The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: sheila on May 04, 2009, 02:16:24 pm

Title: consorting hens!
Post by: sheila on May 04, 2009, 02:16:24 pm
Are my free range hens consorting with the pheasants in the field? They seem to be always together when I look for them and sometimes when I call them the pheasants seem to want to come as well. Is there any chance of them cross breeding? I know it sounds a bit far fetched but has anyone else experienced this?
Title: Re: consorting hens!
Post by: cluckyclaire on May 04, 2009, 03:27:32 pm
I've not had any experience of it myself but i have heard that they can cross bred - the results i think were infertile tho and no idea what they looked like!
Title: Re: consorting hens!
Post by: shetlandpaul on May 04, 2009, 04:47:21 pm
i very much doubt it but who knows.
Title: Re: consorting hens!
Post by: MiriMaran on May 04, 2009, 07:18:09 pm
Every wild bird in the area seems to hang out near my chickens at breakfast time waiting for me to let the chickens out and feed them!  A crossbred chicken/pheasant would be a funny looking sight!
Title: Re: consorting hens!
Post by: MrRee on May 04, 2009, 07:23:18 pm
a Phicken or Chesant?     Wasn't he a one-hit-wonder in the 80's?  Wait......... that was Chesney!
Title: Re: consorting hens!
Post by: doganjo on May 05, 2009, 01:31:32 am
Well neither can fly very well, so perhaps they can run fast - Pheckin fast ;)
Title: Re: consorting hens!
Post by: MiriMaran on May 06, 2009, 08:18:28 pm
Thanks for giving me a good giggle doganjo - just what I needed!

My day started at 0530 with Harry screaming as he'd snuck into Oliver's room and somehow got stuck between a bed base (stored behind Oliver's bunk bed) and the wall - sent him back into his on room.  Got up at the more sociable hour of 0730 went down stairs, Oliver stood in dog sick (with bare feet)!  Cleared up sick whilst boys ate Weetabix - couldn't eat breakfast as the similarity between what the dog brought up and what the children were eating dawned on me.

Dropped children at school, was called in to be told I have to tell Oliver to stop tying people to lamposts!  Went to work in the rain, my wellies have a hole in them and possibly another one after I stabbed my foot with a fork whilst digging over a veggie patch.

Afternoon went smoothly until I picked the boys up from school.  I went home to find the friend who had borrowed my back door key to use my freezer, who was supposed to leave the door unlocked and the key in the fridge hadn't been so door was locked.  So, children are fighting, we are locked out and then it starts to rain again!  Neighbour with spare key is out!  Finally tracked down friend and got key back.

After a coffee and then tea (first meal of the day) everything started to feel a bit better.  Let's hope tomorrow is an improvement on today!