GrannyTrish Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 (edited) We're complete newbies to hens and were intending on getting ex-battery hens, but a friend who used to keep chickens suggested to hubby that we might want to get Scots Greys as they're friendlier. I just wanted to get your opinions and also to find out if any of you know where in Scotland we could get Scots Greys. We don't want to get a cockerel but as Scots Greys are endangered we wondered if it's possible to get a cockerel for stud (sorry I don't the correct chicken terms!) if we decided to get them. Thanks! Edited February 18, 2018 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 29, 2018 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Lovely birdies - the Rare Breeds Survival Trust had this link, so might be of help to contact them: http://www.scotsgreychickens.co.uk/index.html I love my girls - all of them (not SG's) most gone now but I can't imagine being without any for long - all great characters. Good luck with your quest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted January 30, 2018 Author Share Posted January 30, 2018 Thanks, Valkyrie. I'll have a look at the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 You are most welcome. Hope to see piccies of your lovely new ladies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 We got our three ladies last night. They're used to totally free range and roosting in trees, however, they'll have to roost in their hen house staying with us. Should we keep them in their hen house for a couple of days to get used to it or will they fight being cooped up when they're not used to it? Any advice welcome, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Congratulations on getting your girls. Did you get Scott Greys? When I've had new girls I've always kept them in their run for a week or so before letting them free range. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 Thanks, Purplemaniacs, yes we got Scots Greys. Hubby was worried that they'd squabble with being confined when they weren't used to it, but I can put his mind at rest now. Just waiting on one half of the family to come to visit and see our new additions! Everybody is soooo excited about them, lol! PS Since I was 3 my favourite colour has been purple! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Congrats on getting hens! Don’t keep them locked in the hen house day and night, but definitely keep them confined to the run for the first few weeks. They need to get settled, otherwise they might get lost free ranging. There might still be a bit of squabbling, but as long as no blood is shed, I wouldn’t worry too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 Thanks! Yes, we've given them the freedom to go from the hen house into the run. I noticed yesterday that they already have a pecking order! I've found an old metal camping mug that I'm putting mealworms in. I'll go out every now and again, rattle the mug and give them a few mealworms to get them used to my voice and the rattle of tasty treats so that, hopefully, when they're out and about they'll follow the treats at bedtime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Thanks! Yes, we've given them the freedom to go from the hen house into the run. I noticed yesterday that they already have a pecking order! I've found an old metal camping mug that I'm putting mealworms in. I'll go out every now and again, rattle the mug and give them a few mealworms to get them used to my voice and the rattle of tasty treats so that, hopefully, when they're out and about they'll follow the treats at bedtime! Generally once they have decided the hen house is home, they will put themselves to bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Congratulations on getting your girls. Are Scots Grey the same as a Scots Dumpy ? My girls recognise me as the treat lady. They always come running to me but if anyone else comes to see them, they don't take any notice. Your girls will soon get to recognise you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Yayyyy. Scots Greys are beautiful stripey birdies and the Scots Dumpy has short legs - but that just makes them super helicopter take off flyers! *apparently - I've only seen them in the shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 If you're going to be out of the house for the day do you leave your ladies out to free-range or do you put them in their run? I'm guessing you leave them out as long as you know that you're going to be home before it gets dark? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 Our girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 No I never let mine free range if I go out,even 10 mins for school run. I just wouldn’t chance Mr Fox calling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Your girls are lovely but your guinea pig is even lovelier because its the same as my Monty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 There are foxes around but I've been very lucky. Mine have always free ranged although their wanderings have been downsized a few times. At the moment they are in the run - DEFRA unfortunately. When I first had them for a few years I would throw their tea time grain into the run about an hour before they went to bed so they would scrabble around and I'd lock them in for safety. When my flock increased I decided there wasn't enough room and allowed them to stay out longer. I have seen a fox next door in the morning just after I let the girls out so I ran back out with some goodies and they went back into their run rather confused. I let them out when I thought the coast was clear. I know we've had fox prints in the garden long before we had chickens. But it was a neighbour's cat that actually attacked one of mine. Luckily she was rather heavy feathered and by the time she lost a few feathers my feisty buff Sussex attacked the cat to protect her "sister" (hatched at the same time by our broody Orpington). I just saw ginger and black rolling around and then the cat pretty much flew over the fence! Not had an issue with the cat after that! However Squirt still pecks me and she's almost 9 this year. She's quite the ratbag. "Ooops, word censored!"ody argues with her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 We live on the outskirts of the town with a busy path to the walk around Forfar Loch where it's busy with dog walkers, so there are no foxes during the day. That's out the front but our hens are in the back garden behind gates. The neighbour's cat keeps it distance due to my hubby's aim with the catapult! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 15, 2018 Author Share Posted February 15, 2018 Is it ok for hens to eat from your hand or will they draw blood? We get wild ducks in the front garden from spring to autumn and a couple of them feed from my hand now but their bills aren't pointy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Yes of course it’s ok. They generally are very good at targeting the food rather than pecking you, but even when they get a bit over enthusiastic it’s very rare for them to draw blood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 15, 2018 Author Share Posted February 15, 2018 Great, thanks. I know it probably sounded like a silly question but with grandchildren, I wanted to be sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 When I got my chooks, some Omleteers suggested feeding them from a small dish as if they get used to being fed from a hand they can peck a hand thinking there is food in it and this maybe upsetting to any small grandchildren that you may have. I followed this advice and it worked well for us. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 16, 2018 Author Share Posted February 16, 2018 Oh, that's a good idea, thanks, Chrissie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 Once our girls got out of enforced confinement so that they knew their home, I went out at around 4.30pm to put them to bed. That was just a week ago and now when I go out they've put themselves in their coop by 4.30pm (I'm impressed!). This is okay at this time of year, although I'd be waiting until 5pm now as it's getting dark later. Will they always put themselves to bed at this time, or as the nights stretch will they stay out for longer? I'd hate for them to be cooped up early in the long summer nights (roll on). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Chances are they will not put themselves to bed at that time once days are longer. You might want to confine them back to the run around that time though. So you don’t have to stick around till they are off to bed. Chickens respond to daylight and will get up with first light and go to bed at dusk. Mine wake up around 8 am with a closed coop, but around 7:15 with open coop. In summer I have to get up around 6 am to do their breakfast... (and go back to bed after... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
