Sarelis Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Hi everyone, I'm new here, had my chickens about 10 days now and really love them. I have 6 hybrid pullets bought from my local farm feed store, their individual personalities are just starting to emerge I also have 3 Jack Russell Terriers (hopefully soon to be 4!) and 3 cats. My chooks have a Flyte so Fancy Maggie's 12 coop & 9' run which I scored for free from a colleague - she was going to burn them! Hubby replaced a couple of bit of rotten wood (it's about 10 years old), stuck a roof on the run & I creosoted the bejaysus out of the lot now it's good and sound. The girls got their first taste of free ranging on Sunday, it became immediately apparent that I need to fill some gaps in the hedge lol. Bit of a "Ooops, word censored!" time of year to be starting out, this weather is horrible but I am used to keeping & working with horses so a bit of mud and rain won't get me down i'll post some pics once I figure out how.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Hello from me You will love having chickens and no doubt you will catch morehens at some point, so watch out. You will be able to show photos once you have made 5 posts. I have seen the runs at Flyte so Fancy so you have done well to get one for free. Have they laid you any eggs yet ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarelis Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 Hi I love them already lol they are great! No eggs yet, i'm not expecting any for quites a while, they are all between 19 & 17 weeks old but very small combs & wattles. So far I am just getting to know them and trying to make friends, there is one golden speckled that seems very inquisitive and friendly, the grey speckled pair are larger and a bit 'pecky'! I'm having a bit of trouble with one of my male cats that wants to hunt them, he will stalk them right in front of me even after a telling off - the JRT's have learned to leave them alone now though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Lots of people on here have cats and chickens and they say that the cats give the chickens a wide berth. I think a couple of pecks soon teach the cats to leave the chickens alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarelis Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 Yes I understand most people have no trouble, Basil however is a big hunty tabby who doesn't appear to have read the same literature as me, i'm going to have to get him a water pistol - this dude has no trouble catching squirrels and pheasants. I only let the chooks out when i'm there to supervise though, we are pretty rural and have a lot of fox and badgers here - I spent ages digging weld mesh in around the run & coop so hoping that the girls are safe enough in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 It sounds like you have done a good job to protect the girls from all sorts. I hope your cat gets the message with the water pistol - someone on here with cats is bound to give you some more advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarelis Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 I'm sure he will get fed up after a couple of soakings it's funny the other 2 are normally equally as hunty but they are not bothered with the chooks. Ideally I want to be able to let the chooks free range whilst we are home, we have a 1/4 acre garden which they are unlikely to do much damage to as neither of us are particularly keen gardeners! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAB Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Welcome! This is my first Fall with chickens. Still learning the ropes. One of mine just started to lay eggs! I'm hopeful to get eggs through the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarelis Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 Hi Lab & thanks - how eggciting! (Sorry couldn't resist) How do they taste? I can't wait for fresh eggs for breakfast. Do you have hens that lay fancy coloured eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Sounds fab, but look out for red mite. If she was about to burn them that’s what would ring in. My mind. Let’s hope for a harsh winter, but as soon as it get warm, look out for the little "Ooops, word censored!"s. They leave grey dust. If you squash them they leave red blood, from your girls. Please be aware they can kill your chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarelis Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 Hi Chickabee - yes i'm aware of the horrors! The colleague I got it from did have red mites in it, 7 or 8 years ago and never since. She used DE to prevent further infestation, she is a vet nurse and I trust what she says, I questioned her thoroughly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Great. Sounds good then. I’m a horsey girl too. No muck is too much muck! I’ve currently got 20 odd chooks in different cages, most free range, plus 2 ducks and 2 quails. Trying to downsize, but it’s very hard. Fighting rats at the moment. Good luck with yours. Look forward to hearing more. Mine are still laying, the eggs are wonderful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarelis Posted October 24, 2017 Author Share Posted October 24, 2017 Ah, you need some terriers they are quite collectible also! The coop was only getting burned as she lost her last 2 chickens to a fox the week before and is moving soon - I owe her some eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Yes, would get a terrier if you could guarantee it wouldn’t kill my chooks. Plus I am I guide dog volunteer (no bad habits). I think we need a harsh winter, as I said before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAB Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Hi Lab & thanks - how eggciting! (Sorry couldn't resist) How do they taste? I can't wait for fresh eggs for breakfast. Do you have hens that lay fancy coloured eggs? I haven't eaten any yet! I'm collecting them! I have 5 so far. Only 3 more and we can all have one!!!! I have 7 chickens, but only one is laying so far. We got them as day old chicks. I'll have light brown to super dark brown as well as eggs from two Easter eggers. We are hoping for blue eggs!!!! Or green! My easter eggers don't look ready at all to lay. Their comb is still light pink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarelis Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 Lovely, I bet you can't wait no idea what coulour eggs my girls will produce, I don't even know what hybrids they are lol as long as they lay I don't really mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
