Cluck

[Liz]

Well... I've done it at last, I'm expecting some chickens! :preggers: No... not like that, I've ordered some chickens!

After three years of persistent, gentle nagging, John has finally given in. We have a small orchard area which is a pain to keep under control but part of it, fenced off, will be just right for some hens - less grass for me to cut as well.

I visited a local poultry rare breeds supplier yesterday, he must have around 30 different varieties there, some very pretty, fancy ones that are somewhat poor when it comes to laying and some of the more usual varieties that he said were good layers.

I decided on just three to start with, until I know a little more about what I'm doing, a Maran (gorgeous very dark brown eggs) a Welsummer and a Rhode island Red. The first two are only average layers but the last one is supposed to be an excellent egg producer.

Does anyone on the forum keep chickens?
As a complete beginner :blink: I'm sure I'm going to need lots of advice in the coming weeks!

I have decided to wait until after the Lamorna Festival as the hens wont be ready until the last week of September and I wouldn't like to leave them so soon after their arrival. It also gives my poor, long suffering husband, time to put up some fox proof fencing - if there is such a thing...

[jane jackson]

Well done Liz! Try to cover the top of the run with netting as well unless it's just too large for that. Also bury about 12 inches into the ground all along the bottom coming out towards you. Of course if you're giving them a very large area that wont be possible. Our hens were quite close to our house and yard so we had no fox trouble at all in 12 years but a lot of friends and neighbours who had them further away did lose some every now and then. Possibly on Exmoor there were enough pheasants around and free range flocks so they didn't bother with ours.

Good luck and enjoy them. We had Marans too.

[Linda]

Hi LIz
Yes me!
Started with three too and ended up with 54 at one time...now back down to 3. Lots to learn about keeping them...have a look at http://www.kintaline.co.uk (http://www.kintaline.co.uk/) they are verygood with info on the indiviudal breeds and their needs.
Regular worming, using Flubenvet, obtainable online or at your vet. Clean and dry housing...dont use straw use shavings as these are best at soaking up 'dirt'. Straw sticks to their legs. When you get them put them in their house first and keep them in for a few hours and that way they will automatically go in at dusk. Expect less eggs in winter due to less daylight hours. Expect them to need more food in summer, seems funny I know but they actually do need more at this time fo the year. Guess its more eggs and moulting etc...

Check legs for lice (if scales start parting or looking dry ) and keep housing clean and sprayed for red mite.Check for lice in a darkened room with a torch. Keep an eye on their rear that its not getting dirty as a sure sign somethings not right. Check their comb stays nice a red and upright. If it looks dull or starts laying over...its possibly worms or something else....they can get an upper respiratory infection and a form of TB if I recall correctly.

check out http://www.thepoultrysite.com (http://www.thepoultrysite.com/) which is good on various ailments


Yep! you got it....its as much work as having a dog or a cat or any other animal....but I loved it...they have such different personalities..and the eggs are soooo nice!
They also help keep down insects coming into the house so thats a bonus!

Linda

[Kath Mulligan]

Do you know what, Linda? After reading all that, I think I'll just stick to buying my free range eggs from our local butcher and let the farmer have all the hassle! The farm where they come from used to be a client when I was at the NFU so I know that the hens are kept in excellent conditions.

Good luck Liz, sounds like you will be kept busy. Perhaps better not let John read Linda's post or he may withdraw his agreement!

Kath

[jane jackson]

After Linda's post I wondered how I ever kept hens............

All very true but hopefully you wont have too many problems and the pleasure will make up for any you do come across. It's lovely to go into the chicken house and see all the hens and the roosters too, roosting on their perches all peaceful and making chicken noises.

[Kath Mulligan]

After Linda's post I wondered how I ever kept hens............

It's lovely to go into the chicken house and see all the hens and the roosters too, roosting on their perches all peaceful and making chicken noises.

