Unsecure chicken perches

[JulieP1]

Hello everyone

I am almost new to the omlet site as I have been lurking for a while picking up bits and bobs of info and I also put an advert on wanted for an eglu for my girls Dawn and Fi.

I am now the proud owner of a green eglu but sadly Dawn and Fi are no longer with us. These were 2 girls who had had an awful time on a farm near me, they were getting very bullied and had been shoved in a pen on their own, when they arrived with me they were very very thin, very old and had awful leg mites and Dawn had a huge growth on her leg, she also had 3 toes on one foot missing and 1 on the other, Fi wasn't quite as bad but nearly, I attempted to sort out their ailments and they had a lovely 5 wks with me or I hope they did. Dawn limped around the garden and they just went and sat in the corner until bedtime. After chatting to a chicken mad friend I made the terrible decision to let them go to hen heaven. The garden was so empty and I missed feeding them birthday cake - their fav. But now I have Mrs Mum with Alicia and Charlie (named by my gt neice).

Thank you for all the info I've gathered already and no doubt I will ask questions, so again many thanks so far.

Julie

[Olly]

Welcome to the forum, Julie. It sounds as if you had a rather traumatic introduction to chicken-keeping, but you probably gave your two girls five weeks of comfort and pleasure that they had never known. Glad to hear you have some new hens - there is lots of information and advice on here, and we pride ourselves on being a friendly forum, so don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

[txswanie]

Welcome. I'm a newbie too, there are quite a few of us these days. Don't worry about silly questions, I have loads of those. Just ask, people are kind on here. I got my gingers today so I fully expect to be bald with stress by next week

How lovely of you to give those poor souls a nice few weeks, well done.

[Daffodill]

Hi- I'm new as well-Ive tried other forum but this one is definitely the friendliest (no pecking order here) Looks like you were thrown into the deep end with your 1st chickens-looking after healthy new chucks will be a doddle for you now. But good on you for giving Dawn and Fi a happy few weeks

[rachael_farnsworth]

Completely agree with all the plaudits for this forum - people are so supportive and kind and friendly. I love it here!

 

It sounds like Dawn and Fi had a wonderful time with you and you gave them everything a chicken could need. That's something to be really, really proud of. *hugs*

[Luvachicken]

Well done you . I've only been into this for just over a year and I always ask the "dumb" questions.

Everyone on here is very friendly and helpful though

[Chicken Shirl]

Sorry about your first experience with chickens. How sad that they had such an awful time before they came to you It's amazing what a chicken can endure. Well done for giving them a few weeks of love and comfort.

 

Please don't be afraid to ask away, everyone is very kind and friendly + they have a good sense of humor.

 

If you take any pictures of your new girls we would love to see them. We love pictures.

[Plum]

Hi there, what sort of chickens are they?

[docsquid]

You should be so proud of what you did for those poor little creatures. It is beyond me how anybody can let chickens get into such a state. They knew love and kindness while they were with you, more than many poor little chickens ever do. I'm so pleased you've decided to carry on with being a chicken servant (LOL!). Welcome to the forum.

[JulieP1]

Hi everyone and thank you for the warm welcome.

Mrs Mum is a foster mum and a wonderful one at that, the chicks are who knows what, they appear to be the 'mongrel' of the chicken world but I'm trying to find out what either mum or dad was, will let you know when I know. In my eyes they are the most perfect chicks ever but of course I'm biased.

And now a little direction please, am I going the right way, as my chicks are so little only 3wks and they now live in their eglu I have taken the perches out so they can snuggle with mum, as I've read that they should'nt roost until much older as it can damage their legs, when will they want to roost, as charlie like to sit on the handle of the water feeder and jump to her mum's back?

When and what can I increase their diet with?

I give Mrs Mum a couple of grapes as a treat and she always shares, is this ok with the little ones?

 

Thats it for now, no doubt more to follow.

Thanks in advance

Julie

[Mollie333]

Welcome, Julie!

I'm sorry to hear about your girls, but i'm happy that you gave them the best 5 weeks of there lives.

i'm looking forward to be seeing you more around here. Do you have any pictures of your girls you would like you share?

 

Take care, you and your girls.

x

[Chicken Shirl]

Hello again, What a lovely story, a foster mum a chicks. You have done the right thing taking away the roosting bars. The hen will keep the chicks to her in the nest box until they are old enough to move away from her. My hens take their chicks into the trees at about 7 weeks to roost but I know that it is different for you guys,and they perch at about 12 weeks. (I think) The hen will also in my experience only choose to give them what is good for them to eat. Someone will be along shortly who will be able to advise you what the hen and chicks should be eating. I am a bit different as my hens live a free and natural life over here, so they only eat what they find in the garden and seeds and grains, with a few treats thown in. I hope I have not confused you too much, and that everything works out well for you all.

[JulieP1]

Hi

Here come the girls, pics of my little chicks and Mrs Mum.

http://s977.photobucket.com/albums/ae251/Amelia123album/Foster%20mum%20and%20chicks/

[Chook n Boo Mum]

What a sweet little family .and Mrs Mum is stunning, I love her markings..not sure what she is though

 

Sha x

[JulieP1]

Evening all

 

Mrs Mum is a Wyandotte, and yes she is beautiful.

 

Julie