The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: ellied on July 12, 2011, 08:20:27 am
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I got news that the farm that were advertising POL pullets still have some at 17 weeks, "a selection of hybrids, bluebells, rhode rock, sussex star £16 each" and "some warren pullets just started laying £12"..
I was really hoping for non hybrid breeds, even rare breeds but am slightly put off by the price as it is more than I was expecting, is it because they are hybrids that they're dearer, or am I just out of touch with prices? :(
To get 6 hens would be another £100 at that price on top of the house and other setup costs :o in which case I'll keep my new henhouse empty and the poultry netting can go back in the garage til I can afford the expense :(
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The price can vary a lot depending on where you are. In Mid wales I've seen 16 week old warrens for £10. Speckledy & RIR for £14. I saw some 10 weeks old crested cream legbars for £22 each :-\
If it's a posh bird we make a price guess at £3-£5 + £1 per week per bird. So a 16 week old lavender araucana could be £5+£16=£31
There is a well known breeder a few miles away shrops borders who asks for £45 and they get it because their stock are show winners.
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last year I bought 4 older birds, cross bantams, for £3 each from a local smallholder. No idea of their age but they're laying well.
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£30 each in our local Dobbies ;D
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:wave:I don't know if anyone has mentioned this before, Ellie, but the description 'POL' can be misleading. Some don't lay until 26weeks old. I'm a novice at this chicken biz, but it's a sharp learning curve.... ::)
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I stupidly bought my first two birds from Dobbies, £30 each. (The children and I were overcome by desperation to own chickens and didn't know where else to get them from!) They were sold as POL, I suspect they were about 12 weeks, so needless to say we had a very long wait until our first egg. I think £15 is a fair price for a good bird that is around the 20 week mark.
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I think I paid £16 Each for my first three, £1 each for recue ones and about £10 each for some at auction. I found my first ones took until about 24 weeks before they laid thier egg. I saw the chickens recently in Dobbies and thought they looked very good, nearly tempted myself ::)
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I got news that the farm that were advertising POL pullets still have some at 17 weeks, "a selection of hybrids, bluebells, rhode rock, sussex star £16 each" and "some warren pullets just started laying £12"..
I was really hoping for non hybrid breeds, even rare breeds but am slightly put off by the price as it is more than I was expecting, is it because they are hybrids that they're dearer, or am I just out of touch with prices? :(
To get 6 hens would be another £100 at that price on top of the house and other setup costs :o in which case I'll keep my new henhouse empty and the poultry netting can go back in the garage til I can afford the expense :(
If you are just after something to lay you a few eggs you can probably get some "spent hens" from a nearby commercial unit which should only be a £1 or £2 each. They will probably be in moult so you won't get many eggs till they are through that, and expect a percentage of losses, as the farmer will have had the best of them. You may find if they are a friendly set up you could buy half a doz from them for cash when they are re-stocking. I expect the price comes down quite a bit if they are buying 40,000 ;D
Cyril Bason is always reasonable on his prices for hybrids, or try looking on Preloved or something similar.
I keep my traditional English Cuckoo Marans, and I have to say the cost of electric and feed has risen dramatically this year. I suppose if I had an inccy and a brooder for 1000 it wouldnt cost all that much more than running lights and incubators for smaller numbers, and although I am not in it to make a profit, I do want to recoup some of my costs, otherwise I might just as well keep half a doz for myself and let one go broody and bring off a clutch each year. ;D
There is a lot of care time and love put into the traditional breeds by those who are really interested in improving their chosen breed, though of course there are those in it to make a "quick buck" ,but when our local paper advertises farm kitten for sale at £35 and mongrel dogs at £250 and even more I don't think you should maybe be too begruding. As you say the housing cost and fencing cost more.
All the best
Sue
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Actually, those prices don't sound too bad. The last time we bought, we paid £10-15 each for hybrids, and £20 for pure bred. The hybrids are generally both cheaper AND more productive, but not quite as decorative IMHO :).
Just a thought, why don't you take the number of eggs you eat per week, divide that by five, and then only get that number of hens to begin with? As long as you keep at least a pair together for company, they'll be perfectly happy. That way you'll have your own eggs right away, and can then get whatever other breeds you like to add to the flock later. You could even try with hatching eggs if you like!
