4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[laneylaney]

Hello, I am new to the forum and very new to chickens! I was given a lovely speckled sussex cockerel yesterday, quite unexpected, and will not be able to get him any hens for a couple of weeks. Apart from him being moved from a very busy yard (albeit being no. 2 cockerel without any girlies huimself), he now lives in a very rural and chickenless new environment. We have a great coop and plan to build a large enclosed shed as we have pine martins in the area.

Anyway my question to you experts is - will be be okay on his own for a bit or is there something I can do to lessen his loneliness? We also have a small and spoilt toy poodle - any tips for getting them on speaking terms??

 

thanks a lot

[Redwing]

He will be lonley yes however as you plan to keep more chickens soon at least you arent leaving him like that so good decision! In the meantime lots of contact and something to peck at like a bunch of greens or a cabbage will help keep him occupied

 

It sounds like he has landed on his feet

 

Dogs and chickens can be tricky, inroduce slowly with the dog on the lead the first few times sometimes it doesnt work out, I would not let my dog and chickens loose together for example but you will find that most dogs will behave reasonably while the chickens are shut in

 

Welcome to the forum by the way

[laneylaney]

thank you so much for your reply! I am so out of my depth with this and I am also aware that I could end being stupid

Another question, he is a beautiful bird but has a bad limp. The previous owner couldn't say when it started so should I take him to a vets anyway???? He seems okay with it but when walking he definitely lifts and extends the bad leg before taking a step??

 

ps I have the radio on this afternoon and he has had some food and water so do you think the radio is giving him some company? Sorry if that is such a stupid question!!

[Redwing]

There is a couple of things I can think it would be, one is Bumblefoot which I dont know much about but I think its where they get a cut or injury to their foot and the foot goes puffy and you get a bump of scar tissue which causes them problems, sometimes long term I am not sure if forever...

 

Bumblefoot can be caused by chickens perching too high up too young for their bones and joints

 

The other is that he could have a hard lump of mud under there, sometimes these stay on for months if they are on muddy ground, you would need to soak that off if he has that, do not pull at it !

 

It could be a deformity or some long term damage to his leg but if it doesnt seem to be worrying him I wouldnt let it worry you once you have ruled out anything treatable

 

Whatever way it may be worth lowering the perches in your coop if they are high up to ease any stress on the limb

 

I am not sure about the radio as my pens are too far from the house for leccy but I guess some background noise wont do any harm

[laneylaney]

thank you again. I have looked at the base of his foot and it is very clean. I am now thinking it is something he might have been born with or has incurred at a much younger age. The good news is a local contact says he can get me a couple of brown hens in the next few days so hopefully Charlie will be a happier chap soon, even if they aren't posh birds! In the meantime I have taken your advice and give him the outer leaves from a cauliflower. I have also switched the radio to RTE1 - an irish channel channel with loads of chat!

thank you

[Redwing]

We played our dog a radio station that was just birds singing in an attempt to relax him, nice to know we are all crazy when it comes to the entertainment of our pets

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum . Glad to hear you've managed to find some lady friends for Charlie .

 

(Are you in NI by any chance? There's another new member who's looking for a breeder .)

[laneylaney]

Hi sorry, not used to this site and really I am a technophobe anyway !!

 

Yes, I am in Northern Ireland and know lots of people who have chickens. The breeder I have been pointed to is a chap in Ballinamallard - his name is Noel and I have been told he is a special breeds man. When I spoke to him at the weekend he had 70 new chicks - not sure what breeds? phone numbers 0759 5936264 / 028 66388515

 

There is also the Sunday market at Dungannon whihc although I have never been to, apparently is very popular?

 

trying to find out a way to add my profile but not succeeding, think I will go and do some ironing instead - now that is something I do know how to do unfortunately. Cheerio from the only part of the UK where it has been raining fro a month and it is STIll raining - that's why Ireland is always green!!

[Egluntyne]

Info **here** about adding icons to your signature....is that what you meant?