Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[Confused.]

Ok, my name's Jordan, I joined up cuz I have a few questions...

 

1) First of all, I got some rescue hens from a farm, these are my first chickens, and I have no idea whether they are 'Isa Warrens' or 'gingernut rangers'. Are those two breeds the same? If not, what are the differences..?

 

2) I discovered two of my hens had disappeared without a trace when I got back from my holiday. I count them every now and again, and when I did a count I got 24. I did have 26. Now, maybe some.. *ahem* 'person' drove by and hennaped them since they are near a main road and people can see them in the field from said road. But, if not, what else could it have been? I've never seen a fox or badger in this area, the house is secure, and they literally went without a trace. I've searched the area and I've not even seen any feathers. Surely two hens wouldn't go without a little bit of a struggle if a predator got them?

 

3) Since that incident, I've decided I need to employ some kind of protective animals. I've considered goats, but they're too big for where my hens are, so I was thinking geese Now, I do not want to have Goslings (I do not believe in breeding domesticated animals, but I'm not here to debate) but it's my understanding that to have geese as guardians a Male is needed. Could two females be protective?

Also, do they need water? I've heard geese only need a body of water to raise a family, and where my hens are there's no lake or pond or whatever, would it be fair on the two geese to have them in an area without any water?

 

4) I want some kind of tags I can put on my hens and write their names on, because most of them are very hard to distinguish from each other. Anybody know of anything of the sort I can order, preferably something in the UK..?

 

Thanks a bunch. I eagerly await all replies.

[Snowy]

Hi, I'll try to answer some of your questions:

1 Isa Browns and Gingernuts, if not identical are very similar, as well as I think a couple of other hybrid types. Pretty much a rhode island red crossed with a sussex. Males are white and females brown so easy to sex at hatching.

2 If your hens have a large field area, then they would scatter if a predator arrived. So only one or two would be grabbed and made off with. Don't rule out a fox just because you haven't seen one.

3 Sorry I've no idea about keeping geese, other than I know they can be pretty fierce!

4 You can order leg rings from most poultry suppliers. Just do a search on line.

HTH

[harveypup]

Ditto re the geese. My experience here being pecked on the legs whilst actually riding my horse. They are scared of nothing!!

[Confused.]

Hi, I'll try to answer some of your questions:

1 Isa Browns and Gingernuts, if not identical are very similar, as well as I think a couple of other hybrid types. Pretty much a rhode island red crossed with a sussex. Males are white and females brown so easy to sex at hatching.

2 If your hens have a large field area, then they would scatter if a predator arrived. So only one or two would be grabbed and made off with. Don't rule out a fox just because you haven't seen one.

3 Sorry I've no idea about keeping geese, other than I know they can be pretty fierce!

4 You can order leg rings from most poultry suppliers. Just do a search on line.

HTH

 

Thanks for replying, but don't foxes hunt at night? My hens are always in at 9 and locked up, and, like I said, wouldn't I expect to see some kind of sign from a fox attack? Or is it typical of a fox to take them without a trace...?

 

Don't the leg rings already have numbers on? I want tags I can write their names on.

 

Thanks!