Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Valkyrie]

Just been looking at the September edition of Practical Poultry and there is a small column that mentions the outcome of the family who took on chickens for the programme. Apparently they got fed up and then advertised on the P P forum to rehome the birds. I wondered why Countryfile hadn't done any more follow ups. I had my doubts when the children were taking care of the birds - didn't think that would last. Plus neither of the parents didn't seem to have done any "homework" beforehand. I read books from the library on and off for years, and then did much more research when it looked likely that the dream would be coming true. This forum was a mine of information beforehand - and still is - for a newbie.

P P says that the BBC didn't provide a Nanny for the birds - it is so sad, and I know that this family aren't the only ones.

 

Also (letter in the P P) someone in Somerset had her birds stolen recently - 18 in total, and of the birds left, the thief had dispatched them rather unpleasantly, and pinched feed and feeders aswell. One thing to lose birds to the fox, doing what nature intended it to do - quite another when it is a human low life that has slaughtered the birds for the hell of it.

[abwsco]

Sorry, but they didn't say they were fed up with them. They'd posted that they felt they didn't have the time to give the chickens the attention they needed and felt they would be better with a new home. They'd also done research on the P.P. forums before getting them.

[Valkyrie]

Obviously not enough.

[mrsallen08]

Hi Koojie

Yes I read that article in although I had never seen the original program on the beeb. TBH its not exactly hard to look after chickens! Not showing birds or managing a whole flock, I am talking about a couple of birds in your garden. Really now. Yes I do take care of my birds they are always checked for mites etc, clipped, watered, fed, corn-ed and are in their big run all day long and go back to bed at dusk. Compare this effort to my border collie pup and he is so much more trouble!

 

Like you Koojie I do wonder how much 'actual' research was done beforehand although it does state in that the bbc "wheeled in experts to assist the family with choosing the birds, and house and getting set up." Surely when getting any new 'pet' you think about why you want one and if it can be realistically added to your routine and life.

 

I am glad the chickens are now at a better home and will hopefully have along and happy life!

[Valkyrie]

I am glad the chickens are now at a better home and will hopefully have along and happy life!

 

Hear, hear Mrs Allen and family. But to be a little more fair to them than I was originally after I climbed off my soap box, I do think that the TV people more than likely pushed the family into it before they were ready just for the sake of being up to date with the current "trend". Perhaps if they had 3 to start with????

 

Our girls are basically a practice run for a smallholding (3 years and counting down). The veg seems to be doing OK now (weather permitting - rubbish some years due to hosepipe bans or a washout), so now our turn for "pets" with a bonus, I hope. Yes they can be pesky demons and have me running around putting upturned pots on the plants I want to keep, but I knew that would happen. But I now have more of a routine which is rather nice. Yes they poo, and boy do they poo a lot! I think of it as wonderful compost. Even DD beats me to the poo picking. I never thought she would do that voluntarily. In fact she is out there most of the time with them - except for this week and she has gone on holiday with OH. I am keeping an eye on number one son (no parties unless I'm here!), my birdies (I'd rather be here with them than on a beach waiting for DD and OH to finish playing at surfing), looking after neighbours guinea pigs, and we seem to have acquired a hamster (son's friend away, so can we look after her pleeeeeease?) Her is a Him but don't think the owners know yet. I put the chickens on a par with our dear departed rabbit, which I guess was also a form of livestock and I remember one winter we had flu proper, and I changed her bedding, watered and fed her with a really high temperature - her needs came first.

 

So many people have cats nowadays - then all they do is put a flap in the door and leave some food and water and they "look after themselves". Next door's are like that - the owners are barely at home. Why have animals if that's the case? Then the other side leave their dog indoors and it barks all the time they are at work.

 

Ahhh, border collies - lovely. No dogs for me - allergic!

[Yolky]

How many chickens did they have on country file?

[Valkyrie]

Apparently 3 hybrids and two bantams - not really that many.

[Sandychick]

So many people have cats nowadays - then all they do is put a flap in the door and leave some food and water and they "look after themselves". (

 

I think it would be best not to be quite so judgmental. I do this with my cat. They need food, water and somewhere warm and snuggly to sleep. I unfortunately (like most people) have to go to work and Mia is on her own all day, and often I work evenings and weekends too. But she is so much happier now than her tragic life before I got her from the rescue centre. She is so happy and healthy and I love her to bits.

 

[Valkyrie]

Yes I can be judgmental in this case, having cats in the past, it is not necessary to have a cat flap. It is also preferable to keep domestic cats indoors at night, and they should be let out later in the morning when the danger to wild birds is not so great. Although this isn't always that easy - mum often went round the garden at night trying to nab the little monster (s). Foxes can and do attack cats too.

Also lets not forget that the reason for animals finding their way into rescue centres is because many are a result of unspayed cats (and other animals) given too much freedom in the first place by uncaring owners.

