Chortle Chook Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I love my library of chicken books (mainly bought because I can't resist chicken pictures) but I have found they don't always get it right. All say that chickens with feathered feet won't do much digging but my Silkies love digging and it is my rather short legged Frizzles who are the good girls. Mind you my Poland can dig for England with her nice clean little legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Yep, I have 6 silkies... The books say the don't dig and don't like getting wet.... My lot haven't read the books, they have dug craters and they are the ones who will stay out when it's tipping down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I have a cochin who has just renewed her glorious feathers on her feet- she adores digging underneath the hedge - perhaps you could lend her the book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 My littlest pekin is a champion scratcher too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 my Pekins don't dig as much as some of the big girls however that doesn't say much since one of the big girls managed to dig a hole that was about 3 foot by 3 by 2 awhile ago . I had to get the shovel out to fill it up... the only good thing was that she did it in a flower bed rather than the lawn. That's a fairly normal past time for them so the little ones the pekins do don't really get noticed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruciebumpkin Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 My two silver sussex bantams spend most of the day digging craters. Their run looks like a lunar landscape!!! When you ask them what they think they are doing (in a comedy stern voice), they look up guiltily with their beaks and faces covered in mud!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Guess it must all be comparative then. I mean '3 foot by 3 by 2' is quite some crater Maybe you have a special breed - a moon chicken - Woodcat. However I think that short legs is certainly a better thing to go on if you don't want a digger than feathered feet. I've read (those books again ) that Scots Dumpies don't dig as much because of their little short legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Well the books say my silkies and cochin will be good friendley girls my aracarna is the sofest out of all my girls is the least loud , my silkies make a racket dig up my flower beds bully all the others girls and in general appart from looking super cute are quite grumpy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 My Silkie hens do look super cute (even the window cleaner says so ) and they are not exactly 'grumpy' but they certainly aren't cuddle bugs. They come up for treats and eat greadily from my hand but just hate being picked up so are not exactly, to my mind, the ideal chickens for children that the books all say. My Frizzles, on the other hand, can be scooped up at any time and my Poland flyes up onto my shoulder or wrist. (She hasn't decided yet whether to be a parrot or a hawk ) (My Silkie cockerel is, however, the best of the best. A true gent and ready for a cuddle anytime. But then he has a red comb and wattles rather than the deep mulberry colour a Silkie cockerel should have, so perhaps he is mixed with something else ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 What is it with Polands..I lost one of mine over night and found it roosting on the 5 ft high fence at the bottom of the garden...another night it was 6 ft up in a cypress spruce! thank goodness it has decided it is cold enough to be back in the eglu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 THe books say that White Stars (WHite Rangers) are very flighty and second-year birds. My lovely WhiteStar was the friendliest chicken I've ever had. Very happy to be picked up, stroked and cuddled; every time she escaped from their free range area, she'd come to the back door to tell me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
