Charlie7 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Hi, I have bought two lovely Silver Pencilled Bantam Wyandottes yesterday - the 18 of October. I love them. I have named them Apple and Pandora. Pandora is the dominant one, giving Apple a little peck if she bothers her. Pandora is smarter than Apple, she found out where the Grub is and ate some of the food inside, while Apple didn't seem to realize what Pandora was doing. Pandora is also more curious, she comes closer to us and is the first to do everything. Apple just followes. They didn't want to go inside the Eglu and roost yesterday, so I put in a torchlight and it worked. Pandora went in immediately. Apple went in 20 minutes later. She was really scared, going back and forward in the run, putting one foot in the Eglu and then hurrying back out. Pandora went in and out of the run 6 times before Apple finally went in and I could close the door. It has been raining a little and the girls drink the water drops that are on the run. Is it normal? I haven't seen them drink from the Glug, so could it be because they are thirsty? I really don't understand how they couldn't find the Glug, they passed by it many times and it is at the wright height and everything... They met my dog today. Apple was very nervous, but Pandora was ok. I didn't let him come close to them and in the end Apple settled down. I will take him closer next time I go out with him. Hopefully they will become friends at some point. To see some pictures, follow this link: http://fjerkrae.dk/prod/index.php?action=gallery and scroll all the way down to "Last additions". The hens standing by a green Eglu Classic are mine. Click on the picture to make it larger. Sorry, most of the text is in Danish, I hope you can find the pictures of my girls anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Love the names . They're gorgeous I've got one as well. All my girls love the raindrops off the wire of the run as well. I spend lots of time watching them and how they interact its fascinating isn't it. They'll soon get in the habit of going to bed without problem. When mine moved from their little house to the cube I had the same dramatics. In and out of the house jumping up and down then finally settling but they still sleep in the nestbox. When they are sorting out the pecking order they run up to eachother jump in the air facing eachother with hackles raised and then carry on as if nothing has happened Apple's nervousness may be due to being less mature than Pandora. I've found when they get near to laying they become very cheeky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I found them, they are lovely Everything they are doing is quite normal - if you pour some water into the glug while they are watching they will come and investigate and soon get the hang of it. Ditto the dog Have fun with your girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share Posted October 19, 2010 I am glad you found it. Thanks for the nice words. I forgot to mention, Apple is the one with the blue ring and Pandora has a white ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share Posted October 19, 2010 Yay, I just saw them drink from the Glug! I also saw them both eating from the Grub at the same time, it was so cute. Yes, I know, I'm nuts, but they are so adorable! Fx. they think that the "Grub" sign on the Grub is food and they keep pecking at it. Just one worry, I heard Pandora sneeze twice, once in the morning and once now. Is she ill, or am I just overreacting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Maybe, could have been dust or something in the run. Keep an eye out for discharge from her nose and eyes and sounds of raspy breathing or wheeze. Probably nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 I hope that you are right, Plum. I havn't seen any other symptoms. A little update on the girls: Pandora is now eating from my hand, I gave her a few grapes, some raspberries and rainins wich she loved. Apple is still nervous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Awww hello Pandora and Apple I could only see the smaller pictures at the bottom of the webpage but what lovely ladies they are How cool is that Pandora eating from your hand - our Dottie and also poor Cottie who sadly is no longer with us sadly do/did that too - especially for fresh sweetcorn! Hen watching is so addictive isn't it Charlie, I could easily spend the hours watching them, they're so much fun aren't they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Sounds good progress. I was a bit rotten to my two when they came and took away their food so that when they came out in the morning they had to eat from my hand or starve I did give them their feeder after 5 mins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 Pandora came up to me and let me stroke her! I have got the best chicken in the world! Apple is also doing great, she came quite close to me today, but she doesn't dare to take food from my hand yet. As long as there is progress, I am happy. They are getting used to the dog as well, Pandora came very close to him. Apple is still skittish, I hope that she gets over it soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Pandora came up to me and let me stroke her! I have got the best chicken in the world! Apple is also doing great, she came quite close to me today, but she doesn't dare to take food from my hand yet. As long as there is progress, I am happy. They are getting used to the dog as well, Pandora came very close to him. Apple is still skittish, I hope that she gets over it soon. Aww I'm sure Apple will soon follow Pandora, they're very friendly I've found Our doggy Ben (picture to the left) loves the girls, he seems to enjoy watching them as much as I do! He's so gentle around them as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 That sounds great. How did you introduce them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 That sounds great. How did you introduce them? I let Ben go upto them whilst they're in their run He's not a 'barky' dog and he really