CJB Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 As I am new to this please forgive my ignorance and if any questions are a bit daft, but I want to make sure that the chickens are properly looked after now ,not like the previous owners attempt at chicken care! Let chickens out this morning to free range as I have normally been doing, but as rain is very heavy today they have just all huddled together under a tree. Will not come out for food, I have put food and water under the tree with them. They seem to be eating fine. Do they need to have an indoor / undercover run in the rain? All they have at present is the wooden hen house, which is enclosed in a large run. There is no shelter other than the hen house. One has stayed in the hen house, I have been in several times to check she is ok and everytime I go near here she pecks me like crazy and makes the strangest noise! Is this normal behaviour for chickens? Also cockerel has become "active" with the ladies! Is this an everyday event? My children are asking why does Ugly (cockerel) keep getting on the hens for a piggy back, is his foot still hurting??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Hi Cath Your hens sound lucky to have such a caring new owner. I would suggest that you make a rain cover over the run so that they can eat their food under there in the shelter. Most of us have adapted clear IKEA shower curtains and B&Q bungee hooks. The number of times that the cockerel mounts the hens depends really on each cockerel, some are more active than others if he seems to be treading them a lot and they are running away, then you might like to put him in solitary for a while (no, don't laugh!) to give them a rest. A flock generally benefits from having a male around, although it's not necessary to have one. A friend had a very 'vigorous cock' (as they are known in the business... STOP LAUGHING!) - he was bothering the poor girls so much that they were running away. I'm afraid that he ended up in the pot!I'm not sure what's wrong with your 'indoors chook' though. Good luck with your new flock, and please keep us posted with your progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Re the hen staying 'indoors'. Firstly I thought she was staying out of the rain, but when you said about the pecking I thought she sounded a bit aggressive and maybe is broody. Are there any other signs/symptoms? Maybe she just isn't used to humans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 It sounds like your indoor chicken is going broody so if you don't want her to hatch any more little chickens for you, keep kicking her out! With the high ratio of girls to boy, your chickens should be absolutely fine with his attentions - unless he has just one or two favourites! I love the piggy back reasoning though I would imagine that your chickens are used to sheltering under the tree when it rains, but it won't do them any harm for you to sort out some kind of shelter for them. It doesn't have to be anything fancy - just three or four posts knocked into the ground with a sheet of corrugate for a roof will do. It doesn't need to be too high either, 18ins - 2ft will be plenty high enough for them to shelter under. You could also keep their feeders under there too so their food stays dry. What an initiation into chickenhood you've had - you'll be ready to face anything soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Re the hen staying 'indoors'. Firstly I thought she was staying out of the rain, but when you said about the pecking I thought she sounded a bit aggressive and maybe is broody. Are there any other signs/symptoms? Maybe she just isn't used to humans. You'd think that with a flock of broody bantams, I'd have thought of that! Good thinking Ginette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisHapp Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 she deffo sounds broody - that's possibly why the others can't get any shelter in there either! In the longer term, you might want to consider either eating or re-homing your cockeral. Of course, if you're happy to have him around, then ignore that advice, but they *can* (not always) become a bit aggressive, particularly with children. Also, you won't be worrying about having extra chicks appearing! Well done on your baptism by fire, though! Sounds like you are doing a stirling job. Are you storing the sacks of food in metal bins, btw? Need to keep the rat pest away. MH xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Can't add anything except to say that you are doing stirling work Cath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 I am SO sorry to lower the tone, but lol at the "vigorous cock"!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Re the hen staying 'indoors'. Firstly I thought she was staying out of the rain, but when you said about the pecking I thought she sounded a bit aggressive and maybe is broody. Are there any other signs/symptoms? Maybe she just isn't used to humans. You'd think that with a flock of broody bantams, I'd have thought of that! Good thinking Ginette. Well Clare, I have no experience of broodiness except what I have read on here - mainly from you I think! It was because of that, that I felt a little cautious saying anything at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJB Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 (edited) I have just checked the crazy pecker, and I have to say I was scared! Believe it or not before the move I had a fear of birds! I hate flapping wings. Talk about face your fear. Don't laugh, I went armed into the hen house. Big gloves, wellies and a shovel. ( Shovel was not to knock her out with I will quickly add ) I thought, and maybe this is because I am a townie gone country that I could pick her up with the shovel without having to come too close and actually touch her wings. Stop laughing, you must understand this particular chicken has this evil glint in her eye! Anyway, I do not know who was more scared, me or her. She legged it before I could get the shovel anywhere near her, but she was flapping like something possesed as she went. She did the flapping on purpose I am sure! So crazy noise and pecking must have been because she was broody, she was sitting on four eggs! Thanks for advice once again! Edited May 30, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Don't laugh, I went armed into the hen house. Big gloves, wellies and a shovel. ( Shovel was not to knock her out with I will quickly add ) I thought, and maybe this is because I am a townie gone country that I could pick her up with the shovel without having to come too close and actually touch her wings. Stop laughing, you must understand this particular chicken has this evil glint in her eye! I cant! This has really tickled me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Cath i think you are working wonders with those new chooks of yours, for a new chicken mum you are doing just great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisHapp Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Cath i think you are working wonders with those new chooks of yours, for a new chicken mum you are doing just great! Absolutely! I had weeks of research before I even looked at a chicken! I can't imagine moving house AND having to get my head round chook-keeping. Would *love* to see my pics, Cath if/when you get chance. Arggghhh, I've gone and caught that Omlet picture bug! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Strangely my broodies have never pecked, just squawked like mad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
