and got a White Star (Snowdrop) and an Amber Star (Margot).... We had got an rabbit hutch for their temporary accomodation on Freecycle and the plan was to divide the run with sticks for the daytime. We ended up bringing in the hutch into the house last night, because my daughters were in tears after our recent fox scare. In the morning I created Fort Knox (or so I thought) with bamboo canes. I put them vertically and horizontally, I put in cardboard and extra boundaries between the middle. It looked like one strong structure. The white star jumped right through the top of it as there was a small gap at the top! She probably regretted doing that because as soon as she landed Omlet and Ginger hit her with the pecks. After getting them divided again - Omlet pushed through a tiny gap, closely followed by Ginger. They then pecked the new girls like crazy. Not sure how - but I got the two new girls separated and then added even more canes. There was no going through!... I had to take the children out, so left them with my sister-in-law. Well it seems nothing is as determined as a chicken. Omlet and Ginger broke through the barricade again and Margot and Snowdrop were cornered inside the Eglu. To cut a long story short - my sister-in-law - totally tearing her hair out - basically let them all free range together. This was probably the best thing as it gave Margot and Snowdrop space to run off if necessary, and there is no catching Snowdrop. She is ONE FAST CHICKEN! When bedtime came I didn't dare risk them all in the Eglu just in case I didn't get up early enough, so we put Omlet and Ginger into the Eglu and the other two went into the rabbit hutch which is now suitably fortified from Mr Fox, as it is wedged inside the herb bed, which is then covered in netting!! So, let's hope tomorrow goes a bit better. Not sure if I should re-try the sticks inside the run or just let them free range with all day supervision, like today! As nothing as so far gone to plan, I'm sure I'll find out tomorrow. One cool thing - both girls were already in lay, so we got FOUR eggs today, and Snowdrop's are WHITE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I'm sure it will all sort itself out in time. Free ranging together is probably the best idea......and encouraging them under supervision to share treats. Good news about the eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Hope it all goes well tomorrow and congratulations on getting your new girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Everything crossed for you and your hens --you are doing your best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 It's amazing how small a gap they can get through when they want to. Congrats on the new additions - hope they settle in soon. (Pics please! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasSumAmi Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 Here are the links to some photos in our gallery Ginger http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=26529 Omlet http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=26532 And the new girls... Margot http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=26535 Snowdrop http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=26538 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 What lovely pics, even though it looks like Snowdrop has laid a Brussels sprout! Hope it all settles down soon. I've got the joy of introducing the Silkies to the bigger girls to look forward to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Hi HasSumAmi, Hope the chook problems have been more settled today. Ours have amazed me by popping effortlessly through what I thought was a chicken secure fence....... and into next doors garden where she has destroyed the edge of our neighbours lawn!!! (I shall have to apologise and give her some eggs!). I was interested to see that you've got an amber star. I have a hen (Butercup) who I think is an amber star. Although she has a lot more brown on her than others I have seen. I havent managed to find much info on amber stars on the internet. Have you? I think mine must be a cross with something because she is so much darker than the others Ive seen. Shes also smaller than my other two hens, who started out as the same size only 5 weeks ago. Is your amber star on the smallish size? Its hard to tell from the pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Lovely girls! Henthusiastic - I've got an amber, but she's nearly all white and she's er...rather substantially built now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Do you mean shes a little fattie! I was trying to add a picci of my 'possibly an amber star cross', but I cant work out how to do it! Think this link might take you there??? http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg312/Henthusiastic/?action=view¤t=girlsinsnow010.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasSumAmi Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 She's a cutey Henthusiastic. I think she's an Amber Star. Amber Star's are all white but sometimes have a throw back to brown. Probably one of the colours of their original parentage. The day I went to Crofters - they were all white except for Margot. I got her because she was a little bit different. However I do wonder if she was singled out by the flock because of her brown feathers. I say this because she just stands there and lets Snowdrop peck her. Snowdrop was pulling out her feathers (and eating them ) and she didn't even move. It was as if she was totally used to having her feathers pecked out. And I have never seen a chicken sleep so much! She sleeps all the time. Even when she's standing up being pecked, she has her eyes closed?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pookylover Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 What lovely pictures of your new girls. They are pretty! Maybe a bit of free ranging to introduce them is a good idea. At least they can all get away if they argue a little. Ginger and Omlet sound very determined chickens to me. What characters! Clare x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasSumAmi Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 Omlet and Ginger are definitely characters Pookylover!! They really are quite tame. The other two came to us when they were older and are not interested in us at all yet. I do hope that they get used to us and begin to like us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
