Solitary chicken - need advice

[Snowy]

Sorry mods - just putting it in here initially, can it stay for a day? Please read this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=35850

 

If anyone can help I'd be grateful. I had to take 4 hens off her in the end - they have very pecked bottoms My girls are out freeranging at the moment, the 4 new girls are in the run, but it is going to be very tight tonight - 14 in a cube!! I'll update you all with the sorry saga later - I'm in the middle of decorating. What a day!!

[Janty]

Good luck with the search. Have you had any girls from Karen at Merrydale? If you have, you could try ringing her to see if she has a spare house for a week or so.

 

Just a thought.

 

Best wishes and I hope everything turns out well,

 

Jan

[Snowy]

Thanks Jan. I have had girls from Merrydale, and the ones I've rescued are also from there. Having said that, I think we are going to be OK. They are now all in together, all is calm apart from a few initial skirmishes. Four mature hens going in with ten mature hens, in an area with loads of escape routes and hiding places. I think they are now having trouble telling who is new and who is not at the moment - they are just glaring at each other

 

Three of the new girls have got very bare bottoms They have been given a good going over, washed with a tea tree solution and purple sprayed. I just need to find out which one is the feather eater now. The only one who has lovely fluffy knickers seems to be the one the others are eating feathers off, so I think they are all to blame.

 

They were in a run the same size as mine, but on bare mud, no dust bath, branches, nothing. I think they were just bored. The first thing they did when they got here was have a good roll around in the dust and dry leaves

 

I think we may be OK tonight, albeit a bit squashed. Some are sleeping in the nesting box and some still out on the branches, so they may just fit. If anyone is still looking for somewhere after lights out I'll pop them in the cat carrier I borrowed.

[Janty]

Mine regularly choose to squash 14,15 or 16 hens into a cube so don't worry. Some of mine are bantams but some are huge cochins and brahmas. I'm sure they will be ok.

[Mrs Frugal]

Snowy, if you can get to Stamford, you can borrow my old Eglu. I was supposed to be getting some new hens but haven't been able to find the ones I want so it's still empty in the garage. We're around today and tomorrow. It's clean and ready to go.

[Emma Tarpey]

hope you get it all sorted out quickly- shame i can't help

[BERTIE MCSQUIRTY]

failing that snowey, i have a brick lockable shed to help out if you need.

[Egluntyne]

Just seen this. If you can get up to Sheffield I have a spare.

 

14 of my girls pile into the cube so they should be OK spacewise.

[bronze]

Another spare here in norfolk

[Snowy]

Thanks for all the offers!

I've just been out to check on them - 4 in the nest box (very cosy!), 1 on the divider, 7 on the roosting bars and 2 outside on the braches (it's the 2 who always sleep there anyway) so I think we are OK. Might be interesting when they are all in lay Might need to rig up an extra nest box or 2 in spring

 

Phew - what a day!

[Lesley]

I've got a spare as well Snowy - just in case you decide you need one after all.

 

I don't think it's one of your originals.......it's blue?

[Guest]

the divider btwn the roosting section and the nest box seems quite popular

 

We have to section the nest box off at night so Bea and the banties can sleep in there in peace but if we're not quick enough in getting the divide up, we'll find 4 big girls in the nest box and 1 on the divider. I hate having to turf them out

 

I think they should make the cube as just one big nest box!

[Snowy]

I've got a spare as well Snowy - just in case you decide you need one after all.

 

I don't think it's one of your originals.......it's blue?

 

Thanks Lesley, no I haven't had a blue one, yet!

 

I've put some pics in the chicken section now

 

Hi Poet, yes I have one who always sleeps in the gap. I've also known her to get right on top of the divider!!

[The Dogmother]

I have a spare orange one Snowy.

[Lesley]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Snowy]

The orange would obviously go very well with my orange cube though wouldn't it! (actually I fancy a pink one I think that would be a fab combination!)

 

Thanks for the offers though. I think I need to look at something a little more permanent than a loan now though. They seem to be happy squashed into the cube, but that is a recipe for disaster long term so I do need to rig up some more sleeping quarters. I'd love another eglu but financially that is a no no at present (unless I am very lucky and get another freebie) so as soon as I get a day off I'm going to play with OHs drill and jigsaw!