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We paid £15.00 each for our bluebelles, and the ex battery we had were £2.00 each, :wave:
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This is the reason I started to breed my own, :D
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our pol are 4.50 each and usually we get them at about 20weeks old.. usually start laying within a couple of weeks... not sure what they are but very reliable layers...
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ellie, you could also contact Pillars of Falkland, that is where we got our first hens from a few years ago and they didnt cost much at all as they were their old ones that didnt lay everyday - but laid often enough to satisy our family needs.
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I think mine were £6 each as 2 week olds, and £12 for "adults", which from the pictures, look to be about 12 weeks
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This is the reason I started to breed my own, :D
Likewise Julie!! However, our first batch all turned out to be boys, and batches 2 and 3 are still to young to lay, so it's early days for us yet.
Have you ever put a figure on how much it actually costs to rear a POL pullet? I mean including keeping parent birds, incubation losses, raising male chicks you then can't sell, heat lamp costs, food, vaccinations, etc etc? I did enough of a sum a while back to convince me only to breed for myself, rather than to sell (it simply wasn't worth the hassle, given the small amount of profit involved), but I'd be interested to hear your point of view.
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I have a friend who only buys ex-bats because you can't possibly rear a bird to when it actually lays for anything like the £3 per bird which he pays. I haven't worked it out, but I'm fairly sure I'm not making much by selling mine for £15 each. It'll never make me rich. :'(
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I got my rare breeds for £8 each - both at POL and at 10 weeks old so that I have some layers and some that will lay in the not too distant future. We are quite lucky because there is a wildlife trust place just along the road that sell them quite cheaply. :chook: :love:
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My hybrids (cuckoo, blacktail, blue etc) cost £15 each and I paid £22 for a colombine (?) which laid pretty eggs. I had to wait weeks for them to lay but it was very exciting when they did. The warren I bought is the most reliable for laying by far - and my local farm is currently getting rid of their stock for £9 a bird which is very cheap round here - I may have to go and get some more! :P
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i pay £8 each for hybrids at 14wks from 'the horse box' redruth.
i bought rir last yr but theyre both destined for the pot soon, cos they havent laid more than 3 eggs this yr. big birds tho cant wait 2 tuck in!!
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We had some different breeds, a silkie sussex cross, a bluebell, 2 rhode island reds and a black star, they all cost £15-£17 each and were all lovely healthy big birds who started laying within 2 weeks of them coming home. However after the fox attack which out of those only left us with the black star, we are now sticking to our ex-egg farm girls who were only £2 each, they may look a bit tatty but they have been laying right from being brought out of the box when we brought them home. Have got a few chicks that we bought for a couple of quid each, and are slowly growing up, there are sussexes, what looks like an indian game cockerel, a very pretty massive partridge coloured hen who doesnt appear to want to stop growing and a couple of cockerels we got for nothing. Have been put off spending too much money on individial birds, think we will either breed our own or collect chicks cheaply when we find them and raise them. Its lovely watching them grow up!! :chook:
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there is a lady near you who sells at about 8 each hi lines i think
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Yes, and hylines at Dollar for about £9. AHve sent you a PM about Thursday, Ellie.
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Going rate for Rhodies around here is £35 at POL. I sold three to a friend of a friend (I don't advertise and don't sell unless they're going to be truly free range and we've seen where they're going) for £25 each, laying pretty much 6 days out of 7 at 36 weeks old.
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If you're buying hybrids from a bigger farm where they have thousands expect to get them cheapish. From the smaller producer such as the people on here you should expect to pay a fair price that reflects the expense and efort that goes into raising birds to POL. I don't think the prices quoted in the first post are bad at all, and would expect to pay more for pure bred birds. If you want cheap or free go for ex batts.
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This is the reason I started to breed my own, :D
Likewise Julie!! However, our first batch all turned out to be boys, and batches 2 and 3 are still to young to lay, so it's early days for us yet.
Have you ever put a figure on how much it actually costs to rear a POL pullet? I mean including keeping parent birds, incubation losses, raising male chicks you then can't sell, heat lamp costs, food, vaccinations, etc etc? I did enough of a sum a while back to convince me only to breed for myself, rather than to sell (it simply wasn't worth the hassle, given the small amount of profit involved), but I'd be interested to hear your point of view.
