Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[Doody]

Hi,

 

Been nearly 3 weeks now that i have been keeping chickens. Im really enjoying keeping them, and all is well so far.

 

They are out now free ranging, but i just cant rest when they are doing that. I have placed a wire fence around the garden, but i know for a fact that cats, and possible a fox is getting in. Also, my garden has been full of wildlife the last week, which on one hand is great, but im sure before time, it will encourage the not so nice wildlife to the garden.

 

I went upto the garden this morning to find about 20 small holes around the garden, wasnt a mole, but was a Squirrel who had been digging his nuts up. Cats are still teasing the chickens, and although people say dont worry the cats will get a kicking from the chickens one day, i still feel that these two cats in particular are out for blood.

 

The neighbour warned me yesterday he had seen a fox in his garden, he also warned me his youngest cat had taken a dove about 2 times the size of his cat. Im doing everything i can for the chooks, and im in the process of building a WRI for them, but my word, its worry worry worry.

 

Ive also found some odd poo's in the garden too today. They are very very black poo's, i dont think its a fox, but possibly a Hedgehog. So far since i have had chickens i have had to worry about 3 cat attacks, a hawk, now i have hedgehogs, Squirrels, and possibly Mr Fox.

 

Id never even seen these three weeks ago lol. I guess im on a very steep learning curve, im trying to do my best to keep my chickens happy etc, but have a feeling that everyday im fighting for them to survive, especially with all this wildlife that has suddenly appeared.

[beach chick]

hi Doody - what set up have you got til the WIR is in place, and how many chickens?

you might be advised to keep them where they are and only freerange if you are with them until you get the WIR, because the only other option is really an electric fence, and even that is not guaranteed.

sounds like you've got a lot of wildlife around!!

the other thing might be, where do you keep your food? because if anything can get in to your food store it will, and then word will be out round the neighbourhood that there's a running buffet at yours!!

[Doody]

hi Doody - what set up have you got til the WIR is in place, and how many chickens?

you might be advised to keep them where they are and only freerange if you are with them until you get the WIR, because the only other option is really an electric fence, and even that is not guaranteed.

sounds like you've got a lot of wildlife around!!

the other thing might be, where do you keep your food? because if anything can get in to your food store it will, and then word will be out round the neighbourhood that there's a running buffet at yours!!

 

I have a wooden chicken Coop, im not sure of the technical name.

 

Basically it has its run and then the box where they sleep and where the lay eggs etc. The run also goes underneath the resting/egg laying box etc. Then i have created a 1m high wire fence, which is then laid out giving them a 8x8m run.

 

This is only for the time being, and they only go in this when im in the house etc and i can see them. So far this has stopped 2 cat attacks, although maybe one day they will relise they can jump over it, but like i said, im always very close by when they are out of the enclosed coop/run etc. This is why im trying to get my WIR done asap, as i didnt relise they would be so attackable if that makes sense.

 

When im in the garden for example i let them free range, as they are always very close to me and follow me about, that is the only time i really let them do what they want to if that makes sense. Ive put a fence up around the garden also, and blocked as many holes as i can, as we have some bushes also, which is how most things are getting in.

 

My food store is kept in a shed about 50m away from where the chickens are. Its in a bricked shed, then its kept in a metal bin, so very well protected and out of reach. I take any food, or food leftovers in every night, i dont leave anything out to encourage other animals.

[Lydia]

I really think you've got to try and stop worrying. It's probable that all the wildlife has always been there but that you are noticing it more now because you are aware of it.

 

Here's my situation: I have 2 cats of my own, both my next door neighbours have cats and those across the road. Nextdoor-but-one's cat also visits daily and thinks he lives here. The house which backs on to our garden has a nasty viscous dog who snarls and barks up the fence. Next door's daughter also brings her dog every weekend.

