Mrskirchin Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Hello all, hopefully Im posting this in the right place. Yesterday we picked up three chickens, a blue Plymouth Rock hen (Dorothy), a ranger (Henrietta) and an amber star (Rosemary). I'm presuming they like their coop and run as we already have been rewarded with our first egg from the amber star and that was yesterday evening! Any hints and tips will be appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Welcome to the forum and to chicken keeping! What a journey you are about to embark on. The only tips I have is grab a coffee and sit and watch them, you will soon learn what's normal for your girls and if your at all worried,stick a quick question on this forum and you will be rewarded by quick and knowledgeable replies x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Welcome along! Same as gavclojak really. Enjoy your girls, get to know them and give the forum a shout if you have any questions / worries. I haven't heard of a blue Plymouth Rock - you'll have to show us pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Welcome to the wonderful world of chicken keeping .. With the coffee you need a camera at the ready . We love pictures. Jackie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrskirchin Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 It won't let me add pictures yet, I think I have to post more first! The girls had taken themselves off to bed when we shut them up last night which was good. They seem to have established their pecking order already too. One question, I'm giving them layers pellets to eat and grit, but do they need some fattier foods (corn or veg) over winter now? Or just to continue with the layers pellets. We are using mealworms to gain their trust and they already eat those out of our hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Welcome! Hope your enjoying your ladies! They really don't need anything other then layer pellets, but no one told my ladies... I give mine a small hand of corn in the morning (well they demand it anyway) and some veg to nibble on. There is not a lot of green stuff in my garden any more at this point. When it gets really cold, some people feed them warm porridge or mash to keep the girls warm, but with their plummage, they really don't need any help. You can feed them some treats during the day, but beware! Fat hens don't lay eggs and they will soon get used to it and will start expecting food at certain points and if nothing is coming, they will start (loudly) demanding it! (as I have learned the hard way... They've got me well trained now! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Hi again,, I think you have to have 5 posts., but I am sure that some one will say if I am wrong . ..we love pictures Greens are great ,you can hang a cabbage up for instance and they will peck away for ages once they have decided that it's not alien ,or just picked off left over leaves spinach , chard and beetroot leaves mine love . Mine don't like white cabbage ( fussy) I don't give mine lettuce as it tends to give them runny poo Late afternoon Mine have corn which I throw down and they love sunflower hearts which are cheap and you can get from £ shops and are cheaper than meal worms which they also love. I hope this helps . Jackie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 A big welcome from me too Once chickens have entered your life things will never be the same again How lucky to have got your first egg already And watch out for that dreaded disease - Morehens I think I have some of the symptoms right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrskirchin Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 Today we got our second egg! Presuming it was from our amber star again. We keep our girls on the allotment, which is a few minutes walk from home. Had someone come and tell us we had to register with DEFRA and obtain a license to keep chickens, regardless of amount of birds and if they are on an allotment or at home! Found DEFRA legislation stating that's only true if you have 50 or more birds. He said he would "investigate the matter" and get back to me. Found all the relevant legislation online already! I will fight for my girls! I already asked the council so I know where I stand legally. Morehens is already here! I saw a beautiful hen where we bought the girls from, that laid blue eggs too (think it was a cream legbar?) Might have to be a new addition to our flock in the new year! My husband has already decided to extend the coop so will have the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 There is always some old busy body sticking their nose in I'm pretty certain that it is 50 birds as you said, that have to be registered with DEFRA but am not certain if it is different for an allotment - I wouldn't have thought so though. Congratulations on a second egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 It is indeed 50. gosh some people really need to get a life don't they!! his must be sadly lacking if that's all he has to worry about....its funny how protective we are of our 'girls' isn't it, I said the same when I thought a neighbour was unhappy about them, I said I would fight tooth and nail for my girls...turns out the said neighbour loves hearing me calling out GIRLS every time I open the back door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrskirchin Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Third egg! Not sure if this is from one of the others as its a different colour and size to the other two. They are young layers though so could just be her getting used to laying. I'm surprised that we have had any eggs at all to be honest, the place we got the, from said it could be around two weeks before they lay any eggs while they get settled in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrskirchin Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 What a lovely bunch. Don't worry about the busy body. You're in the right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Welcome to the forum. Lots of lovely people on here who love their chickens. Very addictive...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Welcome to the forum from me too Lovely pictures of your girls and eggs too! I always thought my neighbour was a bit of a busy body until she stopped me one day to say how disappointed she was that I was at work when her daughter visited because she wanted to show her the little black fluffy chicken! It is annoying that you get some people who feel the need to "investigate the matter" when it's totally unnecessary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I had a similar thing Clairabella. I thought the neighbours might complain but after a few days the children poked their heads over the fence and said 'Can we come and see the chickens?' I was a bit in trouble with their mum though because straight after I went home I heard 'No you cannot have chickens!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrskirchin Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 Busy body was back! Ended up having a bit of an argument with him in the end. He came over all high and mighty, ranting about how they had no food and water (they did), they were both full! He told us how he had kept chickens for 30 years (which then changed to all his life and then back to 20 years!) and that we knew nothing about chickens and to "leave it the experts". My husband told him that was only his opinion and that we were complying with the law. He told us there were no laws about chickens (?!) and that he knew best as he had kept them all his life so we should do as he says! He apparently has 50 chickens in his back garden and is an expert on them. He told me to go read a book and my husband told him to go get a life. He walked off with a "I will be keeping my eye on your chickens and the first sign of a problem and I will have them taken off you". Told him if he stepped foot on our property again we would report him for trespassing. In other news! The girls are doing great. My husband even managed a cuddle with one of them yesterday when he was shutting them away for the night. She was quite settled in his arms and was it lovely to see =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 What a horrible man ! And what lovely little girls you have . That first chookie-cuddle is always wonderful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 The five freedoms of animal welfare state that, at all times, you have a duty of care to ensure that your animals are free: from hunger and thirst - animals must have access to fresh water and a diet which will maintain health and vigour from discomfort - an appropriate environment should be provided, including shelter and a comfortable resting area from pain, injury or disease - you must ensure the prevention of illnesses, or rapid diagnosis and treatment to express normal behaviour - sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind should all be provided from fear and distress - you must provide conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering Next time he pokes his nose him ask if he can quote those five and if he can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Sorry I am really busy with my course so have not spoken before. Just watch him. I would not trust someone who was trying to make out they are not being looked after. You'll probably find he had his taken away for some reason and is pig jealous of anyone having chickens. Double padlock all doors and do not leave food or water within his access. Make sure you log this with the council just in case anything happens, then you have a paper trail. Where I lived previously, (a private estate of flats), mum and I had lived there 40 years. We were on our third dog and some nazi woman on the committee had it in for me. She laid into me one day telling me she was out to get me and my expletive dog removed from the estate. We had a stand up row, but because I was 40 and she was 70 odd, I was a bit clever and phoned the police. We had a constable mediate and he wanted for us to meet with him to work out our differences. I agreed and she flatly refused. His final letter told her that she was to leave me alone, stop harassing me and the committee stop harassing me and if there was any further issues she would be arrested. Shut her up quick smart! You have beautiful chooks. Must finish my essays! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