I breed sex linked birds so I can cull the cocks straight away & usually sell them at a day old so haven't really worked out costings
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This is a link to a calculator for poultry costings if you want to work out how much it costs
http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/cgi-bin/PulletCost.exe?Guide=Poultry&t=Chicken%20Cost%20Calculator (http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/cgi-bin/PulletCost.exe?Guide=Poultry&t=Chicken%20Cost%20Calculator)
All the best
Sue
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This is a link to a calculator for poultry costings if you want to work out how much it costs
http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/cgi-bin/PulletCost.exe?Guide=Poultry&t=Chicken%20Cost%20Calculator (http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/cgi-bin/PulletCost.exe?Guide=Poultry&t=Chicken%20Cost%20Calculator)
All the best
Sue
Ohhhh heck.... dont let my OH see this LOL
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Just looked at the calculator and I think it was designed by an accountant! It takes the cost of all the layers feed into account without deducting any value for all the eggs they laid that you don't set. Also it takes all the cost of raising the cock birds but gives them no value at the end of the calculation. If you allowed the price of a free range roasting chicken for each cock and deducted the value of all the eggs you used/sold you'd be closer to the real costs.
By the way, we get some birds from a guy on Skye sometimes. £7 each for point of lay hybrids and £12 each for pure bred pullets.
Dave
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Nobody seems to take into account the hours of pleasure and of course exercise whilst looking after them ;).
I often read about people looking for the cheapest birds, thats fine, but not many of these people ever advertise their birds for sale at knock down prices.
Bringing a bird that is fit and ready to start laying cannot be done cheaply, unless your producing thousands.
I sell my birds for £20 each and that just about covers the time, money and effort put into them.
Anyone calling here for a cheaper bird usually gets told to go away in short jerky movements. :wave:
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Twenty quid is still cheap if you ask me. I was talking to a lady the other day who said she'd give me £8 each for all my light sussex hens. I think she thought she was doing me a favour. I told her to f**k off.
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I think she thought she was doing me a favour. I told her to f**k off.
Classic quote. I had the same with piglets.
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I have to agree. The time spent (in my case incubating them) rearing and feeding them has to be taken into account, and it's not a cheap process. :farmer:
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Hi, I wasn't trying to insult anyone with my enquiry and would have been mortified being told to f*** off for asking a genuine question or making a genuine offer to a friend's son out of ignorance of market values which I might well have done if I didn't think to check on here first...
As it was having the benefit of being on here before thinking about hens, I did check previous posts on the market place before posting my question, and all I saw were hatching eggs, chicks and free cockerels so I had no clue where to start and out of zero information I guessed a tenner would be a ballpark figure for a hen.. Then being offered some hybrids for £16 I didn't know if they were dearer because they were bred for high production of eggs compared to "ordinary" hens, or if my whole guess was way out. So I asked a genuine question!
It seems that with commercial pullets being available from at least 2-3 local sources at £8-9 and hybrids from a friend's son at £16 or £12 for warrens, I am actually not that far out overall and just didn't understand the breeds and range which I now have a better idea of, so I have now got myself a plan to work with if not a completed purchase as yet :)
I'm grateful for the information provided (without insults to my lack of knowledge of poultry preferably ::) ) that has got me this far. But as a breeder of other animals whose value now is less than when produced and the cost of production to that point let alone where they are now, I have to say I don't expect breeding to be profitable across the sector on a small scale and am well used to potential buyers, in a "buyers' market", offering less than what I think stock are worth let alone what they've cost me to raise ::) But I prefer to say no politely rather than swear at them personally, whatever disappointment or irritation I might feel.. That is, sadly how it is just now, from dairy farming to horses so I had no concept that chickens had to be profitable to be worth courtesy :(
Anyway, thanks again to those who have kept me right and particularly to doganjo for coming over yesterday to look, advise and offer support to a slightly anxious newbie as far as poultry are concerned :)
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EEEeeeekk, I hope you didn't take offense at my post, I didn't use those exact words and the lady I was talking to was more 'trying it on' than a newbie. TBF, I had no idea what I should be selling my chucks for so I had a look at the various poultry breeders in the SW that advertise in Smallholder magasine, etc. and came up with a price that was fair to me and the purchaser - my girls lay pretty much 6 days out of 7 so I figured it was a good price, but wouldn't make much difference if she didn't like the price as I ask for donations for eggs towards the upkeep, more eggs = more donations...
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I dont think anyone wanted to insult or was insulted them selves. It is quite a common occurance for live stock breeders of any size or any animal to be confronted with barmy offers so people are just venting their frustration. You have done the right thing to come to this forum which is very friendly and by asking you wont be one of the people who annoy livestock breeders.