 

There is a fox who sunbathes regularly in next door's garden plus another who lives a short distance away near a lake at the front. Both know where our chickens are and we are aware of them. We use deterrents to stop them and never leave the girls unattended when freeranging.

 

We positively encourage hedgehogs into the garden by feeding them and providing nestboxes. We also have 2 squirrels who shin up and down our birch tree and make regular sortees on to the lawn. Add to that the family of magpies who nest in the other birth tree, the crows, the blackbirds, the army of starlings and, of course, the large contingent of wood pigeons. There is also a regular sparrow hawk who has been known to take dinner in our garden from time to time and around 6-7 daily red kites circling above.

 

I've kept hens for over 5 years and have never ever lost one to a wildlife attack. It is unrealistic to try to eradicate all wildlife in your garden (and I personally think that would be a shame).

 

Please stop worrying.

[beach chick]

ooh I posted a reply and it hasnt appeared...

cats: no worries, they like chicken TV!!

mice: chickens will have fun with them! (poor mice...)

hedgehogs: no idea, except I found one electrocuted on my fence once

foxes are the real problem, and I can only suggest you make sure the girls are shut in their house every night at dusk.

[Doody]

I really think you've got to try and stop worrying. It's probable that all the wildlife has always been there but that you are noticing it more now because you are aware of it.

 

Here's my situation: I have 2 cats of my own, both my next door neighbours have cats and those across the road. Nextdoor-but-one's cat also visits daily and thinks he lives here. The house which backs on to our garden has a nasty viscous dog who snarls and barks up the fence. Next door's daughter also brings her dog every weekend.

 

There is a fox who sunbathes regularly in next door's garden plus another who lives a short distance away near a lake at the front. Both know where our chickens are and we are aware of them. We use deterrents to stop them and never leave the girls unattended when freeranging.

 

We positively encourage hedgehogs into the garden by feeding them and providing nestboxes. We also have 2 squirrels who shin up and down our birch tree and make regular sortees on to the lawn. Add to that the family of magpies who nest in the other birth tree, the crows, the blackbirds, the army of starlings and, of course, the large contingent of wood pigeons. There is also a regular sparrow hawk who has been known to take dinner in our garden from time to time and around 6-7 daily red kites circling above.

 

I've kept hens for over 5 years and have never ever lost one to a wildlife attack. It is unrealistic to try to eradicate all wildlife in your garden (and I personally think that would be a shame).

 

Please stop worrying.

 

Please dont get me wrong, i dont wish to eradicate wildlife from my garden, i just didnt want to entice any wildlife that i see a danger to my chickens to my garden.

 

You have been keeping chickens 5 years, i have been keeping chickens 3 weeks, so obviously this is good to hear from someone who has so much experience.

[Doody]

ooh I posted a reply and it hasnt appeared...

cats: no worries, they like chicken TV!!

mice: chickens will have fun with them! (poor mice...)

hedgehogs: no idea, except I found one electrocuted on my fence once

foxes are the real problem, and I can only suggest you make sure the girls are shut in their house every night at dusk.

 

LOL, Chicken TV, i am noticing that actually. First came the attacks, now they sort of sit and plan an attack but dont.

 

Mice..thats gross, i didnt even relise that Chickens would eat a mouse until i watched 'The Secret Life of Chickens' i almost dropped my drink, and that is rare.

 

Poor Hedgehog, but i hear they are good for your garden, eat all the grubs, slugs, and snails etc.

 

Yeah Mr Fox eh, my girls are shut away safely each night, i even have those mini suitcase locks on things for added protection...

[Bertrum]

Lydia, I want your wildlife! That sounds amazing.

I had the opposite worry, that the hens would drive the wildlife away. I'm not too keen on the collared doves that are hoovering up any spilt corn, but I'm glad the the blackbirds and thrushes are still visiting. I hope the hedgehog will be seen again, I'm nervous that the frog will become hen lunch, and I dearly hope the blue-tits will be back to raise another brood next spring. As far as I know, the only wildlife a hen is likely to actively attract is foxes and rodents, and even in those cases it is often the hen food, not the hens. You are probably noticing wildlife that was already there because you are watching the garden more these days and that is why it seems that the hens are bringing it all in.

