[flo]

hello from very cold  oxfordshire. We are just starting again with poultry etc having just moved to a very large, very unkept overgrown garden and our acquisition so far is a RIR noisy cockeral Hurray for no neighbours. Anyone else in Oxrodshire

Flo

[juliag]

Hi there, not oxforshire but not to far away, somerset/wilts border. hate to say it but no neighbours is great isnt it! love the neigbours i have because they are not too close!!!

[Rosemary]

Hi, Flo, and welcome to the TAS forums.

Now you need some nice girls for your cockerel so he won't get lonely!

[HappyHippy]

Hello from me too,

We recently sold our farmhouse and continued to live in the converted steading, so have neighbours for the first time in our lives. It does take a bit of getting used to !

Good luck with your gardening !

Karen 

[Rosemary]

This isn't a criticism of anyone 'cos we have no close neighbours either and quite like it that way, but don't you think it's a bit of a sad reflection on our abilities to live harmoniously together that having no neighbours is seen as such a great thing?

[doganjo]

I agree, Rosemary - but it's the times we live in - if you don't like what someone is doing - sue 'em!  It's a sad state of affairs.  I was unlucky with my previous neighbour who yelled at my dogs all the time and reported me to various people - they barked when he came near the fence because he made noises they didn't understand.  Needless to say the Dog Warden, Council, and RSPCA all told him off but it didn't stop him.  I even tried giving him fresh eggs to no avail.  Now I am down here and my neighbours have said they are not at all concerned about the dogs barking (they have a  couple of dogs too) but I have been left scarred and am paranoid to the extent that I yell at the dogs if they open their mouths and I have bark collars for them in case I can't get them exercised enough and they get frustrated (like if I'm ill or working on a project such as my club books and run short of time)
I just couldn't find a place without neighbours at the same price as up north

[flo]

thanks for welcome posts, I agree its sad when we say hurrah for no neighbours, but it does depend on the neighbours, if you have people who like to live in the 'country' but dont like noisey animals, tractors, church bells etc and think that the countryside is just a big park then you have probs. Yes we do need some ladies for our cockeral who is called captain berterelli after the italian captain in 'ello 'ello. anyone know where I can get RIR hens that can be delivered.

flo

[doganjo]

Do you have to have RIR's?  If not, try ex batts - they have lovely temperaments and start laying as soon as they have recovered from the trauma of being captive.  I'm getting 4 a day from 6 even now in this weather, and they get better attention than my light Sussex as they run away from me.  My grand-daughter picked up a couple of my ex batts this morning.  They love it.  Rosemary thinks they are Lomond Browns but I think they are very similar to RIRs
Annie

[juliag]

yes i agree, we have our ''normal'' hens, light sussex, RIR, etc but our ex bats are by far the friendliest and have more character, following us around, letting the kids catch them and generally being great hens laying much larger eggs than our other hens although to be fair the light sussex are not laying yet so dont know what their eggs are like. The only thing to watch is to maybe let the ex bats recover before introducing them to a cockerel as if they are a bit weak on their legs which they will be, if he gets amorous it could all be a bit much for them. Incidentally it was so funny, yesterday I let the ex bats out and walked down to the bottom barn where their food is kept with them all running down next to me, as I am doing their food they are all pecking around outside their barn when suddenly my cockerel who is in a shed next door (i hadnt let the other lot of chickens out into their run at that point) started to crow which was the first time the exbats had heard him. They all came running in and practically jumped into my arms. It really was funny if they dont like something they run for ''mum''   

[doganjo]

Yes, mine did that the first time they met the dogs.  I have to keep them out of reach of the canines anyway as they are a retrieving breed, but they did the same as you the first time I let the dogs out and I have a teeny weeny one that did actually jump into my arms - she does it every morning when i go into their shed too.  I haven't transferred them to the pen and shed where my light Sussex are for the reason above - waiting till they are strong enough to either get away from Jamie or withstand his weight.  Could be soon though, but if Jamie keeps on crowing my neighbours may ask him to vacate the premises anyway
Annie