I sell my Appenzeller Spitzhaubens for £25- the reason for the price is- my birds are show prize winners for instance my cockerel won best in his class at the National Federation. If my stock werent of such good quality I would sell them for less.
Oh and if anyone wants some I have some for sale and they will also be on sale and also on show at the Honiton show (cheap advert but selling them is tricky)
I pay £12.50 for my hybrids ( I have way to many chickens!)
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Ellied my comments weren't directed at you personally just general observations. Trouble is once a few people have sold stuff too cheap it undermines the price everyone can achieve. And Joe Public doesn't differentiate between a top quality pure bred bird and a common or garden hybrid. So if someone sells nondescript birds for a low price the masses then think that all birds should be that price despite being totally different stock. Anyway, rant over. Good luck with whatever you buy.
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Hm ???
Very interesting thread ...
I had a look at the calculator & according to the sums I should be selling my POL Barnis at £24.60 each. But, as Crofter points out, it doesn't allow for the "free" free-range Sunday dinners :yum: or the lovely eggs - of which we sell 2-3 dozen a week (which nearly covers the feed costs).
A really lovely man just bought four 6 week-olds from me, for his grand-daughter to look after (with his help) & was happy to pay £20 for them (did I sell them too cheap?) so I haven't got to the stage of POLs yet, so only time will tell if folks will be prepared to pay that amount for them.
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I had a very enjoyable day with Ellied yesterday, and a lovely mostly home grown lunch - it was yummy, and I stayed well within my points target for the day (thanks, Ellie - even the cream was counted in! ;)) I met her other animals and agree that the prices she is asking do not reflect the actual value. The same has happened in my breed of dog - people are breeding them without doing health checks, with no regard to pedigree matching, and without KC registration. They are then selling them for half what is being asked by the top breeders, possibly because they do not have the contacts, and Joe Bloggs is not being told that their dogs cannot be shown, cannot be trialled, and most probably will produce non standard progeny if bred from, which may not be registerably either.
We discussed the best place for her chicken run, had a look at the coop she had bought and what it would be able to hold as opposed to the outrageous claims by the manufacturer - they said 12 I think?? I would personally only have 4 or 5 in it as in this weather they would get hot and sweaty overnight, fine in winter maybe.
The BHWT has a collection next week or the week after and I will take a couple of ex batts for Ellie and keep till she is ready for them, as she is qutei busy this week and next.
I am delighted to have made a new friend!
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no worries guys, I get anxious quite easily but it's not "offence" as such ;)
I am busy building a pen to doganjo's specifications, and will then as she says have a mix of ex-batts and the farm hybrid pullets which will work out overall to the budget I expected and give me the start of a sustainable age range/production capacity all being well..
Annie I have got the boards up on re-used fence posts in a semicircle from the front of the house to nearly parallel to the gate (narrower than the original layout) and have bought a 50m roll of wire and 6 tall skinny 2" x 8' high posts to attach double height mesh to for the remainder. Will then add a single height of mesh over the top of the 4' boards overlapping the wood so will then hopefully have a complete pen of 6' high with the road view section blocked to 4' high. There is a gate built from scrap wood and a piece of square mesh donated by the neighbours as they're moving out and can't remember what it was bought for anyway ;), and I've got hinges so just need to put those mesh sections up and find a post strong enough to hang the door off beside the back wall of the house..
Question - it occurred to me that given these 8' high posts it might be practical to cut the mesh and make movable partitions with cross pieces top and bottom, maybe across the middle too.. rather than make a permanent fence with wire between uprights but no cross sections to keep it taut.. Then the shape of the front can be changed and maybe with a few more sections like this I could build a movable 6' high pen for other bits of the garden?
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Glad youy at last feel you are getting somewhere....
i am not to far from you so if you are stuck.... give me a shout...
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no worries guys, I get anxious quite easily but it's not "offence" as such ;)
I am busy building a pen to doganjo's specifications, and will then as she says have a mix of ex-batts and the farm hybrid pullets which will work out overall to the budget I expected and give me the start of a sustainable age range/production capacity all being well..