A neighbour of ours has got a henpen just the other side of the hedge from our garden, so if I want chicken noises, I can just go outside and listen! Actually I am so used to hearing them, that I never even notice the clucking and squawking, but it often drives visitors mad! Mind you, he did used to keep a guinea fowl - and all the neighbours complained about that!!! It made a horrible racket and in the summer months would start up as soon as it was getting light - so we were all awake around 4.00am! It went to another home not long afterwards, I'm glad to say!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

With all the drawbacks I still enjoyed my chicken keeping days...ducks as well. I would love to keep Geese, a friend had three, don't need a guard dog with geese, but the fox made an attack on the gander 'Brucie'. Fortunately it was a night our vet was coming to do something with the horses, vaccinate, worm or something, and Bruce was brought into the kitchen under my friend's daughters arm and his wound was dressed. When his treatment was done he waddled off muttering about the indignity of being handled by a 16 year old girl.....he thought he was much to scary to be picked up. When Derek writes about Boris I get a picture of Bruce as he was full of threatening poses and wandered around muttering most of the time to his two girls. I gave him a wide berth at times the Doberman was much less of a worry, in fact she was the dopiest Dobe ever!! She lived to be about 16....dear old Sophie.
I also had Marans and Silkies. To tell the truth I found I had more eggs than I could use without baking all day every day. Gave lots to my Mum of course, so if you start with three you will be able to tell if you want to expand your flock or keep to a small number. I think I had three Marans and the same Silkies. Haven't really got room at Bryher for a hen house.

[Barbara]

I didn't know this chicken conversation was going on - I just spotted it.
It just so happens, Liz, that I have recently entered the world of chickens myself. I have never had them before either, so I know how you are feeling.Ours are very attractive brown ones called Highlines.
A friend helped us build a run and we converted Lachlan's old cubby house into a coup. They have settled in well. Two of them have started laying.
The first night I had to physically put each one to bed. Even though we had shut them in the coup for a while when we first got them home, they didn't get the idea so it was a bit of a comedy of errors standing up in the run in the rain , my son - torch in hand shining the way. Every time I poked a chook into the coup and turned around to fetch the next one, I'd meet the first one on its return journey....anyway we managed in the end. They now put themselves away in the evening.
They are such sweet little creatures. Im quite attached to them

[Liz]

Hi LIz

Started with three too and ended up with 54 at one time

Check legs for lice (if scales start parting or looking dry ) and keep housing clean and sprayed for red mite.Check for lice in a darkened room with a torch. Keep an eye on their rear that its not getting dirty as a sure sign somethings not right. Check their comb stays nice a red and upright. If it looks dull or starts laying over...its possibly worms or something else....they can get an upper respiratory infection and a form of TB if I recall correctly.
Linda

Wow!!!! That's scary Linda!
So what you're saying is that apart from lice, red mite, unmentionables on their rear ends, floppy combs, worms, TB and respiratory infections, everythings going to be fine... :blink:

Actually I had to giggle when I had this mental picture of you scanning 54 x 2 legs for mites - you must have had your hands full with that many!

Many thanks for the links the information has been most helpful and after seeing the poultry houses they have to sell I am having a rethink about accommodation.

I'm really looking forward to having my chickens and I know just how thrilled I'll be when I find the first egg!

[Liz]

Kath, John says he agrees with your sentiments entirely (but as he is such a softy where animals are concerned I'm hopeful that he'll change his mind)

My hens will be some distance from the house Jane but nearer the lane, so fingers crossed Mr Fox might not pay too many visits.

Interesting what you said about the gander Gloria, you've got me thinking now.... a gander, there'll be plenty of room near the chickens..... although maybe John's not quite ready yet for stage 2 of my smallholder dreams...

And Barbara, its so good to know that I'll not be the only total beginner on the forum where chickens are concerned - someone who'll understand completely when I get it all wrong! :girl_wacko:

[Linda]

Hey1 dont get me wrong..I loved our chickens and some of the colours and characters were just rewards! I didnt get bothered by all the screaming and shouting that went on when a rooster wanted a chicken...etc at the indignation of being chased across the lawn or fields...there was one who must have been a white star cross with a rock and he came out a magnificent white rooster...his comb was huge!!!! and he ruled everyone...yet he wasnt aggressive or anything...I just adored him.

I wouldnt get cockerels. It is more than you need if you just want eggs. What will you do with the cockerels that are born...well thats the answer...can you...I couldnt I am afraid. Yet nature kept the balance in check there was never more than one cockerel to two hens. Funny that.

I love the eggs and if I wasnt working would be happy to have a whole load again. The only problem at present is that food costs have risen so much that it costs us £12 a bag on the island. I only mentioned what I did I guess to make you aware.....I didnt know anything when we took our first three and it was a steep learning curve. I had a lady on Arran who helped me with some of the problems and showed me how to look for things.

Good luck with them...and do post some photos...
We have geese now and eight of them and they are no problem...we feed them...they are well fed and look it and are a noisy bunch...yet my neighbour has a half dozen and we never hear them...he can hear ours!
Geese are great too....except when they are nesting and you get curious and one of the males flies at you with full flight full weight, knocks you over and his beak is hanging onto the skin of your upper arm...youch!!!!!! I had a huge bruise for weeks.

