Stuck run

[SarahJo]

2 weeks ago Mrs Snowy and Ebony went to the farm "adopted flock" - for their holiday fortnight. They Camped out - ie roosted in the trees each night as opposed to going into one of many henhouses .

 

When I went to get them, the farmer was just putting on a boiler suit ready for milking. When he came out - I had caught my girls, and they were in the car ready to come home. When he asked how I was so quick - I pulled an empty cheese stripper packet out of my pocket and said " Hens will do anything for a bit of dairylea " . He was gobsmacked - as they were in a flock of about 60 birds, and he always thinks I will have an easier time catching them in the evening - mind you if they were in the trees this would be tricky. The really spooky thing was - the 1st night home both Ebony and Snowy went to bed at 7pm - while it was still light, all the al-fresco sleeping must have really taken it out of them .

 

Anyway - today I decided as Mrs Snowy is no longer laying, and Ebony is sporadic - I would go and get 2 newbies. Went to garden poultry in Cheshire - where they now display a purple eglu and a green cube

 

Have got Jas - a Jasmine hybrid, with a funky hairdo. And a golden rocket hybrid - Nuggett. The 2 originals girls are clucking away at them - and through the occasional "peck" if they come to close to the dividing fence. The fun comes later - when they all go to bed together

[Cinnamon]

Congrats on the new hens SarahJo.

Any chance of some photos?

[SarahJo]

Thanks Cinnamon - will get some pics when the light improves, as they are in the run under the conifers at the moment, and its gone really grey here now .

 

You forget how small they are as pullets - Mrs S and Ebony look HUGE compared to the new girls .

[Mrs Frugal]

Congratulations!! How lovely . Yes please to photos!!

[Cinnamon]

 

You forget how small they are as pullets - Mrs S and Ebony look HUGE compared to the new girls .

 

I know - its frightening how teeny they look,isn't it?

I got new hens recently & one is only 14 weeks, & she is so little,but is a very beaky girl so can hold her own with the bigger babies

 

Its just as well they grow so fast

[SarahJo]

Well they have settled well this-afternoon. Nuggett really looks after Jas, cleans her beak etc, and is less fazed by the hens on the other side of the fence. It did help that Garden Poultry had the Jasmines in with the Red and Golden Rocket pullets, in their own paddock area, so Jas and Nuggett are pretty much "mates" already.

 

I have clipped one wing of each - something I have done with all my new girls, but never had to repeat after the 1st clip. . They are well penned in - but I always err on the side of caution, especially in the 1st few days.

 

Will be cheeky and e-mail "Superpants" Kate the photos, as I am not very good with photobucket etc.

[Karen & co.]

They sound lovely new additions

 

I might take the children and dogs to Delamere and call in to Garden Poultry just for a look at what they have of course

 

Karen x

[SarahJo]

Of course Karen - its the perfect "well I was just passing" opportunity

[SarahJo]

Well - we have had fun tonight ......

 

Nuggett - caught - into eglu with originals. Jas - no way - she can still fly/run/jump and be an olympic hen of sorts. Eventually and luckily, retrieved her from behind the wheelbarrow, under the paving slabs(leaning) and put to bed. Then had to secure all underestimated escape routes, and more security measures to implemented tomorrow.

 

Nuggett - miss "I am no threat" in nest box - clever girl, and I intervened a little to let Jas next to her, by scruffing Ebony and Snowy in one hand - I am still top hen afterall

[Egluntyne]

Congratulations.

 

Am adding cheese strings to my shopping list!