is quite quiet, bless him. He seems mesmorised with them Even though he's a big doggy, he's very gentle When we let the girls out in the garden he'd sit watching them for hours! Here's Ben the other day looking at his girls.... And here's one of Ben watching Cottie making a dustbath in the sun, totally oblivious to us all watching (Cottie's sadly no longer with us ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 I wish that it was so easy with my dog. He is the apposite of Ben. He barks a lot, is kind of crazy, chases everything that moves AND he is small. Have tried to put in a picture using Photobucket. Let's see if it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Your picture worked, what gorgeous girls Pandora and Apple are Aww I'm sure there'll be other doggy owners on here who can give some tips about introductions. Whilst Ben is mostly quiet, he does bark lots when anyone comes to the door. He doesn't miss a trick, bless him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 Thanks. Now the big question is, who will lay the first egg. Plum has written: Apple's nervousness may be due to being less mature than Pandora. I've found when they get near to laying they become very cheeky. Apple's feet are more yellow than Pandora's and her comb is also more red. I have added a few more pictures of them. Apple to the left. Pandora in front. Who do you think will lay the first egg? My father wants to make a bet on it and I want to win, as I am broke after buying the Eglu. Another question. Apple is still VERY nervous, today she saw a little bird and got very scared. I want to let them out in the garden in a few days, because they look a little bored in the run, even though they have an extension. I don't dare to let Apple out without clipping her wing, because she has tried to fly inside the run, so I think she will also fly outside. The only thing is, how to catch her? Any ideas? If I take her from the Eglu in the morning, I am scared that I wouldn't be able to hold her if she gets scared (Have never held a chicken before) and if she gets away I will never catch her. Also, she is nervous about going in to the Eglu, so wouldn't this make it worst? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Why not start off just putting your hand in the nest box and stroking them so they get used to you. Then you'll feel confident when you start to hold them. They are really nice girls Coot my pencilled wyandotte won't let me catch her out in the open but if I sit down and have food she'll come to me and walks on me. You just have to be patient and keep working on it. They both come for corn now so its easy to get them in but to begin with they didn't so I had to herd them back into the run. If you do it slowly they don't get upset. Coot and Hen can go vertically quite a way but I've not clipped their wings and they have been fine in the garden. Having said that I let them out today and Hen (partridge wyandotte bantam) jumped into a bucket of soapy water stupid chicken she shot out again and only got wet legs. Are there any omleteers near you so you can pick their hens up. It's really best to be shown how then you won't be so nervous and they'll stay calmer . Edited to say just thought where you are - sorry. What about going to a children's zoo and asking the keeper if you can pick their chickens up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 I was just going to say the same as Plum, why not start giving them a pat whilst they're in their Eglu at night. (Don't tell anyone, but I go and say nighty-night, sweet dreams, every night to my girls :lol: ) You'll soon get the hang of it, as will they get used to human contact too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 That sounds like a great idea, thanks a lot. Coot and Hen can go vertically quite a way but I've not clipped their wings and they have been fine in the garden. How high is your hedge/fence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Omlet netting about a metre, wire fence about 3'6" and fence maybe 4'6". They are too busy rootling under bushes eating grass and digging up plants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 All right, thanks. They are doing much better with the dog, even Apple is getting used to him. How often to they dust-bath? I haven't seen them doing it yet, so I am a bit worried that they don't like the dust-bath I made for them. Also, any guesses on who will lay the first egg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 That's good news. Didn't see mine dust bath for ages but they do now in the run but not in the garden My hybrids don't dustbath in the one I made them in the run but love digging in it and flinging the earth out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 I pet them yesterday evening and they pecked at me! Evil hens! It went better today morning though, I picked Pandora up and she didn't mind as long as she was inside the Eglu, but she moment I look her a little bit out of it, she began to struggle and tried to flap her wings. I quickly put her back inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted October 26, 2010 Author Share Posted October 26, 2010 Picked up Apple today - she was very scared at first, but calmed down in a little while. I plan to clip her wing when she goes inside the Eglu today, if the weather is OK. I also stroked Pandora, but she pecked at me. Mean, mean hen... I have seen the girls drag their beaks back and forward on the ground, is it normal? It looks like they would be sharpening it or cleaning it. They mostly do it when I give them food. What are they doing and why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayleybug Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 I think Apple will lay first, she has a much redder face- i'm just going from what most people on here say about how to tell though so dont quote me on that without any other votes!! they are beautiful- I definitely want some now but i think i'm going to wait until Spring. I hope you get an egg soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
