All 3 chickens stopped laying today

[riven]

what happenend to mallion?

[LJ's Chooks]

She's looking a bit stronger again this morning... I'll update later and try and get some photo's up.

 

I'll update on the chicken of fate thread or a new one cos I don't want to hijack this one cos I love this thread it always makes me smile

[Chicken Shirl]

I have learned that we worry too much about our chooks, and that they are really tough little creatures. Mine have survived the high winds and storms we have had here over the last few weeks, and have stayed in the trees except for one night when I was so scared by the forcast of 200 mile an hour winds that I picked them all out off their branches. I think I did the right thing........ They were not however very pleased the next morning, and because they are not used to being enclosed the hens were busy re-establishing the pecking order when I went to let them out. I have learned that a cockerel is the best gift you can give your hens, as he takes care of them so well, and sorts out their little differences, brings them to eat when they have layed, shows them where to lay and makes a big fuss of them afterwards. They follow him about like lambs. ...........I have learned that hens like to eat grass between every few beakfulls of feed, infact we have decided that the percentage of grass to food is very high indeed, it has to be over 60% from our observation. Anyone else noticed this? I have learned that there is nothing in this world as great as watching chickens.

[poachedegg]

I learnt over a year into chicken keeping and only because I frequent this website and somebody mentioned that they do it .......that you can put crocs (well my cheap imitation ones!) in the washing machine and they come out lovely and clean!

[Chicken Shirl]

I learnt over a year into chicken keeping and only because I frequent this website and somebody mentioned that they do it .......that you can put crocs (well my cheap imitation ones!) in the washing machine and they come out lovely and clean!

 

[whoopsie]

I learned today that my hens are rather good (if indiscriminate) weeders!

 

Also that Margot seems to prefer the meatier side of free ranging, while Barbara prefers the vegetables. Wonder if i'll even need to get the lawnmower out this year?

[Valkyrie]

And they like medium to small worms - the big ones are too ugh - they'll play with it and wait for something smaller. I wonder if a bigger worm is tougher. Yet they'll scoff mice and frogs easily.

[Chucky1]

And they like medium to small worms - the big ones are too ugh - they'll play with it and wait for something smaller. I wonder if a bigger worm is tougher. Yet they'll scoff mice and frogs easily.

 

Don't they just the little darlings

 

I have tried to work out though when they all gather round a frog - I often here a squeal. Neither I or DW can agree whether it is one of the chucks squealing from excitement or the poor frog.

[Valkyrie]

It's the frog. First found that out years back when my old cat was playing with what mum thought was a mouse because of the squeaking. Then we had loads of stones delivered to make walling and as I uncovered a huge frog it squealed at me. I guess it's to do with pressurising air somehow and the noise makes the would be predators jump - and gives the frog a chance to escape. Weird or what?!

[sadietoo]

I've learned that explaining to your OH why you need a cube and 'more' chickens is not easy.

 

Yep ...mine is also very well aware of the price per egg already....(but confesses to loving watching the chooks as much as I do!)...my last tactic has been to encourage him to buy a new dinghy recently.....interestingly enough second hand it was just about the cost of a cube and extension run....so..next it will be my turn.... what will I choose

[Chucky1]

It's the frog. First found that out years back when my old cat was playing with what mum thought was a mouse because of the squeaking. Then we had loads of stones delivered to make walling and as I uncovered a huge frog it squealed at me. I guess it's to do with pressurising air somehow and the noise makes the would be predators jump - and gives the frog a chance to escape. Weird or what?!

 

Thanks Koojie - I will savour my small if pyrrhic victory with DW.

 

The squealing doesn't seem to put the girls off at all

[Valkyrie]

Mine neither!

[Lavenders_Blue]

For the second time in about a month, I have learned that a chicken will not crouch for you whilst you are chasing her round where she shouldn't be to get her back into where she should be

[whoopsie]

And they like medium to small worms - the big ones are too ugh - they'll play with it and wait for something smaller. I wonder if a bigger worm is tougher. Yet they'll scoff mice and frogs easily.

 

Not Margot - she'll eat anything!

[art12345]

i have had chickens nearly to years now and have learnt

 

I worry about them too much

I can convince myself that Tullulah is a boy even though everyone on here and the breader tells me otherwise.

I am never too tired to look after them.

I have to pick up all six every day for a cuddle.

I must make my OH take me to the local garden centre(which happens to have chickens) every week because i need something.

Despite me being the main person to look after them they prefere my oh and will sit for ages on his knee.

I never want to be without them and always want more, which im not allowed until we buy a farm oneday never.

[mostin]

I have learnt:

 

* that a sunbathing ex-batt can make me cry

 

* that old blokes smoking pipes at auctions are not to be trusted , they were not three girls in that crate .

 

* that your neighbours can fall in love with the crowing accidental cockerel you got .

 

* that my friends ask "how are the chickens" before they ask how I am .

 

* how beautiful the dawn was the day of the winter solstice.

 

* that I loose all my chicken sitters, because they get their own chickens after looking after mine as they become so addicted .

 

* that there is a whole world full of wonderful chicken people who are some of the kindest and biggest hearted people I have ever met in my life .

[pipistrelle]

That watching 2 girls share a good old dust bath is one of the sweetest things to see.

[Tutti Frutti]

I have learnt not to de-poop the Aubiose with my jeans turned up

[Falkor]

I have learnt not to leave the door ajar to the coop where my sweet and innocent banties now live when there is a randy cockeral about!

 

Tia and little Honey are not longer quite so sweet

[mostin]

I have learnt not to leave the door ajar to the coop where my sweet and innocent banties now live when there is a randy cockeral about!

 

Tia and little Honey are not longer quite so sweet

 

 

Awwwwwwww bless

[Chucky1]

I'm glad this thread has reappeared.

 

This afternoon I was doing some work in the barn and one of the girls appeared . I usually say something like "Hello Lovely", "Lovely day today" or "Don't go near the grease"

 

But the funny thing was (well funny to me but then I am easily amused) is that everytime I spoke, she would seem to answer with a sort of purring.

 

Until after a few minutes I thought I really must crack on or I'll be here all day and Gladys waddled off.

 

I know I need to get out more, meet some people .....

[enpekt]

Level some earth and they'll dig it up...

 

...So now I leave a heap and they flatten it out!

 

Where did all the slugs go? Hostas should look good this year!

[riven]

aubiose spreads for miles and miles...

[sadietoo]

I learnt at the weekend that when you think they are coming up to you to sit on your lap, they are really just looking for somewhere to wipe the slug off their beak

[Lydia]

aubiose spreads for miles and miles...

 

....and not just around the garden - it makes its way into the house too. And when your bare foot finds a bit hidden in the carpet first thing in the morning it hurts like a pine needle!