 

Our neighbours cats wander the neighbourhood - in particular my garden, and there is "Ooops, word censored!"ody at home for a long time. There is mainly one person around, leaves for work at 6 am and is home 8.30 or later in the evening. One daughter has left home, the father works away, another daughter at Uni, and seldom at home otherwise. I think it is unfair to the animals - also from a rescue centre. These animals are virtually feral.

[alison]

I have three Burmese cats, there is no way that I can keep them in at night if I tried. They have ripped the cat flap out of the door on more than one occasion when we locked it to keep them in, especially on bonfire nights.

 

They ripped the door seal out of the patio doors trying to get out! They love to be out all night, but laze around all day in the sunniest warmest spots they can find. I have just found one in the sand tray that I had prepared for a dust bath for my girls!

 

My lilac Burmese is totally obsessed with me and drapes himself round my neck like a scarf at any opportunity, they are most indulged!

[Valkyrie]

Seems I have stirred up a hornets nest here!

 

Burmese are lovely cats. But while they are out at night don't you worry that something might happen to them too?

[alison]

I think they have so much fun in the fields at the back of our house. They are always bringing home rabbits or pheasants!

 

Ay the moment they are lolled out on the sofa, they are always in for roll call in the morning! One wanders a bit, but always turns up after two days - they are well

known for visiting neighbours on the lane.

 

we did have one stolen, in her first year, but the others are all ow 11 and 12 years old, not bad for Burmese who like to get into trouble. They haven't ( touch wood) been to vets apart for vaccinations and flea jabs.

 

I do know people who put theirs out at night, I couldn't do that, mine have a choice!

[Sandychick]

Yes I can be judgmental in this case, having cats in the past,

 

I totally disagree with you. This forum is not a place for judging people.

 

it is not necessary to have a cat flap.

 

This was a requirement by the rescue centre when adopting a cat. No cat flap, no cat.

 

I started with a very timid, scared, underfed little cat who had been very badly treated. She is now completely different and soooooo happy. I am proud of this.

[Valkyrie]

Well done you - sadly it was the result of a bad previous owner who shouldn't have had a pet. You obviously have spent a lot of time caring for her and should be proud of yourself. One of my cats was only 4 weeks old and she was too young to be weaned - chucked out by an owner who didn't care about their animals. She lived on to be 18+. But being a bird catcher, we kept her indoors at night whenever possible - with a litter tray if necessary, and let out when the birds were less vulnerable, although many a time I had to let her in through my bedroom window because she escaped the evening curfew. My mum always went to bed very late/early morning and she was often out in the summer at 2am trying to entice Paddy in, but she always stayed in our garden. In the winter she was quite happy to stay in anyway. Two more of our cats also never ventured further than our garden - guess we were lucky and didn't upset the neighbours, but then their parents owners lived in a flat and the cats never went outside at all, which is very sad.

I am sure Sandychick has spent more time with her cat than these people - even with her working, but there are many people out there who aren't like you. The cats next door would have had more contact with humans had they stayed at the rescue centre, and it is these people who I direct my frustrations at. Had they stayed at the centre perhaps they would have ended up with more caring "adopted" owners.

I still say it isn't necessary for a cat flap - but then there has always been someone at home for them - obviously not 24/7, but not for hours away at any time. I am surprised at the rescue centre insisting on one. You live and learn, I gather cat flaps are a more modern invention, they were unheard of in my youth - bearing in mind I am an old fogey and Victor Meldrew mode seems to have set in for a while. Bear with me a little longer and the menopausal rattiness will be over (keeled over probably - do I hear a cheer? OK don't all shout at once!)!

[dancing cloud]

Judgemental soapbox set aside, and not entirely on the post topic, but I have 2 cats, both rescue and no cat flap. They go out when I do in the morning, with food, water and beds in the greenhouse for during the day, and come in when I return at night to be fed, cuddled and played with. Fat Puddy then stays in with me, while Loki goes for a wander until bedtime. They are both in all night - usually on my bed . No idea where spoiled-princess Pud came from, Loki (who is a gorgeous, gentle, happy soul) had five words on his resue centre form "unable to care for him" .

 

Compare this to my "half-board" cat, who does bed, breakfast and evening meal with me (bed in the greenhouse - no more room on mine ). He has a collar that gets replaced when it goes missing, but it has no contact details, and a sister-cat with the same collar who is "half-board" with the people over the road. Where the owners of these cats think they are all day and night, I have no idea, and none of us can establish who they are, or I'd be going and having words (shy, quiet, retiring person that I am ).

 

Seems to me that any cat (hen/dog/pet) that is loved and cared for is a very lucky cat indeed, cat-flap or not

[Joojoo]

Seems to me that any cat (hen/dog/pet) that is loved and cared for is a very lucky cat indeed, cat-flap or not

 

Hear Hear