Snowy Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 (edited) Managed to get a few pics before they went to bed! If you've missed the saga - I had a phonecall this morning - did I want 6 more chickens? Seems that the lady had bought 2, then added 4 more, then added another 4. And all hell had broken loose. They were plucking each other and fighting and she couldn't cope. Would I take her original 6 as the 4 newbies were all OK together. I went to visit her and they were all in a lovely open air run, about 3m x 3m, but it was bare mud. No branches, no dry area to dustbathe, watched one poor girl try to dust bath in the mud and give up Their knickers were all missing, but not as bad as she'd led me to believe - there was also some feather loss due to moulting. I made some suggestions to improve her run but she was adamant she wanted to get rid of them. In the end I took four, she agreed to keep her original 2 and the 4 newest hens. She had a lovely big lawn and an area with trees - they would have been so happy there but she didn't want to spoil her garden. I did suggest netting off an area under the trees but I don't know if she will do it Anyway, here they are. No names yet! (she hadn't named them ) I'm not being judgemental, honest, I'm just sad for them Sweetie no 1 - Nutmeg - the only one with any knickers! Looks like she's just had a moult. Not sure if she is laying - her comb still looks very small and her legs are still quite yellow. Sweetie no 2 - Pepper - has no knickers, and I have definitely seen her gobbling up stray feathers Merrydale Copper Black - Cinnamon - a timid little girl, again with no knickers. Merrydale Pied - Clove - no knickers and a rather alarming bulge to her abdomen Can't feel an egg there and she is well in herself so I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on it. The other girls stood at the other end of the run and had a really good gossip about the new girls The new girls looked a bit bewildered at all the branches and leaves in the run - but they soon got the hang of it and the first thing they did was dig a dust bath each I kept them seperate at first, then let them all in together (well, they let themselves in together, I didn't plan it that way, they mobbed me ). I stood in the middle trying to be a cockerel and jumping on any fighting that broke out. There were a couple of skirmishes, I just pressed the culprits to the ground. It's worked so far, they are now all tucked up together for the night. Edited December 22, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 They look sweet Snowy, your original girls look so tidy in comparison One of your original girls has a beautiful tail (brown/black one at back) - may I ask what breed she is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 Bless. Sweetie 1 looks just like my Bracken . That is a bit of a bulgy bum isn't it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 6, 2008 Author Share Posted December 6, 2008 They look sweet Snowy, your original girls look so tidy in comparison One of your original girls has a beautiful tail (brown/black one at back) - may I ask what breed she is? That is Bella. She is a gold campine and much admired! She is very cheeky, follows me round the garden and scolds me for everything I'd love another like her. Cinnamon I love that term - a 'bulgy bum' she most definitely has! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 They are so lovely, but how chilly their little bottoms must be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruth1 Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 Hope they're little bottoms aren't to chilly. Poor girls Im glad you could take them in. Your original girls are lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 7, 2008 Author Share Posted December 7, 2008 The new girls now have names! The brown and white sweetie is Nutmeg, the white one is Pepper, the copper black is Cinnamon and the pied is Clove. They seemed to do OK last night - only Clove looked a bit worse for wear this morning. She took refuge in the nest box so every hen that wanted to lay had a peck at her. Poor little thing had a bloody comb I was out all day so rang OH to ask him to keep an eye on them - he said they were fine, he had let them all out into the garden! I had visions of returning home and not being able to catch the new girls. As it was, they all came running together for some corn and mealworms. Even Clove had been out and about and her comb was nice and dry. And I had 3 eggs off them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 They're lovely . Well done for rescuing them - they're lucky girls . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 Well done you for rescueing them. Not an easy decision to make on the spur of the moment. They are lovely birds and once they put their knickers back on I'm sure they will be a perfectly respectful addition to your flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 My Maran Cuivre always has a 'bulgy bum' like your new girl - it's only really noticeable when I've washed her knickers. As she's a similar size and shape to the Copper Black I guess their hybrid parentage is similar and maybe it's just their shape? Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 7, 2008 Author Share Posted December 7, 2008 My Maran Cuivre always has a 'bulgy bum' like your new girl - it's only really noticeable when I've washed her knickers. As she's a similar size and shape to the Copper Black I guess their hybrid parentage is similar and maybe it's just their shape? Jo That's interesting to know Jo. I am a bit concerned about it - but maybe it does just look worse because she is knickerless She seems happy enough, and I think she laid today, so it's not affecting her laying tackle at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 They are lovely girls. I love the picture of the old girls "gossiping" about them. The two hens on the left look very put out. Priceless. Nutmeg in particular is a very pretty girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Aaaw they're lovely girls. Well done for giving them a new home. I'm sure they'll blossom now they'll have things to do and new friends to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Bud Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 They're gorgeous! Sweetie number 1 looks JUST like my latest girl, Harriet! They're gorgeous looking chickens arent they?! I hope they settle in nicely and your older ladies aren't too judgemental! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Aaww! They look lovely and your other girls look gorgeous too Hope your older girls tell them what lucky hens they are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 They're all gorgeous, but I want to smuggle Nutmeg away with me! Well done Snowy I bet they'll have a great time living with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Just a quick update on the 4 new girls. They have settled in really well and, although they still spend most of their time in the branches, they are also mingling with the rest of the flock when food is around! They haven't laid since their first day, I think that is a combination of the stress of the move and using energy to regrow feathers. Talking of which: Clove's Botty Clove had the really swollen bottom, it's now much better and look at all her new little quills coming through! Pepper's Botty Pepper also had a bare bum, but again, (although you can't see it very well) it is now covered in little quills. When I got them, they were plucking each other bare. I've seen no sign of pecking since, and hopefully they will now have forgotten the habit. And this is Clove and Nutmeg posing: They are lovely girls, very friendly, I am so lucky to have them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Lovely pictures, Snowy . Hope the bare botties feather up soon . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Oh bless them, they look sooooooo much better Snowy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