I have fun dont I!! :):):):)

Love em though!!

[Kath Mulligan]

Suddenly I am beginning to be a little thankful that you didn't get Minack, Linda! Randy cockerels and aggressive ganders running around Oliver Land might have put me off visiting. :tongue:;) I am a bit, dare I say, chicken-hearted when it comes to dealing with angry animals. - sorry I know that was a dreadful pun but I just couldn't resist it! :redface::redface:

Kath

[Barbara]

We aren't allowed to have cockerels because we are in town. I must say, I do like the idea of geese. I can imagine that they would pack a punch if they got agitated - and from what I have heard they are quite easily agitated.
My vegie patch is coming along quite well. We have some very impressive broccoli at the moment and I am digging potatoes. Spring is here and, although it hasn't warmed up yet, soon it will be very hot and then we will have tomatoes.
I have "one" bluebell - don't laugh. My English friends often relate to me stories of carpets of blue, so I planted some and only one came up. However, it is so perfect and beautiful standing proudly among its neighbours that I am taking particular notice of it.

[Linda]

aaaw! Kath dont say that!

I would have kept Jeff out of the way... ;)

....D & J had chickens dont forget!......and those donkeys chased me once and I ended up in the nettles/gorse and blackberries in shorts and T shirt!...never put me off going back... ;) (I just took a different route!!! hahahahaha!)

Just think of the fun I could have with visitors... :biggrin:

[Linda]

Barbar,geese just need to know whose boss...so raise your arms in the air and clap and hold your arms wide and talk in a very loud voice! :)...thats the way to do it!
I got hit becasue I was sneaking up and didnt keep an eye open for the panzer division of males! you know what men are like!

:biggrin: :biggrin:

[Kath Mulligan]

aaaw! Kath dont say that!

I would have kept Jeff out of the way... ;)

Just think of the fun I could have with visitors... :biggrin:

Which category does Jeff come into then? - randy cockerels or aggressive ganders!!!!! :haha::girl_wink:

Kath

[Annette]

Warning.....chicken keeping is addictive !.We started with 4 marans 10 years ago and now have 23 including a few cockerels. They are quite a mottley collection including welsummers, light sussex, black rocks, bluebelles and highlines. The maran and the welsummer will give you lovely dark eggs. As Linda says you do need to keep an eye on pests but its not too arduous. I spray the pens weekly with poultry shield to control redmite. Probably once a year I dust the birds with louse powder and add flubenvet wormer to their feed.Any sign that they have rough or dry scaly looking legs they get a dollop of sudocreme rubbed in at bedtime for 3 days running, soon sorts it out. Touch wood we have been pretty lucky with ours and have not had a fox problem either. I love my hens and end up spending far too much time watching them doing the things hens do. I have tried to persuade Andy that geese would be nice but no success yet.My favourite poultry forum is practical poultry, lots of helpful people on there and quite often nice young birds for sale.Good luck with your birds Liz & Barbara.

[Liz]

Warning.....chicken keeping is addictive !.We started with 4 marans 10 years ago and now have 23 including a few cockerels. They are quite a mottley collection including welsummers, light sussex, black rocks, bluebelles and highlines. The maran and the welsummer will give you lovely dark eggs.

Thanks for all the good advice everyone, I've just had a phone call to say that my new poultry house and run will be delivered next Tuesday! I'm really excited now :girl_wacko:

Having the internet has been a real help with choosing a house. Lots of advice on the type of roof to look for (apparently roofing felt should be avoided as it harbours red mite although I'm sure I wont avoid it) and also to look for a house which can be easily cleaned.

However I am having some problems getting the chickens. I wanted three different breeds of hen with 3 different coloured eggs. I've been told that the Speckledy is a more reliable layer than the Maran - anyone had experience with this breed?

Has anyone had hens which lay a bright blue or green egg? Does the Bluebelle lay blue eggs Annette? Or is that too logical!

Oh dear, I feel such a novice at this, if I can't even choose my hens what hope is there? :blink:

[Annette]

I "think" that the speckledy is a hybrid so you would probably get more eggs from her, why not have a maran and an extra speckledy, 4 will be no more trouble than 3 :biggrin:.

The bluebelle is a pretty hen, dark grey with a reddish ruff and very dark eyes, they are rhode island/maran crosses. She lays a light brown egg. I have never had a blue egg layer although someone did once try and sell me some cream legbars that I think produce blue eggs, unfortunately the are not terribly productive.

