squiffs Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share Posted September 17, 2011 I take it she doesnt like chickens? One neighbour does, she loves them, the other tried asking me to 'move them' somewhere else in the garden, as they're 'allergic to chickens' and the feathers apparently blow into their garden. So I said 'okay', left the chickens where they were, acquired a cube, and got 4 more And then Xena turned up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 How is she this morning - first weekend in her new home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share Posted September 17, 2011 She's got her own hutch now! We've let her out a bit this morning but it started monsooning so she's back in the posh bunny hutch (2 levels, how swish!) with some layers mash and lifeguard in her water, once the housework's been done we're going to let her mingle with some of the other chooks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share Posted September 17, 2011 Well, an hour into xena's first free range with the others, and all the other chickens are looking unimpressed after having been doussed with anti pecking spray - they all smell like bacon! Not that it's made much difference, xena is a tyrant hard to say where to intervene, she latches on and will not let go, even with a broomstick thrust at her, so we're hoping the more she realises the others don't smell or taste very nice, she'll stop doing it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 Here is Xena's hutch, in all its glory. It's going to be used as a hospital wing/ broody coop/ intro accommodation after we've sorted out the game of musical eglus that has been happening in my garden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 methinks you have a new top hen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 I would be inclined to agree. We're only mixing them when they're all out and have the entire garden to roam, so they've got places to hide away and she can't just focus on one. It's strange how much removing/adding one chicken can alter the dynamics of the 2 flocks we've got at the moment, they're slowly merging into one flock + xena, which is surprisingly convenient for us. All the hybrids now stay in the cube together, and the silkies have their own eglu still, but that's because after a quite nasty incident with xena I'd prefer to hold back on the intros between her and the silkies just so she doesn't frighten them to death... We'll get there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Really enjoying hearing the ongoing story Squiffs. Glad things seem to be working out for you all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Aw, I love this thread. So happy Xena is settling in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'm reading this thread first every night now - we have our own hen soap opera! "EastHENders"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 ohhh dear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'm reading this thread first every night now - we have our own hen soap opera! "EastHENders"! Yes this is a bril story, definitely 'Chicken Run 2' If the silkies have to stay apart . . . you'll just have to get more Silkies with a smattering of Frizzle and maybe the odd Poland, to make two similar sized groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'm reading this thread first every night now - we have our own hen soap opera! "EastHENders"! Yes this is a bril story, definitely 'Chicken Run 2' If the silkies have to stay apart . . . you'll just have to get more Silkies with a smattering of Frizzle and maybe the odd Poland, to make two similar sized groups. I don't need any excuse to add more silkies! My OH knows if I had my way I'd have an entire flock of silkies/frizzles, and he could keep his hybrids I must say though, Xena has definitely advertised the ex-batt cause to us incredibly well, should our numbers dwindle I wouldn't think twice about getting some ex-batts, now I know I can cope with their 'special needs' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 is there a Xena update for tonight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 Xena put herself to bed at normal time, instead of terrorising us in the dark tonight! She has successfully become solar powered. No eggs since the softie she laid a week ago, though to be honest, looking at her we didn't expect any! I will make a huuuuge song and dance if we do get one, she's bossing the other chooks around through the cube run bars, I sprinkled a bit of corn around the run edges to get them socialising a bit - despite the fact she couldn't actually eat the corn on the other side of the bars, she felt the need to scare the others away from it so they couldn't eat it either Unrelated Xena stalking a reflecto-chicken video. http://www.youtube.com/user/lrnsquiffs#p/a/u/0/uCQZvc8GTqE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Ah, she is a real survivor. Perhaps if she was a so called 'barn' chicken then she had to be pushy to get her fair share of any food Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 20, 2011 Author Share Posted September 20, 2011 Ah, she is a real survivor. Perhaps if she was a so called 'barn' chicken then she had to be pushy to get her fair share of any food Definitely, I think this is true of all chickens in both battery and barn farming situations, I just she mellows out a bit, I don't want to be shutting another silkie in solitary to get over the shock of a Xena encounter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I too love Xenagate - there have been so many owners losing chucks this last few weeks its a pickme up. By the way her floppy comb looks like a beret - very French oh la la - will it shrink now shes in a normal home set up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 20, 2011 Author Share Posted September 20, 2011 I do hope to facilitate some shrinkage, though it is a tempting prospect - a hen of the nouvelle vague Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I'm sure Xena will settle when she realises she no longer has to fight for every beakful and there's a whole new world full of interesting things to explore. Just think, less than two weeks ago Xena was wherever she was. Now she rules her world ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 ...and yours by the sound of things - I suspect she is the best known chuck on Omlet at present - she is such a character - anyone who says animals are boring ought to meet Xena Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 I should make up some Xena pin badges with snaps of her in various amusing poses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I should make up some Xena pin badges with snaps of her in various amusing poses Yes please!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Me 2 !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Me too. 'Xena for liberation' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
