Wantchooks Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 At last - they are here! Four little girls with their new home, courtesy of Forsham Arks who built it for me. It's lovely! But they eat ALL day! Is this because they are settling in or are they bored? Or is it just normal? Feel like a new mum. (And if I can work out how to will post pictures!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlehenny Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Oh yes, that's normal, they spend their entire waking hours in the pursuit of food!! Mine go mad, running up and down if I even step foot in the garden cos they are convinced I might have some tasty s"Ooops, word censored!"s for them! And they go mad for grapes especially!! Enjoy watching them! Littlehenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Very normal! Make sure that you have pellets available all day for them, as this should be their make diet. Treats are great but better in the afternoon so they fill up in pellets in the morning. Probably not so important now, but when they start laying pellets are where the good eggs come from Do we get any lovey pics yet??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Just a quick one buy good pellets it is worth the money I used to buy the own brand from scats/countrywide eggs stopped back to allen and page getting at least 6 a day!! Don't give to much bread as treat as this stops eggs too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wantchooks Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 I have just checked the egg port AND Am feeding layers mash as that was what Forsham advised as they are not free ranging. They said it keeps them occupied for longer....  Will make sure I get good quality next time - good point.   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 They eat all day .. they seem to poo all day too !!! Nice setup for them !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Fab set up! Well done have you got perche, logs and stuff for them to jump on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I am soooooo jealous of your lawn! It's green! Mine is brown! They definitely eat all day! Layers mash adds a bit of interest as they can pick their favourite bits out first Do you weight yours out? - c130g per hen - I didn't at first which is why Hilda made a complete pig of herself and now has a stretched crop (I feel so terrible about this). Enjoy your girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wantchooks Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Sarahsausage - lawn looks green but that is an illusion! Am not weighing as where the girls have come from have been allowed to eat in the same way - so shouldn't be pigging now. Also - if I weigh it all out - then won't a greedy bird still take more than her fair share anyway and leave less for the rest? Quickcluck - a playground is my next plan. Will do it over the next couple of days. Problem is - I am meant to be cramming for an exam these two weeks so chook indulgence is limited to the strictly necessary at the mo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Lovely girls, what are their names ? and nice set up. If you put some perches in for them they will stop eating for a while and sit on the peches . ( nice life if you can get it )That's all mine do all day - eat and perch , except for when they are free ranging, then they are stood on the door step waiting for treats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Exam cramming must come first unfortunately as i am sure you want to spend all your time with your new girls....... They will be fine you could always hang stuff from the roof, I hang greens, broccoli, corn and the corn, melon, and the bat it about for a while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Just a quick one buy good pellets it is worth the money What are good pellets? Because there are the good ones and then the well advertised and i dont want to fall for any gimics? Any good brands you could suggest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Awwww they are lovely, and so is their run and house. They will eat all the time and love flapping, running and jumping up onto things, don't forget the dust bath, they love to roll around in the dirt, sand, or a mixture of compost earth and sand. Happy Happy hen keeping. Good luck with the exams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Congratulations on the new girls . Your setup looks fantastic . (Time for a username change, methinks .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 They look nice! I like your setup too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 I hang cuttle fish up l have 4 hanging at the moment my husband puts the small hole in them l put the string through it keeps them very busy and 1 cuttle fish lasts about a month they love them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Ooo I hadn't thought of getting them some cuttle fish... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Lovely run and girlies, good luck with your exam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wantchooks Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 Thanks everyone! No names yet as having trouble telling them apart! Had a minor panic this afternoon as thought one had a crop bulge problem, but when I went back out to segregate her.....found the crop was back to normal Must have picked her up after a big gulp of food! Little horror! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiler33 Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 You've got a great set up there - I'm hardly green with envy at all ! Good luck with the exam. Maybe if we get a nice sunny day you could sit out in the garden and revise at the same time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wantchooks Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 Far too distracting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