My choice for starters would be, welsummer, maran, light sussex and probably a bluebelle but every poultry keeper would probably have a different starter choice. It sounds a bit daft but I like a differnt coloured mix of hens in the garden :p.

Is the Gobbett or the Wernlas collection anywhere near you ?, they both have a good reputation.

[Sybille Weber]

I like all this talk about keeping chicken although we don't have any of our own and, not having a garden, won't be able to keep any either, but I just love hens and cockerels. They can be such characters.
Friends of ours who have a farm used to have hen for many years. They were allowed to roam freely all over the place, and when my sister and me were still children we said we'd build a special henhouse for them where they could lay their eggs. So we collected branches and built a tent-like framework, then covered it with straw and put a soft bed of hay inside.
In order not to disappoint us the farmer's wife secretly put an egg in one evening for us to find it the next morning. Of course we were quite excited breaking the news to our parents and our farmer friends. Next morning there was yet another egg in our henhouse, and then it was our farmer friend who was quite surprised as this time it hadn't been her who had put the egg inside, but the hens had actually accepted our little building and were using it to lay their eggs there.
Unfortunately nowadays our farmer friends don't have hens anymore. There came a time when most of them were caught by a fox, so they locked them into a hen run, but the fence was not deep enough, and the fox dug under it. When a new fence had been installed, deeper into the earth, birds of prey started to get at the hen from above, so a roof was put on top. In the end though our friends decided to give up chicken keeping altogether as they didn't like the idea of their poultry being locked in and not able to roam freely.
Oh sorry, I don't want to put anyone off keeping chicken. It must be said that our friends live right in the country with a lot of wildlife around so the risk of foxes and birds of prey arriving is much higher, and a secure chicken run should also solve the problem.

[adesmith]

Not sure we would have room for chickens and I have a confession to make. I am a bit nervous of our feathered friends BUT I love the idea of fresh eggs in the morning! Anyway my limited chicken knowledge does extend to the fact that as Annette suggested Cotswold Legbars do lay blue eggs and some olive coloured ones as well. You can buy them in the supermarket and we did for a while but then the novelty of paying more for blue eggs wore off. The company that produce them is Clarence Farms I think and they also sold Brown Burfords eggs. To be fair they were free range, very tasty and I have a feeling they are based in Cornwall (maybe the Cornwall/Devon border). Thats it I have exhausted my knowledge of chickens and eggs ...

[Liz]

:rolleyes::shock:
I "think" that the speckledy is a hybrid so you would probably get more eggs from her, why not have a maran and an extra speckledy, 4 will be no more trouble than 3 :biggrin:.

The bluebelle is a pretty hen, dark grey with a reddish ruff and very dark eyes, they are rhode island/maran crosses. She lays a light brown egg. I have never had a blue egg layer although someone did once try and sell me some cream legbars that I think produce blue eggs, unfortunately the are not terribly productive.

My choice for starters would be, welsummer, maran, light sussex and probably a bluebelle but every poultry keeper would probably have a different starter choice. It sounds a bit daft but I like a differnt coloured mix of hens in the garden :p.
Is the Gobbett or the Wernlas collection anywhere near you ?, they both have a good reputation.

Naughty, naughty Annette - already encouraging me to increase the flock! :rolleyes:

Yes the Gobbett is just up the road from me and the Wernlas collection about 20 miles away so I have good places to choose from.

I looked at the Gobbett at the weekend, so many different breeds, but I think we'll visit the Wernlas collection as well before we decide.
I agree about having different colours/breeds and I thought if they laid different coloured eggs as well I'd know who was doing the egg laying and who wasn't!

Do I need to have birds of the same age and size - I was wondering if little ones would get bullied?

[Barbara]

Even if you start off with three, Liz, it probably won't be long before you're trotting off to get some more. I have found them to have the sweetest natures - so trusting. They are definitely personality plus.
We started off with six - all around the same age and of the same breed. Consequently, I do have a little trouble telling them apart. My daughter promptly named them after the members of Monty Python. Two of them are laying but I'm not sure if its Graham or Eric or Michael or John or Terry or Terry.
Surprisingly, The day after we brought them home we found three eggs in the hen house. However, they didn't follow up with any more. It must have been the shock of the move - enough to make anyone lay an egg! It took another month for one of them to start laying, but of course, they are quite young and as each one reaches the right stage of maturity she starts laying.