It is amazing what you find to worry about once hens move in isn't it? I've found myself concerned about all sorts of odd things in the last few weeks.

[Doody]

Lydia, I want your wildlife! That sounds amazing.

I had the opposite worry, that the hens would drive the wildlife away. I'm not too keen on the collared doves that are hoovering up any spilt corn, but I'm glad the the blackbirds and thrushes are still visiting. I hope the hedgehog will be seen again, I'm nervous that the frog will become hen lunch, and I dearly hope the blue-tits will be back to raise another brood next spring. As far as I know, the only wildlife a hen is likely to actively attract is foxes and rodents, and even in those cases it is often the hen food, not the hens. You are probably noticing wildlife that was already there because you are watching the garden more these days and that is why it seems that the hens are bringing it all in.

It is amazing what you find to worry about once hens move in isn't it? I've found myself concerned about all sorts of odd things in the last few weeks.

 

LOL, yes it is amazing how you worry about them. I think its because the feel and look so agile etc. Im waiting to see if my girls have a nasty side to them, ill be dead proud when they take on Mr Cat and win lol.

 

Maybe your right about noticing more in the garden. I work from home, so i can work in the conservatory and watch the chickens/wildlife etc. Ive been really lucky, as we have a whole bunch of Green Finches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wagtails, Doves etc etc. As for the four legged types, see plenty of frogs at the moment, would a chicken really eat a frog??

 

Although the neighbour has seen the fox twice, apparently less than 10m from my coop, i have never seen it. Im wondering if my ermmm man wee is doing the trick lol lol. I love Hedgehogs also, had to laugh the other evening, was sitting having dinner outside with friends, only to notice he had actually walked under the table eating some bits that had feel on the floor. He wasnt at all bothered by us, should of got him a chair lol....

[abwsco]

Mark, is your nest box on the outside of the coop? If so how does it fasten as if it's just a latch hook foxes have been known to flip those open and get in the coop that way. The same goes for the pop hole.

[Roobaloo]

Get a dog, train it well, encourage it to live outside most the day...

...problem solved!!

 

My border collie is the personal body guard for my girls. He doesn't like them but nothing will enter the garden when he's about!!

 

Realistically, relax! If you're very worried, make a scarecrow out of some overalls, stuff it with newspaper ...give it some eyes...and hang it from a tree so it's 'feet' don't quite touch the floor so it moves about. It you wanted to get really technically...rig the arms to different branches so it 'waves' it's arms in the breeze.

 

Then just stick a radio in the shed or under a propped up bucket on top of the coop and tune into a talk radio staion!!

 

Should put off the majority of those likely to cause harm!!

[Doody]

Mark, is your nest box on the outside of the coop? If so how does it fasten as if it's just a latch hook foxes have been known to flip those open and get in the coop that way. The same goes for the pop hole.

 

Yes, its on the end, with a heavy lid, and a latch. However its padlocked, so unless the fox knows the code he aint getting in lol.

 

Pop hole? (Explain, im knew to this)

[Doody]

Get a dog, train it well, encourage it to live outside most the day...

...problem solved!!

 

My border collie is the personal body guard for my girls. He doesn't like them but nothing will enter the garden when he's about!!

 

Realistically, relax! If you're very worried, make a scarecrow out of some overalls, stuff it with newspaper ...give it some eyes...and hang it from a tree so it's 'feet' don't quite touch the floor so it moves about. It you wanted to get really technically...rig the arms to different branches so it 'waves' it's arms in the breeze.

 

Then just stick a radio in the shed or under a propped up bucket on top of the coop and tune into a talk radio staion!!

 

Should put off the majority of those likely to cause harm!!