Annie I have got the boards up on re-used fence posts in a semicircle from the front of the house to nearly parallel to the gate (narrower than the original layout) and have bought a 50m roll of wire and 6 tall skinny 2" x 8' high posts to attach double height mesh to for the remainder. Will then add a single height of mesh over the top of the 4' boards overlapping the wood so will then hopefully have a complete pen of 6' high with the road view section blocked to 4' high. There is a gate built from scrap wood and a piece of square mesh donated by the neighbours as they're moving out and can't remember what it was bought for anyway ;), and I've got hinges so just need to put those mesh sections up and find a post strong enough to hang the door off beside the back wall of the house..
Question - it occurred to me that given these 8' high posts it might be practical to cut the mesh and make movable partitions with cross pieces top and bottom, maybe across the middle too.. rather than make a permanent fence with wire between uprights but no cross sections to keep it taut.. Then the shape of the front can be changed and maybe with a few more sections like this I could build a movable 6' high pen for other bits of the garden?
Gosh you've been busy! You make me feel inadequate! ;D ;D ;D That all sounds very good! Looking froward to seeing it - or you could take photos and let everyone see?
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Ellie - there is a spot at newburgh or around that area (i think) that sells warrens or Isa browns (can't remember) which for around the £8-10 mark , or it was the last time i asked though it varies on the amount you want. Their number is in the Saturday courier in the poultry section just about weekly, I'll have a look and see if we have last weeks amd pm you with it.
if my broods had come off i would have happily arranged something but sadly things didn't work out as planned. if i hear of anything or organise to buy myself if you want i can get a few more and try for a bigger discount?
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Gosh you've been busy! You make me feel inadequate! ;D ;D ;D That all sounds very good! Looking froward to seeing it - or you could take photos and let everyone see?
Had visitors so made use of the fact that spare hands to hold posts or wield hammer were around - something I can't manage alone ::)
Was a busy day but sadly that meant yesterday was a write off and I was stuck indoors looking at it while trying not to move ::) On the positive side I got some of my taped work transcribed for supervision on Thursday but my desk overlooks the half finished pen and I want to see hens in there while I work ;)
The ply has been rained on heavily as has everything else - it was from the old residential caravan and probably marine grade originally but I'm wondering if a coat of creosote (I have half a container in the garage to use up) would help or if it is best on the outside only ie would it be good or bad for the hens side?
Want to have a go at panels of mesh on the lighter posts today - possibly in the garage if it's as wet as yesterday ::)
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Annie, pics from phone out the window over the laptop, apols for quality ;)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/EllieDouglas/hens/IMG01030-20110720-0842.jpg)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/EllieDouglas/hens/IMG01031-20110720-0843.jpg)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/EllieDouglas/hens/IMG01032-20110720-0844.jpg)
The boards run out just short of parallel to the footgate into the ponies field - you can just about see a the stallion and one of his mares in the last pic I think? The boards reduce my view of them slightly, but if it means I can add chooks :chook: :chook: to my "office" view then that'll be ok :)
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That looks good, Ellie The creosote would be Ok on the outside, but you can get animal friendly wood perservative and I haven't heard from Jim yet when the battery hen colelction is so we probably have another week or more.
I can just see the big boy under the trees and one of his ladies in teh background. Beautiful horses. Soemone asked me at the weekend if a Highland is exactly the same as a garron - I'm ashamed to say I didn't know. And do all garrons have a donkey stripe down their backs. Didn't know that either. Must gogole! Right nwo I am swotting up some toy and terrier breeds as their judge for Sunday is sick so I have to do a few extra classes and the Groups!
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Wow Ellie, your chucks are so going to love it - it'll be a great view from your "office" however will you get any work done? ;)
Annie - I totally agree with you. We got a similar house online - was advertised for 12 - think they meant quails! ::) Personally i'd never keep more than 6 in it, even if they were free-ranging all day. I use mine for the young ones, after they've come off the heat (with a home-built run) until they're big enough to contend with the main flock. Good luck with the dog show - sounds like they're getting their "monies worth" out of you this weekend :hshoe:
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Just a note - with the extremes of weather we have suffered, it may be beneficial to weigh it down, or anchor it to the floor. i have the one down from you as a broody hut and it go blown over and away across the garden destroying the eggs being sat on and injuring the hen
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Well we worked away today and I reckon we're done :). Didn't go for panels in the end just a 2 layer/storey permanent fence and a gate on.
Might be ready by Sunday or early next week - would I be best to wait for the batts before bringing pullets in or would a week or two between arrivals not matter?