[jane jackson]

We used to have 4 hens which laid pale bluey green eggs. The hens were a light fawn in colour but I'm struggling to think of their breed name! I think it was something like Araconda ~ does that ring any bells with anyone? We were given 7 eggs to hatch along with a broody hen which we returned when the chicks no longer needed Mum. We were lucky in that we had 4 hens and 3 cockerels.

Good luck Liz & Barbara with your hens, you'll have hours of fun and enjoyment.

[Annette]

We used to have 4 hens which laid pale bluey green eggs. The hens were a light fawn in colour but I'm struggling to think of their breed name! .

Good luck Liz & Barbara with your hens, you'll have hours of fun and enjoyment.

Jane, I think they may be auracana's ? but I am no expert !.

Liz, if I were you I would ask for point of lay hens which are usually about 20 weeks, then you should get eggs almost straight away. I hve had hens from the Gobbett and they were very good, we live near Ombersley so is quite close for us too and a nice trip out.

I am off to Warwickshire later to take our chocolate lab to meet her "husband", so hopefully the patter of little paws in a few weeks time :)

[Liz]

Jane, I think they may be auracana's ? :)

Thanks Jane and Annette, I'll find out more about the auracana's and their beautifully coloured eggs. I'll try to get point of lay chickens so that we'll have some eggs ASAP.

Exciting about your chocolate lab Annette, has she had puppies before or will this be her first litter?

lol about the Monty Python team names for your hens Barbara! My son who is a M P addict thought this quite hilarious!

[Kath Mulligan]

lol about the Monty Python team names for your hens Barbara! My son who is a M P addict thought this quite hilarious!

Made me giggle too, Liz, especially giving male names to female hens! You could have some very confused birds, Barbara!!!

Kath

[jane jackson]

Thanks Annette, I'm sure you've got the correct name of the hens. I'm not sure that I actually heard it correctly in the first place and never saw it written down and now it's a few years ago!

Good luck with your Lab ~ puppies will be wonderful.

[Sybille Weber]

Cock - Cockerel - Rooster

Could someone explain the difference between the three? My German dicitonary gives the same translation for all of them, so I'm not quite sure which word to use in which context.

[gloria townsin]

They are one and the same Sybille. Females are hens, the others are male birds.

[Sybille Weber]

Thanks very much, Gloria!

[Liz]

We visited the Wernlas collection yesterday and were very impressed with the chickens they had. I've ordered 4 - one more than I intended but they were so beautiful.
A Maran, (chocolate coloured eggs) a Cream Legbar (which I was told would give me blue eggs) a Buff Sussex (creamy pink eggs) and a Welsumer just because I couldn't resist and they also have very dark brown eggs!

They will be at point of lay when we collect them the day after our return from the Lamorna Festival - all this pleasure to look forward to :girl_wacko:

We visited Bishop Castle's Michaelmas Fair today - a sure reminder that autumn is really here - music, dancing, superb locally produced food and a craft section which tempted me to spend more than I should. The country side is looking wonderful at the moment with all the autumn colours and natures harvest of berries and nuts in the hedgerows. We stopped the car to watch no fewer than five red kites playing in the thermals on a hillside - a really good day.

[Barbara]

Hi Liz,
I'm impressed that you ordered one more chicken than you had originally intended - sounds like just the sort of thing I would do. They do sound interesting breeds. You should get a lot of enjoyment from gathering the many coloured eggs.
That must have been a wonderful sight watching the kites in the thermals. Birds are so entertaining.
We have a large flowering bush next to the back verandah. At this time of year it is inhabited by wattle birds, which are quite hilarious. They make a knock-knock sound for the most part, interspersed occasionally with a raucous bark like a very cross fishwife.
Lately this shrub has been the preferred domain of what appear to be a cranky husband and wife. They spend all their time bickering, knocking and squawking at each other. Sometimes you can't even see them. You just hear an arguement coming from the bush.
They are the cheekiest birds in the neighbourhood, quite often perching on the clothesline taunting the cats. All in all they are superb entertainment for the whole family.

[Liz]

I've just looked up wattle birds - isn't the internet wonderful - they look amazing, so different to anything we have here. I keep forgetting that you live on the other side of the world and have completely different flora and fauna to us and that you are into spring now with a glorious summer ahead.

I find the thought of our approaching winter somewhat daunting as I spend most of the other three seasons out side in the garden, filling winter days productively can be a challenge!

