Electricbarbarella Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 A friend of my mums has 3 chooks int heir back garden in the smallest arc I have ever seen. they are literally on top of each other. the house has one roosting bar and 2 nest boxes and is tiny. They let them out when they are around but they have gone away for a week and my mum is looking after them. They have told her not to bother letting them out and not to bother moving the arc to fresh grass. dh and I were a bit upset by this yesterday so went and moved the arc. Threy are only laying one egg a day between the 3 of them, they are lovely hybris and when I talked to their owners hey seem to really like them so why not treat them a little better. It is not as though they are short of space, their garden is about 2 acres. They told me they were getting some better housing for them but they have had them for a bout 3 months and surley should have organised this before they went away. I just don't understand why you would bother getting chickens and then restirciting them on the one thing they want,s pace. Also the owner told me that i shouldn't give mine layers as whatever they give there's is more organic. I was a little reluctant to take advice off them. Sorry just had to have a rant as it is really upsetting me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 How awful. That's probably why they are only laying one egg a day between them 'cos they are not getting their layers! Serves them right (the owners, not the chooks!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 G'rrr. I think people are so dim, sometimes - I bet because layers are "processed" then that makes them "bad". They are processed in the sense that they go through a factory processing plant, (they don't grow out the ground as pellets, after all) but why this translates into being "less- organic" is a mystery to me. Also, either they're organic, or they're not. Don't see how they can be "more" or "less" organic. Re: the housing - perhaps they let them out for a lot of the time? Often housing is bought off internet etc so they mightn'd have seen how small it is. But... when someone looks after your pets, it often is better to make it as easy as possible - when someone looks after my chickens when I'm away, I do tell her not to bother cleaning the run out (for 10 days or so it isn't really necessary), and also that if she misses an occasional day it's OK (so long as theres plenty food and water they'll be fine) ...and I also tell her that she doesn't need to let them out unless she wants to. Again, becuase for a week or so it won't do them any harm, although it isn't ideal. I would hate to think that she thinks this is how we look after them all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Why not refer them to the forum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 eglutine, that is actually a really good idea, they were on about building a run, although nothing has materialsed, maybe I could suggest they look here for ideas. they really are beautiful chooks and i know that they are loved I am sure they are out plenty when they are not away. i just get annoyed that a breeder would sell them this house and tell them it is big enough for 3 chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzle Knit Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I think some of the responsibility for cramming chickens into too-small spaces lies with the housing manufacturers. When I was looking to buy a house/run off the net I also looked to see what was the recommended minimum space per hen, and it seemed to me that most manufacturers were wildly optimistic in how many hens could be got into their housing. I worked on the basis that whatever no. of hens tehy said was OK I halved it. I now have a house/run for my 4 chickens that supposedly is good for 8. They stay in the run when we're not home, and I'm planning to get them something bigger because it does seem only just adequate. I don't understand the arks with sloping walls - maybe they look pretty but they are so impractical in terms of maximising the space available to their occupants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Um...... There are such things as "organic layers pellets". D'uh! I can understand how you must feel about this. I agree. Point them to the forum and work on them for a bigger area for the poor little things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Maybe invite them round to see your set-up, and extol the virtues of spacious housing, happy hens and how you get so many eggs you don't know what to do with them all. Sometimes a gentle push in the right direction will work (other times a good shove ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Poor chookies . Hopefully they do have a better life when their owners are around. Do they mean they don't feed them pellets at all ? If so, what do they feed them on? No wonder they're not laying much. I had a family coming to see my eglu yesterday and they were surprised how much bigger the eglu and run were than they look on the internet . I think I persuaded them to get one (I think they were half way there already!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I can totally sympathise with your situation. I too know someone who has three marans crammed into the tiniest space imaginable. Two are badly pecked too. I'm really hoping they will come and live with me at the end of the summer as the lady who owns them says I can have them at the end of the summer if they don't start laying more eggs. I think you would do well to send her the link to the run inspiration and definately get her to visit your happy chooks. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I can't understand why anybody buys an animal or bird and then doesn't look after it. Why pay out good money if you are then going to neglect or mistreat them? AJuff - fingers crossed that you get the marans at the end of the summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 OOOHHHHHHHHHHHH just had a phone call from the lady in question . . . . she says I can have them at the end of the month. She wants to show them to her friend's little girl when they come to visit in late August then I can collect them!!!!!!!! I can't wait, poor little things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Brilliant news . I bet they start laying loads of eggs under your care - then she'll be sorry . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 I've been preparing for the arrival of the poor little badly treated marans. I've put an eglu and standard run together inside the walk in run. The other eglu and extended run is outside the walk in run. Now I'm thinking, do I put the new girls in the eglu outside where they will be able to see the others through the end panel of the run . . OR . . do I put them in the eglu and run inside the walk in run where the existing girls will be able to walk round them and jump on top of the run? Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted August 16, 2008 Author Share Posted August 16, 2008 I think I would put it outside for a couple of days and then move it in. i am so pleased for you and those chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 I would be tempted to keep them outside for a while as a quarantine measure, then move them to the eglu within the run to get the other girls used to them, before integrating them gradually. I'm so pleased you are able to rescue these poor hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brown Clan Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Horray!!! glad you were able to get the chooks at last , Can't wait for piccies, Poor things at least you know they will thrive under your care and live a happy life . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