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You might be better to have the ex batts first for a couple of weeks to let them recover from their trauma and maybe grow a few feathers. However, I know how keen you are to get started and I haven't heard from Jim yet. I usually keep ny ex batts separate from the others for a while anyway. A sort of quarantine. Anyoen else got ideas on this?
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Well here we are, the door, the netting, a complete but empty chicken run :) One bit of the netting had to be rolled under the overhanging weeping cherry so it looks a bit strange but I couldn't think what else to do, cutting it and nailing it to the tree didn't seem an answer.. I guess if a cat or fox gets in that will be how, but it's as good as I could do it for a first time and no doubt there will be a v.2 one day ;)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/EllieDouglas/hens/IMG01034-20110720-1603.jpg)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/EllieDouglas/hens/IMG01035-20110720-1604.jpg)
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Looks brilliant, look forward to seeing it when we get chooks for you!
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I paid £15 each for our POL lavender Aruacanas, and £5 each for Ex-bats from BHWT they have never missed a day (except when moulting) and watching the bats go from oven ready ;D to lovely feathered birds was a real treat
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I paid £15 each for our POL lavender Aruacanas, and £5 each for Ex-bats from BHWT they have never missed a day (except when moulting) and watching the bats go from oven ready ;D to lovely feathered birds was a real treat
That's why I get tehm too - gives them some life they have never had, and freedom from being in a one foor square mesh cage. even if they only liev a few weeks its worth it, and mine usually last a lot longer than that! I have a warren that rarely lays but my exbatts lay every day except when dark mornings and nights come along as I don't believe in forcing them to lay by providing artificial light.
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looks great ellie - well done
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Hi Ellied, have you decded what you are getting yet? and are you wanting eggs right away? I have some week old bantam chicks, cross between a gold laced and a chocolate partridge wyandottes. 6 boys & 4 girls (was 5 this morning but took my mum out for lunch as he birthday & came back to be greeted by my neighbour with a dead one - her dog had killed it as they'd got in her garden!)I was planning on keeping one or two of the girls. If you wanted a boy & girl, or trio I would let you have them at a nominal price ;) because I'd like to get the boys homes. I would put a photo on but don't know how to! but could e mail you a pic. And they won't take up so much room in your coop! And if anyone else is interested let me know
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I had decided on 2-3 ex batts and the same POLs from the local guy I mentioned at the start.. was waiting to get the house and run sorted, but then we missed the ex batt pickup last week so am swithering about just getting the POLs now to get going and introduce batts later if I can..
I'm not planning on having a boy around, with new neighbours imminent and no experience of chooks I think a few girls to get used to would be easier, tho your guys sound lovely and I'm grateful for the offer:)
Not sure if the original guy has any left mind, need to text him and find out - if not then start thinking again ::)
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I thought you were sorted but just thought I'd mention them. Enjoy when you get them, I could watch mine all day :wave:
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ellie, you could also contact Pillars of Falkland, that is where we got our first hens from a few years ago and they didnt cost much at all as they were their old ones that didnt lay everyday - but laid often enough to satisy our family needs.
I think Bruce is currently charging £ 2 for his birds. Just let him know your interest and he'll tell you when he has any "spare". But didn't you have some trouble with Pillars birds, Laura?
Your set-up looks great, Ellie, well done!
btw You could also ask Sue the cat lady if she has any young ones spare, sure she's give them to you at a good price ;D :&>
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I really don't want to be negative (and maybe I'm completely wrong) but I was told that an overhanging tree into your chicken area provides a handy route in for Mr Fox :-\
I would love it if someone tells me that's not the case - cause I'm just about to move my chickens and it will save me from having to take a limb off one of my ash trees - although I might still do it, cos there'd be plenty of winter wood from it ;)
Hope you get your chooks in soon Ellie - be warned though, you definately won't get any work done, chickens are great to watch ;D
Karen x
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I have a tree overhanging into mine so would be interested to know as well, I haven't had any problems so far - even my cats haven't tried that piece of circus trapezery - YET x
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Well the deed is done ;D and I've got no work done since ::)
Meet the girls:
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/EllieDouglas/hens/IMG01047-20110725-1649.jpg)
Head chook is definitely the Sussex Star aka Dixie Chick ;)
Troublemaker extraordinaire is the RIR aka Scarlett O'Hara, she's the one that escaped while I was transferring her (last of 4) from travelling cat basket to the coop and it was "interesting" trying to resume plan A.. ::)
Beautiful Bluebell aka Tallulah-Belle ;) is sweet but looks quite distinct with her lack of comb and wee fluffy white "eyebrows" :o
And last but not least "Roxy Black" who is not a Black Rock but if she'd been bred by someone else she would have been ::)
They spent yesterday afternoon in the coop to get used, were allowed out for a few hours in the evening and eventually succumbed to a 2-person, one garden net :o herding technique to go in for the night.. Not easy :o and my pal Katie has left for home this morning so I'm on my own now too :o
So far I've worried so many times that I've poisoned them with leftover scraps or something growing in the pen, that they're ill (is it a cough or is it a crop shuffle noise?), then why Dixie chose to spend so much time lying down less than 2 hours after coming out in the morning, why she went back into the perches, whether the local buzzard fledges are going to come in, chasing DivaCat out of the pen when she got in, spent hours fixing balewrap hessian in strips across the top to add ariel camouflage (useful recycling of balewrap!) and also put a fair bit in and around the weeping cherry..