[Barbara]

Just thought I'd give you an update on the chickens.
I now have three laying every day. Its so nice to open the little door and see the eggs there waiting for me in the morning.
They really are appealing creatures - they always seem so happy to see me , probably because I'm usually carrying something for them to eat.
I find myself drifting up to their little yard randomly at various times of the day just to sit and watch them....I think I've found a new form of meditation.;)

[Annette]

They are great time wasters :D. Have you tried giving them a little bit of cooked pasta or rice ?, it sends them off to chucky heaven :popcorn:

[Liz]

I hope I'll be enjoying my chickens soon as much as you are enjoying yours Barbara :girl_wacko: love the idea of just sitting and meditating whilst they peck around and do all the chickeny things they do.

I am still very undecided about letting them free range. The hen house I have bought has a 9ft run, which is quite big enough to keep them in at all times but I do like the idea of them being able to 'do their own thing'. The problem is I would have to erect some sort of barrier around the orchard area where they will live. I don't really trust next doors dog, he often comes through the hedge on to our land (and uses my lawn as a toilet!) and I'm not sure if he might attack my chooks if they were completely free. I'll be making sure they are safely inside their house/run if we are going out at any time but I'd like to give them a little more room to move during the day.

Mmmm.... more things to ponder before the big day!

[jane jackson]

I used to love scattering grain for my hens and watching them scratch about in the straw for it. Agree they're great time wasters! Lots of fun.

[Liz]

They are great time wasters :D. Have you tried giving them a little bit of cooked pasta or rice ?, it sends them off to chucky heaven :popcorn:

I heard that raisins have the same effect Annette?

[jane jackson]

Liz you do have to think well in advance if you let your hens range freely and then decide you need to shut them back in ~ I spent ages some times persuading mine to go to bed before they were ready as they can be very stubborn even if it was dusk! There's always one............... If we were cooking an evening meal for B&Bs I didn't always want to come back outside once involved with the food.

Our main flock were in a large very secure run and I never closed the pophole to their house so that was easy. Those hens never went free range.

It was lovely seeing the others which were all different breeds roaming around freely and they didn't damage the flowers. I think there was plenty lawn and field so they didn't need to. Watching all the roosters was great fun too.

[Annette]

I heard that raisins have the same effect Annette?

They certainly do!, and mashed potato, strawberries, grapes, a fresh cabbage....the list is endless.

When we had our first hens they lived in a secure pen with a run attached and they were perfectly happy. The trouble is with free ranging them is that they never seem to settle back into the being in a run environment or at least ours didn't. They would pace up and down and glare at us :tongue:.

Eventually we gave in and fenced our small orchard with 6ft wire and thats where they live. We also bought 50m of chicken electric fencing so the they could have access to the lawn but not the vegetable or flower garden.

Jane, our hens must be a "gardening" strain as they dig for England and any young plants have no chance at all :mad:

[Barbara]

:wave:Hi everyone,
I've been reading all the wonderful advice and I can't wait to try the little darlings with cooked pasta and rice....they'll like me even more!
My chickens are in a run which is fairly spacious. They seem quite happy in there. There were so many birds at the chicken farm where we bought them - all squashed in together - that I'm sure they think their present home is chooky heaven.
They did wander outside into the garden once when I didn't secure their door properly. I thought I'd have a bit of a time getting them back in but they just followed meekly behind me...I think we understand each other, although my armful of greens could have had something to do with it.
I do like the idea of letting them roam about in the garden but seeing how comprehensively they demolish any plant life that is given to them, I think that if I let them out I wouldn't have a garden for very long.:flock:

[Liz]

Eventually we gave in and fenced our small orchard with 6ft wire and thats where they live.

I think that's what I'll finish up doing. I looked at wire and fence posts yesterday at the local farming suppliers. I'd also be very happy to loose a bit of orchard grass mowing - hopefully the hens will keep the grass short/shorter.

[Barbara]

We had a small section of overgrown grass and weeds in the area where we set up the run....its not there anymore. They scratch and strut about so much that they had the area sorted out in no time.
My wattle birds appear to have had a divorce. The bush has been rather quiet the last few days.

Barb

[gloria townsin]

One of my strongest childhood memories is of my friend next door's Mum cooking potato peelings and bran mash for their chickens......smelt delicious, so when we had our own I used to cook up the mix for them adding any other veg and fruit I had available. Felt I was really doing them good on a cold day giving them some warm mash.

