The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: jameslindsay on April 28, 2009, 11:31:47 am

Title: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on April 28, 2009, 11:31:47 am: Me and my mouth. Last week our friend from Trading Standards, Enviromental Services dropped in for a coffee and to see all our animals. She asked us if we would please re home/rescue a Rhode Island Red hen, so ofcourse we said yes. This will duly arrive here on Friday. I have never kept chickens before so about to start a new chapter...
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on April 28, 2009, 11:33:27 am: Sounds great, you are true Foster parents....
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on April 28, 2009, 11:35:28 am: or mugs???? ha ha ha. Fall for a sob story every time! :chook:
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: doganjo on April 28, 2009, 11:36:17 am: But it will be lonely, James, you will need to get more ;D - how about ex-batts ;) - contact Jim Duff from the BHWT - www.bhwt.co.uk
Have fun with your new Mums on Sunday - wish I could come but I'll be in Norway judging dogs. :(
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on April 28, 2009, 11:38:39 am: She won't be lonely she will run with the ducks. Is that not enough for her?
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: doganjo on April 28, 2009, 11:40:03 am: No she'll need a couple of ex batt friends - have a look at the website James, it will convince you. I rescued 6, and just got 2 for another friend a couple of weeks ago - they are so friendly.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: shetlandpaul on April 28, 2009, 04:12:02 pm: dont forget to isolate it for a couple of weeks. worm ect. they are flock birds when we had six they stayed close to home now the numbers have creeped up they are ranging over a few acres.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on April 28, 2009, 04:14:47 pm: Thanks for the advice. Annie I think I may just go down the road of getting perhaps another 2 possible 3 from the rescued batt people. It's all your fault.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: doganjo on April 28, 2009, 04:21:08 pm: But I'm lovely with it ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D seriously, I'm suer you and kenny will love having ex batts, and you can offer your customers a choice of eggs too. :D
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on April 28, 2009, 06:51:17 pm: You can serve Freedom omelets!!!! I need some more chickens but am going to Waite until the Ducks are established and them get some pullets :chook:
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on April 30, 2009, 11:47:33 am: I am now eagerly awaiting the arrival of this wee girl tomorrow. For the first wee while she will share a bed with the ducks but as I am thinking I now want a couple more hems I will need to buy a coop. Does anyone have or know of anyone that is selling one, or even make one? I will have no more than 4 hens so it doesn't need to be huge. Failing that I will go and buy something, a bit warey of buying off computer - without seeing first, will probably end up with a small shed.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: doganjo on April 30, 2009, 06:14:45 pm: As I've said before I bought a 6 x 4 garden shed from Focus - got a deal of £100 delivered. Donald (my son) and I put it up in a couple of hours, vinyl on the floor, and old drawer for a nesting box and round dowels jammed into the opposite corners for perches. There are lots of people making chicken coops these days though - maybe Sandy could sell you her coop 2nd hand now she has that ginormous shed! ;)
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on April 30, 2009, 08:05:25 pm: Well, I am keeping my coop, it was about £130 with postage and it's cr**!!!!!!!p, well I think it is, I wish I had bought a shed in the first place although some are much much better for the money. I only have 3 Black Rocks and I think that is all there is room for although it did say 4-5 hens!!!!! My shed will be up this weekend and it is large so I may section it off for the Ducks to have a bit and then get some more chickens when the Ducks have grown as I do not want them to get "Hen Pecked" I should get a shed unless you pay a lot for either one of those arks or plastic bright coloured pods....Loved the pictures,so cute, I shall post one on my Facebook, thanks.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on April 30, 2009, 10:53:21 pm: Well I have just ordered a chicken house off the internet, it looks really well so fingers crossed. It says next day delivery so hoping that it may arrive Saturday or Monday at the latest and it's not a "flatpack" which makes life easy.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on April 30, 2009, 10:59:50 pm: Just what I did and it was flat pack but I love doing that, I think you can get some that come made!!!!!!! get your screw driver ready ;)
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 01, 2009, 11:42:25 am: The hen has now arrived, she is actually a Rhode Island Red Bantam. The reason she was re homed is she was being bullied big time by the others. She looks good and will settle in well I'm sure, she is still quite young we think. She has to be kept in her hut for a few days before we let her roam.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: doganjo on May 01, 2009, 11:56:55 am: piccies? What's the difference between a RIR and a RIR Bantam - smaller? Might like one or two of them.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 01, 2009, 12:09:42 pm: I think smaller in size yes, I will get a pic later on. Apparantly her eggs are very small. I was told that if I get a couple of hens in a few days to keep her company, since she will have been here longest she will be the boss so shouldn't be bullied again.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 01, 2009, 04:31:18 pm: She has already laid her first small, speckled egg, well done her!
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on May 01, 2009, 10:27:20 pm: Applause!!!!!!!!!!!! My shed is going up tomorrow and and ex-guest is comming to help, he rang me today to ask about building nest boxes and some perch's, I may divide the shed up as I really need some more chickens, I have always loved birds and tame ones are a real treat, I am so looking forward to my Ducks, my Grand daughter has given me some names for them, I just have to choose, see you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 03, 2009, 10:52:15 am: I e mailed the contact for the ex batt hens and never received a reply. So, I have managed to source 3 Isa Warren's which I will collect on Wednesday. Matilda has settled in very well and is sharing a paddock at the moment with the 7 Pygmy Goats and 2 Rabbits. This morning one of the rabbits went over to check her out and she puffed herself up to make herself look big and had a charge at the rabbit. If only she had been able to stand up for herself in her old home she would have been ok. Anyway the rabbit just ran off un interested and the goats couldn't care less.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 05, 2009, 11:03:30 am: The :chook: house arrived this morning and I have to say I am not overly impressed. The way I read the info on the web site the house was delivered assembled but that's not the case and to be honest I think if you want a "substantial" one you have to pay the big bucks. The supplier said it would house 6 hens, I wouldn't like to put 6 in it. As on most cases the more you pay the better the quality. Off to finish building the thing now.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on May 05, 2009, 11:22:46 am: Just what I found, the pictures looke so nice but I think far too small, the nesting boxes were tiny too, mine never use them I just have a run from the back of the hut that is very dry, they keep it really clean and I cover the floor with straw so they mak a nest and lay in there, the other doorway leads into mytheir garden ad as thewalls around the garden are so high I leave it open although I could shut it. I found£139.00 was too much for a "dolls house" so now I have a large shed, 6x8 and it is great, we have put a spur for the hens to roost in it and I shall put straw and nesting boxes in it, my 3 that I have now will keep to thier little house for now
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 06, 2009, 03:40:10 pm: Have just collected the 3 Isa Warrens and they are now settling into their new home. I am hoping that they will get on with Matilda - the one we rescued last week. Shame it is so wet though.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 07, 2009, 02:24:57 pm: Just been out in that Arctic Cold and heard a commotion in the hen house. One of the POL hans that arrived yesterday has laid her first egg - in the proper part of the house too. How clever is she, the egg was still warm when I collected it.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on May 07, 2009, 05:02:31 pm: You're hooked now!!!! One day when I let my hens out, one ran to where they used to lay their eggs making a funny noise as if she was bursting, she was but she reminded me of an old lady in a sale waving her bag to get people out of the way. I find hens very amusing when you tack time to watch them, I put some bits from the bottom of my freezer into a pan and boiled them up,there were a few small sausages, bits of black pudding etc and when I gave it to them, one found a bit of sausage and ran off with the others following, then they all returned to the rest of the food and the same one found another bit but I watched her creep away so as not to warn the others, funny, they can't be that dum :D
:chook:[move] :chook:[move] :chook:
[/move][/move]
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 07, 2009, 05:44:06 pm: I am totally hooked on them. Just been out feeding the goats and ponies and ofcourse spent time with the hens. 2 of them are eating out of my hand already which is amazing as they have only been here 24 hours. They are very entertaining to watch. Last night when I went to put them to bed the 3 of them were up sitting on top of the fence and I just lifted them 1 by 1 - very easy.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on May 07, 2009, 07:54:39 pm: Our top bit of garden "used" to have lotsof plants as it has deep boarders, now all that is left is a few hardy shrubs so they weed the boarders, as soon as I get the garden fork out they help me !!!!! they try to get all the worms I turn over, it's funny as they look like they are helping me dig!!!
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 08, 2009, 09:59:54 pm: The 3 Isa Warrens that arrived only on Wednesday have already started taking themselves off to their coop at bed time. Matilda on the other hand decides to sleep on the bench in the Pygmy's hut. It doesn't take them long to learn does it?
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 09, 2009, 08:38:12 am: Quote from: jameslindsay on May 08, 2009, 09:59:54 pm
The 3 Isa Warrens that arrived only on Wednesday have already started taking themselves off to their coop at bed time. Matilda on the other hand decides to sleep on the bench in the Pygmy's hut. It doesn't take them long to learn does it?

