redsunset Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 A WIR would be nice in this weather plus a big walk in shed for ease of changing bedding/floor etc.......but with 42 chooks (can't believe I have 42!!!) tis a dream! I'd settle happily now for big walk in shed adapted but for now....parka and wellies! iPad happy for me to type wellies now thankfully and not change the spelling anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) 42????? But then again, 42 is the answer to life, the universe and everything! Edited October 23, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 iPad happy for me to type wellies now My work email autocorrects that too - can be a bit embarrassing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 I know......I read of those with 4-6 chooks and think, that was me two years ago! Happy with that......and then the dreaded morehens disease took hold! This summer had resolutely made up my mind that 32 was far to many as fed up with the hosing down of pavements/gravel etc and decided as they passed naturally would downsize to about 12. Lost quite a few chooks in the last two years between one thing and another and the 32 I have now are in rude health. Of course the hidden ten baby chooks soon took me up to 42 so here I am.. ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 Ha! Did you end up with the same autocorrect I did for wellies?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I believe so. I sent an email to my whole team at work telling them that for a site visit we were going on 'willies will not be necessary'! Oops. Made everyone chuckle though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 There was I, redsunset, feeling chuffed that I'd managed to downsize from 12 to 7 I'd like loads, but the need to care more full time for my mother and OH's OCD have brought me back to reality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I am on strict instructions not to add any more until we move. Well we may not have any chooks left by then! Which I think is OH's cunning plan. So a couple of years that went to 5 years, to 8 years (not worth moving then - probably also his cunning plan) back to 3 years and now back on to 5 years. At the moment I feel like going ARGHHHHH! Good job I got our 2 newbies in January before he changed plans again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 Guess I'm lucky then as I'm single and no OH to lay down the law re too many chooks! I'll let you lot decide?! But.....if someone had a crystal ball and told me five years ago I'd have 42 chooks and couldn't contemplate parting with any, I'd have laughed myself silly at the thought! If my circumstances change as they can do, re elderly parent then I'd have to review possibly. But for now... Another storm forecast, ferry cancelled etc and can only just make out in the dark some little bodies up in a tree? If they get blown off the branches at least their wee broody coop is just below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I reckon they can cling on pretty tight. It's horrible to think of them out there in the weather but obviously it's their choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 I know! I don't understand it myself, but if mum goes up a tree then babes will follow! They were sheltering in a hen house earlier, about 6pm other side of my house but bedtime?......back up the drive and up the tree. Hopefully as weather gets colder a little bit of brain will kick in and they go to one of the proper houses? Nothing I can do ad to high up so have to leave them to their own devices. I know it's what they would do in the wild, and have read of chickens with snow on their backs in the USA. Don't like to think they will be that brave or silly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 27, 2014 Author Share Posted October 27, 2014 How many weeks to spring? Had enough rain today to nearly warrant the building of an Ark! Chooks not happy and the veritable mud! Not fun going for eggs as expecting to slide at lunchtime (and then have to change before going back to work!) but so far still upright. Found a dead starling in a nestbox today?? Did a chook carry it in/cat? Or did the poor wee thing fly in itself and chook killed it, or passed away in the box? Will never know but gave me a start at lunchtime thinking a hen had lost an entire wing at first glance. Only six eggs today. Least I've ever had but lots moulting. Amazing how quick the new feathers regrow though. Doodlebugs still squeaking for bread every day plus corn and getting big. No doubt up the tree again tonight but pitch black when I got home. Next three days are dry and sunny of a sort. Dream of a big walk in shed for them all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Remember - you can only have 2 chooks in an Ark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I reckon you could claim ignorance and have 2 of each type! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share Posted October 30, 2014 I'd be greedy and have two of ALL named varieties.......to continue the lineage of course!.... oh and the doodlebugs, just because! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share Posted October 30, 2014 Pondering.......poultry auction coming up, know some one who's going, seen the catalogue on line......... Looking at sheds, also know I will need to replace my old car next year........decisions, decisions! Mid life crisis at age 47! Hmmmm I have to many chooks, right??..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 YES YOU DO! although.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share Posted October 30, 2014 Och, but right answer! But....as a redhead will I listen......you will have to wait ten days to find out if I was good or bad.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Oh I think I can guess already.....total chicken counter will be going up I think!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share Posted October 30, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Getting worried about winter now and amount of chooks I have! Seriously pricing large sheds as lovely as my coops are they are not terrifically sturdy in very high winds plus a pain to muck out. Last winter half a roof was ripped of one and a nest box lid off another. Fixed immediately but.... Aiming to hopefully have one before Christmas as the chooks may want somewhere nice and dry to hang out if the weather gets bad. Not to cold yet, and not had serious snow in the two and a half years I've been chook keeping so have been lucky up to now. Will keep my other coops tho for future um additions..... Poultry auction this weekend.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Poultry auction this weekend.... What are you going to buy? There is a market this Sunday I will buy 2 buff orpington hens if available. " I have 15 and a rooster for now". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 I'm not going to the auction myself....just as well, as would come home with at least twenty chooks easy! No, a friend is going....asked if she could get some Speckled Sussex. If not, some little brown chooks as love my little brown hybrids. They have shavers, which is a kind of hybrid so will see what I get? I don't mind....... or might get nowt? All will be revealed....soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I bet you don't have Buff Orpingtons. I will buy two, there is saying: if you don't have Buff Orpington you don't have hens To be honest there isn't really such saying but after I buy them I will make the phrase famous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 You shouldn't have admitted there isn't such a phrase, Mars, as I was just thinking that my flock would simply have to have a buff orpington added in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