[Barbara]

I was itching to try the pasta and rice, so today I cooked a big pot full and took some of it up to the run on a platter for the girls.They thought it was extremely yummy and they were quite civilized, gathering around the platter...except Eric, who periodically decided to stroll amongst the banquet.
Today there were four eggs waiting for me.:wave:

[Kath Mulligan]

:D:D:D Sorry Barbara, I just can't get my head around a female chicken called Eric!!! I have been sitting here laughing my sides sore!

Kath

[Liz]

One of my strongest childhood memories is of my friend next door's Mum cooking potato peelings and bran mash for their chickens......smelt delicious, so when we had our own I used to cook up the mix for them adding any other veg and fruit I had available. Felt I was really doing them good on a cold day giving them some warm mash.

I'll have to find out exactly how to make that Gloria, how much water you put in etc.

Do any of you chickeny people keep cockerels as well as hens? Not that I'm thinking of having any, I know that the noise they make can be horrific and I would not like to be woken up at the crack of dawn in the summer by the racket they make, or like to subject my neighbours to it. Maybe if I lived well away from anyone else and housed them a long way from the house, they are rather beautiful....... no - I'll resist that one!

[gloria townsin]

On the subject of Cockerels - there is a law/rule that won't allow them to be kept on allotments. The allotment commitee went through that very recently when someone began keeping one with his flock of hens and local residents complained......personally I think the sound of a cockerel crowing is a rather lovely, country sound, but some don't think so it would appear. Anyway the Cockerel had to go. Some years ago I had a neighbour who kept some hens and aquired a Cockerel which neighbours (certainly not us) complained to the council about and they had to re-home it. Not sure if this is a general rule but worth looking into if you live near enough to people who might be annoyed by it.
Re the mash, basically all I used to do was cook the veg peelings and whatever else I'd included in a large pot with enough water to achieve this until soft, drain off the surplus liquid then stir in some bran (the kind you feed horses) to make a crumble mix, let it cool a bit as they rush madly at it. It's quite a nice feeling to give them something warm on a cold day, though it probably doesn't make the slightest difference to them hot or cold.

[jane jackson]

We loved our cockerels and their crowing and had 8 or 9 at the same time but we did live in a very country village in the centre of Exmoor. Ours used to call to the ones across the valley the other side of the village and that sounded wonderful.

It probably depends if the crowing wakes people up and then they're unable to get back to sleep. That would certainly be one reason people don't like them. Luckily our B&Bs were the other side of the bungalow to the cockerels! Nobody ever complained about them but they did about the cuckoo clock in the dining room which was next door to one B&B room. For some guests we had to stop it and restart in the morning.:clock:

[Annette]

Do any of you chickeny people keep cockerels as well as hens? Not that I'm thinking of having any, I know that the noise they make can be horrific and I would not like to be woken up at the crack of dawn in the summer by the racket they make, or like to subject my neighbours to it. Maybe if I lived well away from anyone else and housed them a long way from the house, they are rather beautiful....... no - I'll resist that one!

I have two lovely young cockerels either of which would love to come and live with some new young ladies :dance3:

Actually I like the sound of them, even when there is a full moon and they crow at 3.00am !

[Kath Mulligan]

Judging by the conversation going on between Jane and Liz at the Pottery this lunchtime, I suspect the Cluck topic will run and run!!

Kath

[Linda]

we want see pics of these chukkies!
:)

[jane jackson]

Liz hasn't got them yet Linda! I think she gets them on her return from the week in Cornwall.

I bought the DVD "Cottage on a Cliff" and watched it with Kath yesterday so now I've seen you on screen! It was really interesting with hearing Derek and Jeannie's voices.

[Barbara]

Certainly an exciting time for Liz...first Cornwall and then chickens!
All my chickens are now laying - so six eggs a day. I'm enjoying sharing them with friends and family - people are so receptive to a free free-range egg.
Could someone please tell me about the DVD "Cottage On A Cliff", it sounds like something I would love to see. I wonder if I could get it over here.

Barb

[gloria townsin]

I wouldn't really be able to send FOMS copy of the DVD that far Barbara but if you want to buy it then I'm sure Jennie would be able to send it to you - the cost of the DVD is £21 and a cheque would need to be in sterling and you would have P&P on top. If you want me to find out how much the postage would cost I can ask Jennie for you and if you want to go ahead can give you contact details should you need them. It's a very nice glimpse into a Minack we can now only visit via the books, Jeannie is featured and her voice is clearly evident on the film. Fred's birthday party is also recorded and part of the auction following Derek's passing. That's just a flavour of what to expect.