VALUABLE LESSON LEARNT

This morning I went out just before 7am to let out and feed all the animals. As I got to the Pygmy Goat enclosure I heard the chickens and thought that sounds very close. Just at that one of the hens appeared at my feet and I died on the spot. I thought a fox had managed to get into the coop but could see instantly that the door was still closed. I wrongly assumed last night when I could not see any of them that they had all took themselves off to bed - well all except one it seems. I have now learnt a valuable lesson but I am pleased to say she is no worse for her adventure, I dare say she slept in a tree!
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: sandy on May 09, 2009, 11:01:01 am: I used to get that all the time and as I said before, I am short and trying to get themout of the tree when it's getting dark is a nightmare, they always roosted just out of my height. I night, I went to check the pen and as it's dark inside I pocked my hand up to the perch and heard one make a noise a bit like Ay! and then some mumbling, I had to giggle, I have posted ages ago that they have a very wide vocabulary but it got into a Major debate and so now I shut up, but they come out with some funny noises!!!!
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: doganjo on May 09, 2009, 12:18:21 pm: My pal in Aberdeenshire that I got my ducks from said that hers all used to roost in the trees in spring and summer, but in winter they were waiting by the coop for Les to put them inside and shut the door. I think they are more intelligent than most folk give them credit for.
Title: Re: Rhode Island Red
Post by: jameslindsay on May 18, 2009, 12:43:27 pm: Yesterday I decided it was time to let the hens out of the Pygmy paddock and let them totally free range. They are loving the experience and the freedom, they now have 4 acres at their disposal, however, they do tend to stay pretty close to home (which is good). They now mix with the ducks, geese, ponies and Big goats and they all get along fine. One of them however, has taken to jumping the gate and 3 or 4 times today I have found madam walking up the drive past the hotel!!!! They are enjoying their time here I have to say, I didn't ralise that they dug (scratched the earth) so much.