I had the same thought about the tree overhanging - have netted it up as far as poss and am prepared to chop the branch back if need be but am hoping I've done enough.. I think I'm probably the most high risk to their health and wellbeing at this point tho.. ::)
What kitchen scraps/people foods can chooks NOT have please? They seemed to enjoy leftover rice/pea/corn/bean salad but not spinach leaves or pea pods so far.. bread leftover from the weekend catering was fine but only one or two accepted pastry crumbs from Katie's quiche.. They have loads of vegetation to pick at and 2 spent ages chasing wee moths about last night, so I reckon they're probably happy but I can't get on with anything cos I keep peering out or just popping by for a wee check ::)
19 weeks old by the way - so a bit to wait for an egg I reckon..
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They look lovely! By the looks of the comb, Scarlett won't be far off laying! jow exciting it is to get your first egg (I know - I have a photo of my girls first egg on myphone that I sent to everyone I know! ;D )
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All my hens lay in the nest box, it is kept in the same place, and I know the eggs will be there as I can peer in the window and see them - but I still get a thrill when I go in the run to collect them. And if by any chance i drop one it is like losing the crown jewels even though they aren't worth more than a few pence each! ::)
They look lovely Ellie, can't wait to be introduced to them. ;D
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They are lovely, and i totally know where you are coming from with your worries :) i hope someone answers your question about any scraps they can't have as i'd love to know too, i discovered yesterday that mine love grapes but not melon ;D
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They are gorgeous! & nice they are all different. I'll leave others to say what they can't have but mine never eat tomatoes, but most other things. I cook them rice, pasta twists & spaghetti & they go crazy for that. Morrisons value range, I started stocking up when 500g bags ot twists were 9p!!!! a bag they're now about 17p, spaghetti 20p. Have fun.
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thay look fine, try chucking in one grape... or one slug, theyll play slugby!
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Yup, that's good fun. Take a vid of it too! ;D Mine don't like carrots, and obviously onions neither.
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mine also dont like onions but love the green tops off the leeks!
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I just love your new girls, especially the RIR. Ive never had one of those, she's a stunner. As one who up to about 6 weeks ago had free range chooks and more eggs than she knew what to do with, Ive been reduced to advertising in the "Wanted" ads for free range eggs to buy. A few visits by the fox obliterated my brood, even my cockeral who was HUGE!!
Hopefully within the next few weeks, Ill be up and running again. I just HATE having to buy eggs mostly of which are almost tasteless, even free rangers. We are buying a new house for them, and OH is preparing a proper enclosed run with a roof to keep predators out.
Good Luck with your beautiful girls, and enjoy your first egg. It'll be well worth the wait!
Mary.
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They are all lovely, and you have some brilliant names for them!!
Ours go mental for rice, spaghetti, porridge, cherry tomatoes, well actually pretty much anything.
Including jumping up to peck at the apples in the trees.
And also (a sore point with Darren) all our lettuces, peas, beans, cabbages, carrots, strawberries and herbs that we had planted and were very proud of cos they were the first fruit and veggies that we had grown. They found a way out of their pen ::) ;D
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A wee update - last night after staying outdoors in the wet all day they finally decided it was time to put themselves to bed without my encouragement or direction :) After 3 nights of trying to direct 4 hens indoors :-\ it was something of a surprise to find the pen empty at 10pm :o but a great relief when I realised why ;)
And they're coming out quicker in the morning too, tho not that close they do like raisins, dry bread (a bit left from Sat cos I don't eat bread!), rice, they got through a couple of cherry tomatoes but took ages to bother, and they haven't eaten all the kale leaf cuttings yet.. think I saw a slice of mangled cucumber still there but not sure!
