Cat tails Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Sounds great! Have fun with your 3 H's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 I knew you'd get more than 2 Great names, you'll see a difference in their feathers combs and face in no time, and you'll have lovely eggs too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted May 17, 2015 Author Share Posted May 17, 2015 Well, the H mob now have their extension on, the new dust bath is drying out ready for tomorrow, and Hildebrand has discovered that hands mean corn! Layers pellets also go down ok if presented as treats! The broody pekins Meg, Rosie and Onion have been to visit through the bars - their idea, not mine - little horrors hopped through their netting and went to issue a welcome challenge None of our pekins appear to know just how tiny they are We've also had 5 eggs from them in their first 24hrs, poor things. 2 had decent shells (one laid in the nest box ) and look huge compared with our columbine and maran eggs. We also had 3 soft shell eggs. I admit I don't fancy eating them yet - I think we'll wait until they've been with us a week or so. So, overall, a good first day I think. None of them appear too shell-shocked, they're nosey and brave, eating, drinking and preening, and no injuries so far, which is a relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 Spotted Hatchet sunbathing yesterday - heard her 'purr' for the first time as well (that funny 'happy chicken' noise they make when blissed out in a dust bath) . They all seem to be walking more normally now as well - so I may let them have a little wander round the garden tomorrow (with the others safely locked away). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I love watching them sunbathe, sometimes pretending to be dead . They sound very happy. Wish mine were, they're still cross with me for moving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 Sorry to hear your chickens have the hump with you Chickabee - I'm sure they'll get over it. The H mob had their first free-range today. They seem to be turning into real chickens very fast - we had running, flapping, dust-bathing, fly chasing and a spot of annoying the longer term residents, all in about 40 mins . They weren't overly keen to go back into their own quarters at the end of it either. Fortunately they haven't yet learned to run away so catching them was a doddle . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 Hatchet, Hildebrande and Hester a week after coming out of their cages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 Unfortunately Hester the ex-batt was pts today - she was the most outgoing, feathery and friendly of the 3 but every few days would look miserable as she geared up for another bout of multiple soft & no-shell eggs. She didn't bounce back from this last bout and it just didn't seem fair to make her go through any more. She only had 2 weeks out of her cage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 ah bless her, she did have 2 glorious weeks of being a real hen and died with a name, sleep tight Hester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Sorry about Hester - good that she felt loved before she died and that as the others say felt the sun on her back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 Sadly I had to dispatch Hatchet this morning. Even though it was the right thing to do for her - she was just worn out (though still trying to assert herself) - I hated having to do it. She was a brilliant chicken - bossy, cheeky and easy to handle, and we shall miss her. She had 18 months of being a garden chicken so she didn't do too badly - but it would have been great if she could have made it through to another spring. Hopefully our 1 remaining exbatt, Hildebrand, will continue to flourish and strut her stuff in our garden for some time yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 That's very sad news but how fantastic that she had such a long time running around your garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 Thanks luvachicken. I keep reminding myself she was one of the lucky ones. Funny how the chicken run suddenly seems very empty even though there are still 4 hens and a cockerel in there! She was also pushing to the front of the treats scrum, even though she was quite far down the pecking order - somehow she always managed to grab the best bits and just put up with being told off by the others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 I know what you mean about the run seeming empty even with others in it. I have a poorly one in the lounge and 4 in the run and it does seem strange with one less in there. Hatchet was very lucky indeed. Always remember you gave her the happiest time she had ever had xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 Thanks. I hope your little chicken is recovering well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 I hope your little chicken is recovering well. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