 

Wife wont let me have a dog

 

I like the Scarecrow idea, might make a really scary one with my daughter lol...

[abwsco]

Mark, is your nest box on the outside of the coop? If so how does it fasten as if it's just a latch hook foxes have been known to flip those open and get in the coop that way. The same goes for the pop hole.

 

Yes, its on the end, with a heavy lid, and a latch. However its padlocked, so unless the fox knows the code he aint getting in lol.

 

Pop hole? (Explain, im knew to this)

 

The hole the chickens go in and out of from the coop. They usually lift up.

[the bradley bunch]

i agree with lydia... try not to worry and enjoy the wildlife you've started to notice like lydia we actively encourage wildlife into our garden, providing seeds & fruit for a huge variety of birds, nuts for our 2 squirrel families, and a mix of bread & grain for the mallards, geese & family of swans who live on the canal at the bottom of the garden lots of cats pass through too, and lulu one of my girls had an 'unprovoked' peck at at our own cat last week leaving him cowering inside for the rest of the day! the squirrels and the ducks have all had a good 'examination' of the girls, with one squirrel even going up to the run & nosing through the mesh! but now they all exist together happily even sharing the same grain sometimes. it's lovely to sit in the garden and enjoy their interaction

we do have a neighbourhood fox who we used to feed, which is the only thing we worry about. but we keep our girls safe by never letting them FR unsupervised and locking the door to the run & hen house at bedtime. oh, and we use man wee too lol

 

daddy swan did once have a big hiss & peck at the girls when they tried to share 'his' bread! but since then they've learnt to keep their distance from anything big & white!

to be honest my main concern with the wildlife is that the chickens are going to eat the frogs!

 

ps. i want some hedgehogs! i was going to get a house but what else attracts them? i am planting a small meadow area which i was going to put the house in... good idea?...

[Doody]

Mark, is your nest box on the outside of the coop? If so how does it fasten as if it's just a latch hook foxes have been known to flip those open and get in the coop that way. The same goes for the pop hole.

 

Yes, its on the end, with a heavy lid, and a latch. However its padlocked, so unless the fox knows the code he aint getting in lol.

 

Pop hole? (Explain, im knew to this)

 

The hole the chickens go in and out of from the coop. They usually lift up.

 

Oh yeah, thats secure also as its in the run, and then locked shut!!

[Doody]

i agree with lydia... try not to worry and enjoy the wildlife you've started to notice like lydia we actively encourage wildlife into our garden, providing seeds & fruit for a huge variety of birds, nuts for our 2 squirrel families, and a mix of bread & grain for the mallards, geese & family of swans who live on the canal at the bottom of the garden lots of cats pass through too, and lulu one of my girls had an 'unprovoked' peck at at our own cat last week leaving him cowering inside for the rest of the day! the squirrels and the ducks have all had a good 'examination' of the girls, with one squirrel even going up to the run & nosing through the mesh! but now they all exist together happily even sharing the same grain sometimes. it's lovely to sit in the garden and enjoy their interaction

we do have a neighbourhood fox who we used to feed, which is the only thing we worry about. but we keep our girls safe by never letting them FR unsupervised and locking the door to the run & hen house at bedtime. oh, and we use man wee too lol

 

daddy swan did once have a big hiss & peck at the girls when they tried to share 'his' bread! but since then they've learnt to keep their distance from anything big & white!

to be honest my main concern with the wildlife is that the chickens are going to eat the frogs!

 

ps. i want some hedgehogs! i was going to get a house but what else attracts them? i am planting a small meadow area which i was going to put the house in... good idea?...

 

Thank you, as for Hedgehogs, they are funny, i have to giggle at them. I dont know what attracts them to be honest, the just seem to turn up. Ive heard they love grated cheese and cat food, once they know where there is food, they will keep coming back. I saw some lovely Hedgehog houses the other day and thought along the same lines as you.