blackgold Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 I am attempting to breed mealworms for mine, howdisgusting is that...give me livercake anyday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I am attempting to breed mealworms for mine, howdisgusting is that...give me livercake anyday... How are you getting on with the mealworm farm? I'm waiting to see if anything comes of the big box of bokashi which is sitting on my kitchen top....... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackgold Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 have i really got to go and have a look...... I hate them . Like i said the things i do for my hens.... love sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I haven't let any of my girls free range yet - I would be too scared I couldn't catch them again Ada, my Cream Legbar escapologist (should've called her Houdini )has moved in with Gerty & Flo though, despite my best efforts to keep the new girls separate. I think she squoze through a tiny gap under the net yesterday. They seem to be pals now, so I've left them to it They looked very sweet this evening, all snuggled up together in the eglu. Roll on the day I can intergrate all 6 of them together. I will try a bit of free ranging when the weather cheers up a bit, and when Gerty & Flo start to recognise treats - they are pretty clueless so far, although Ada has been trying to educate them today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I let my batties out for about an hour before bed on Saturday as the weather was pretty good. I'd netted off an area around their run so they contained, although they are so nosy, I think they'd quite happily come back - not taking any chances though! First outing & little nervous... They were out most of the day on Sunday, and again yesterday & today. One of them even had a little contretemps with Bluebell, who's obviously decided they are lower in the pecking order than she is, so is going to assert her "authority" over them sooner rather than later! All of them "out for a wander near the boundary"..... They came almost nose to beak with a hairy food thief..... Had a good dig in a dust bath, but not sure what else to do with it..... Had tea near the Chooks..... And we managed to lay all our eggs in the nest box, in a neat little heap, with no damage..... Am I a doting BattieChook-Mummy or what....? Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 My battery hens aren't ready to free-range yet: they have only just stopped shaking with fear and standing on one leg all the time. They were absolutely terrified of people when I first got them. And now they have decided to have a moult, which doesn't help their recovery. At last I have found a solution to their feeding. I put out some sweetcorn, which they viewed with great suspicion, but eventually one of them ate a piece (with great difficulty: they are obviously not used to swallowing anything in a lump). Next time I looked, the whole bowl was empty. So I am putting out a bowl with less sweetcorn and more pellets every day, and they are getting food down at last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 I am wondering when to let them have a freerange together, the only probl;em is seperating them at the end. how do you get everyone back into the right run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Lovely, lovely pics Sha, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Am I a doting BattieChook-Mummy or what....? Sha x Judging by the look on my DD's face I think "mad as a bag of frogs" is closer to the truth Glad you like the pics Barkisland, it's taken this long to get them onto photobucket & adjusted to size & all the other gubbins that needs doing to them - mainly waiting for the computer to do what I want not what it wants!!!!! I'm not happy enough to let them out with the chooks yet, I'm undecided whether to let them all (chooks, Orpies and Batties) out together with lots of supervisory humans, or just do all the healthy ones first & the batties later when they are stronger. DH is of the opinion "get it over & done with all together", I am more reserved & worried about any potential problems as I'm the one who'd have to deal with it. Oh the joys of "mother-hen-hood" Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 they are great photo's. I have done it, I let the big girls out and the ex batts were pacing so I let them out, I have been out in the garden with them for ages and apart from a few minor scuffles they seem ok, I am now watching them through the window, no idea how i will get them all back into the right place though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Lovely photos, it's so heartwarming to see them being real chooks. Nice to see them relaxed and not so scared anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
