tracyann Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Ah, I'm so in love with my chooks, who needs valentines day. They are so funny, each is starting to show their own personality, Hetty the Speckeldy is the brave one and the leader of the pack, she's always the first out of the house area and first to come and eat out of my hand, then Daisy the Magpie is next in line, not quite so brave. Ruby the Bovan Nera is now turning into the comedian and queen of strange things to do, not once yet has she made it into the hen house to roost, last night I found her roosting ontop of the feeder, with a bit of gentle persuasion she made it in. Lulu the Bluebelle is being quite shy and not quite trusting me to eat out of my hand yet. But I've done lots of chicken watching and think they are great little animals. They met Oscar the cat this morning, he took one look and ran, which is a good sign!! Poor Oscar has a shaved belly after having an ultrasound and urograph yesterday as he's got waterworks problems, and he's so young. Bless. Hopefully the meds will kick in soon and he'll be back to normal. I'm so pleased I got my girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Yes Ruby looked like she was going to be a bit of a character from your photos. Poor Oscar hope hes a bit braver when better. My cats just wander among the chickens and ignore them, or pretend to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 It's lovely that you are so pleased with your girls My chooks all have their different personalities too: Daisy - tiny white frizzle. She's very feisty, a little female Napoleon DeeDee - large black poland frizzle who is gentle and shy Doodle - small white silkie: little Miss I'm so pretty Dolly - gold silkie: always troughing but otherwise so laid back she could fall over Delia - large black silkie: Gretta Garbo 'I want to be a lawn' Dill the silkie cockerel - I'm a gentle kinda guy but don't you mess with my ladies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillM Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 They sound like great fun. Mine arrive tomorrow morning....can't wait I shall probably spend all weekend in and out of the kitchen checking up on them. If the weather is half decent I'll wrap up and have a coffee next to them. Got grapes, fresh corn cobs (do they need cooking first?), and of course their proper food too. I guess I shouldn't hang up the broccoli at the same time or I suppose they will only eat their treats... (does the broccoli need cooking?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Chickens are great fun and are all so different. Sorry to hear Oscar is not well - I hope he gets better soon. It is always a worry when they are ill. Last week I needed to move my whole chicken area so at one point had a 25m length of netting down so the hens and ducks had all that distance to leg it into the rest of my garden. I was very pleased as none of them moved a muscle - then I realised one of my cats was watching me and the hens/ducks were too preoccupied watching the cat to try to escape. A proper sheep cat! Got grapes, fresh corn cobs (do they need cooking first?), and of course their proper food too. I guess I shouldn't hang up the broccoli at the same time or I suppose they will only eat their treats... (does the broccoli need cooking?) Good luck with your new arrivals. I'd leave the broccoli raw and remember to cut the grapes up into small pieces - there have been discussions on here about how grapes can lodge in their crops so if chopped up they are fine and a big favourite. As a new owner we all fall into the trap of giving them too many treats at first. They should get all they need from the food and only give them a treat (that's one treat not an assortment ) late in the afternoon. Mine have got a bit of left over spaghetti for this afternoon. I actually only give them treats a couple of times a week but then mine have a lot of roaming space so find plenty of worms and grubs. Pictures when you get them please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 fresh corn cobs (do they need cooking first?) No . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillM Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 How are your chooks now? Did they take long to get the idea of going in to roost? Since mine arrived I have had to crawl into the run and lift them into the cube at dusk, although the last one tonight did hop up onto the ladder herself. So I think they might be getting the idea... They don't seem to be eating much of the pellets, spending all day scratching through the grass instead. I gather their appetites will improve when they come into lay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Random_Girl66 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Hi, I just got my new hens yesterday too. They are lovely Spent so much time watching them that I'm rushing about like mad now trying to get all my jobs done before work/school tomorrow. Mine didn't want to roost at first last night (only the Light Sussex worked it out on her own) but I put a torch in the Eglu and then they all rushed in - scared of the dark ?? And no probs tonight. I've filled the "grub" with mash but they too don't seem to be eating much yet. Liked the mealworms tho! They gave us two eggs, albeit tiny ones, so I assume it's just the trauma of the new home and as you say, their appetites should pick up shortly. Hopefully, their eggs will get bigger too! Not noticed a definite leader yet but the Sussex is a bit of wimp where bad weather is concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracyann Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 How are your chooks now? Did they take long to get the idea of going in to roost? Since mine arrived I have had to crawl into the run and lift them into the cube at dusk, although the last one tonight did hop up onto the ladder herself. So I think they might be getting the idea... They don't seem to be eating much of the pellets, spending all day scratching through the grass instead. I gather their appetites will improve when they come into lay? I started my chooks off with layers mash and am in the process of trying to change them over to pellets, one hen the Bovan Nera Ruby had trouble finding her way into the nest box the first couple of nights, but with a little help, they all now go to roost together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillM Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Thankfully mine finally got their act together last night at roosting time. So I wasn't worried about them still being out when I got in from work tonight...although I did have to go and check on them Funny to see the four of them huddled together in a space as big as the cube....might have to get some more chickens..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
