beach chick Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 My chickens now officially are working for their keep, as they dont seem inclined to lay (Char just off the broody, Paris is laying out and I cant find where) I have put them to work. They have cleared ALL the sticky weed/cleavers from the back of the Chicken Zone (every year before it has been a 3 foot high mass of the d*mn things). So I am now throwing their corn into an area that needs strimming and using chicken power since the strimmer died. it's working a treat, they are scratching about for the corn, and the grass is already starting to look very sad!! soon I'll be able to get in and out of the shed without a machete... What else can I train them to do, I wonder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 They're so useful aren't they?! Whenever someone says to us that our garden needs some attention we just say that we've got three gardeners and they'd be very offended! Apart from the poo, I think the chooks have done a great job.... a lot cheaper too- £9 to feed a chook for a year (apparently) but quite a bit more to pay a gardener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 They do a fantastic job don't they. I am going to set mine to work on a patch of bindweed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 6, 2008 Author Share Posted June 6, 2008 it would be good if you could teach them to hoover, or clean out the car, or do the ironing though, wouldnt it?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 I've been flogging a dead horse trying to teach Him Indoors those basic skills for the past 28 years, bless 'im. Teaching the hens s to do it should be a piece of lemon drizzle cake in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 6, 2008 Author Share Posted June 6, 2008 oh bless 'im!! am about to have a lightbulb tantrum at mine - Men's Work, they are!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 You are not alone. Check out the comedy series 'Man Stroke Woman' on YouTube - type in a search for the sketch entitled 'Man Flu'. It's only about three minutes long, but contains ancient wisdom and truth I'd put the direct link here, but I'm not sure if this is allowed? Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Yes, they are great at Extreme Gardening! Puts my feeble efforts to shame! Anyone with a camcorder would be able to get £250 for some of their antics. In fact, a television production company could do a weekly show called That's Hentertainment! (The amazing escapologist Masie would be a regular!) Chooks could also be emloyed to get rid of those little balls that collect on cardies. Or add something exotic to fashion catwalks (especially if real cats are included). And to interview politicians with their Paxman-like expressions. Just don't expect them to teach us how to keep within our budgets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Phoebe has been helping to decorate the kitchen over the last few weeks, she has paint all over her to prove it She helped me stack logs in the garage In fact she helps us do anything in the garden - so she thinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Now I think your being silly painting indeed! - my chicks only do the following jobs: 1. Weeding the lawn (patches of persistent weeds, now gone - grass only left). 2. Weeding patio - they do a very good job on moss and weeds between slabs. 3. Spreading compost on flower beds - we just take bucket fulls from the compost bin and leave chickens to spread it on the beds for us - this is their favourite job I think. 4. Eating slugs & snails - their preference is for snails, they are not doing a 100% job on slugs, but probably need a bit more training in that one. They do get regular breaks though - currently all dust bathing in the chicken flower bed. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Mine would be best employed as wholescale garden clearance specialists.They dont care if its wanted or not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 OK, so I will admit - I haven't 'trained them in this regard either - in their reach = far game, but Omlet netting is very useful at keeping chickens where you want them to be. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