They seem to be drinking quite a lot but it may be that some is getting tipped as I don't have a proper feeder for it just 2 bowls (one wasn't enough when one hogged it ::)
I'm just loving it but they're probably going to be completely spoilt ::)
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Sounds like they've settled in nicely and you're enjoying them. They do drink an awful lot for the size of them so if you do get a 'proper' drinker I would decide what size you want, then get a bigger one! I have had bowls and they get full of soil when they eventually turn the run to bare earth. I now have bowls and a drinker hanging from a branch. Are you getting any work done in your office??
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I'm just loving it but they're probably going to be completely spoilt ::)
And the problem with that is what exactly? ;D
Glad you're having fun with them!
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Can't wait to meet 'les girls' next week. I have a big plastic dog bed full of water as well as a proper drinker - and they walk through it. Haven't caught any going down to the burn yet though. Oh that reminds me, haven't put the ducks in yet. TTFN
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Sounds like they've settled in nicely and you're enjoying them. They do drink an awful lot for the size of them so if you do get a 'proper' drinker I would decide what size you want, then get a bigger one! I have had bowls and they get full of soil when they eventually turn the run to bare earth. I now have bowls and a drinker hanging from a branch. Are you getting any work done in your office??
Thanks, I reckon I need a bigger container or two - I didn't realise how much they needed but it's helping them see me as a supplier of goodies rather than a predator so possibly a useful development ;)
Office work, um, well, no, not much actually.. :-[ I'm easily distracted ;)
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Sounds like they've settled in nicely and you're enjoying them. They do drink an awful lot for the size of them so if you do get a 'proper' drinker I would decide what size you want, then get a bigger one! I have had bowls and they get full of soil when they eventually turn the run to bare earth. I now have bowls and a drinker hanging from a branch. Are you getting any work done in your office??
Thanks, I reckon I need a bigger container or two - I didn't realise how much they needed but it's helping them see me as a supplier of goodies rather than a predator so possibly a useful development ;)
Office work, um, well, no, not much actually.. :-[ I'm easily distracted ;)
And your accountant's got your books - good excuse eh? ;)
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We use an old ground feeder for a horselick and a washing up bowl. Both work fine and cost nothing. Both get emptied and brushed out at night anyway, so soil doesn't matter. Given the opportunity, the hens use puddles, so it clearly doesn't bother them either ;D
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Hi
l adopted 12 chickens recently as a whole lot of all different breeds….to be fair l have bitten off more than l can chew so to speak and am looking to let go 6 in total. I have 3 that l can definately let go but they must be kept together as they follow each other and roost together and are really great chums..
They three are rare Lavendar Araucana’s which lay blue / green eggs!
You are welcome to come and have a look lf you are interested. I would be looking for £50 for the three. They are about 1 year old and good layers
Thanks
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I do wish people would say where they are, or put a pin on the map, not necessarily exactly where they are if they are afraid for security reasons, but near enough to give an indication of some sort. Sorry, no offence, not wanting to buy hens anyway, I can get Hylines from a friend for £8 each,fully vaccinated and wormed, adn I like getting exbatts too at £5 each..
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I do wish people would say where they are, or put a pin on the map, not necessarily exactly where they are if they are afraid for security reasons, but near enough to give an indication of some sort. Sorry, no offence, not wanting to buy hens anyway, I can get Hylines from a friend for £8 each,fully vaccinated and wormed, adn I like getting exbatts too at £5 each..
How do you put a pin on the map? I just somehow assumed someone ? Dan did it , but of course how could he if he doesn't know where you are ::)
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I do wish people would say where they are, or put a pin on the map, not necessarily exactly where they are if they are afraid for security reasons, but near enough to give an indication of some sort. Sorry, no offence, not wanting to buy hens anyway, I can get Hylines from a friend for £8 each,fully vaccinated and wormed, adn I like getting exbatts too at £5 each..
How do you put a pin on the map? I just somehow assumed someone ? Dan did it , but of course how could he if he doesn't know where you are ::)
Aah! just gone to the map & see it tells you ::)
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Well done, I didn't mean to offend, I was just particularly frustrated with someone else on Monday! :-[