[Barbara]

Thanks Gloria,
I'll do a bit of investigating. There's something called an international money order (or some such title) and also a similar thing for return postage. I'll look into it and let you know. I'm sure I'll be able to work something out.

Barb:happy:

[Linda]

Western Union do similar Barbara....

[Liz]

Well... our family has now increased by 4 -I collected the chickens yesterday, very exciting!

They stayed firmly ensconced in their house yesterday, refusing any attempts to lure them out and I was quite worried that they hadn't eaten or had a drink since the morning, before I shut the pop-hole for the night. However all's well this morning, they are out in their run and eating well.

I'm beginning to understand what someone mentioned on here about watching them and losing all sense of time, its very relaxing and I love the way they cluck quietly to one another as they potter around.

I'll post some pictures as soon as they are properly out and about - I don't think you'd see them through the mesh at the moment!

[Barbara]

Glad to here that you finally have your chickens, Liz. I can't wait to see some pictures of them - especially since you have different kinds.
My girls are all well and each laying an egg a day. Its funny when I collect the eggs each day I feel as if they have left a gift for me.
How is dear Phoebe...has she got over her ordeal? I'm sure you're still so relieved to have her back. They seem extra precious after something like that happens, don't they.

Barb :wave:

[gloria townsin]

Glad you've got your girls at home now Liz.......the thrill of collecting the eggs never goes, as Barbara says every one of them is a little gift. I used to feel so much better about baking using our own eggs too, sort of more nourishing, though I doubt they were, just my fancy.

[jane jackson]

Know what you mean Gloria! There's something special about putting your hand under a warm feathery hen and finding an egg or two. We only had one who would peck you when you did this so had to wear gloves.

[Liz]

Glad to here that you finally have your chickens, Liz. I can't wait to see some pictures of them - especially since you have different kinds.
My girls are all well and each laying an egg a day. Its funny when I collect the eggs each day I feel as if they have left a gift for me.
Barb :wave:

I've put some photos in my album of the breeds I have Barbara - of course mine don't look as fine as they do as they're only 20 weeks old. Can't wait for the first eggs. What age do they usually start to lay?

[jane jackson]

From what I remember Liz I think point of lay birds are usually 6 months old so you should only have another month or so to wait. I expect all breeds differ in that slightly. It'll be worth the wait.

[Annette]

I've put some photos in my album of the breeds I have Barbara - of course mine don't look as fine as they do as they're only 20 weeks old. Can't wait for the first eggs. What age do they usually start to lay?


Your hens are lovely Liz and look pretty close to producing wonderful coloured eggs. Did you have them from Wernlas ?

[Liz]

Your hens are lovely Liz and look pretty close to producing wonderful coloured eggs. Did you have them from Wernlas ?

Mine are still young at the moment Annette, another 4-5 weeks before they lay, the photos are just off the internet to show Barbara what breeds they are.

Yes, we bought them from the Wernlas Collection. I was very impressed with them there, they have a wonderful variety of birds, beautiful colours and patterns and Sue was really helpful when it came to deciding on the breeds to buy.

Mine have settled down today and are now feeding well and not going into a blind panic every time I go near the coop! I think they have at last realized that I bring the FOOD!

Does anyone know about composting chicken manure? I know it shouldn't be used straight away as its very 'hot' and would destroy the plants it comes into contact with.

I have three compost bins which I use to rotate compost at varying stages of decomposition. I'm not sure if I should add the chicken manure to the bin I'm presently filling or if it needs a bin all to itself?

[jane jackson]

Sorry, can't help there. All our chicken droppings went on the general muck heap along with horse and sheep muck. I do miss jumping up and down on a muck heap! It was a very warm occupation on a cold frosty day and very satisfying getting it into a tidy shape with good edges. I don't miss pushing the wheelbarrow uphill though.

Glad your hens are settling in nicely Liz.

[Kath Mulligan]

I do miss jumping up and down on a muck heap! It was a very warm occupation on a cold frosty day and very satisfying getting it into a tidy shape with good edges.


OK, whatever turns you on Jane!!!!:haha::tongue:

Kath

[jane jackson]

That was a very quick reply Kath! I always remember when my godson was born in 1977 as his father 'phoned early in the morning to tell me and I was on the muck heap then. That was a very large one as it was at Porlock Vale Equestrian Centre in Somerset where I was on a course at the time.

Another story leading on from that, I was there for 3 months doing my BHSAI (British Horse Society Assistant Instructor) certificate. There was a chap there called Frank who was general handyman and drove the tractor bringing hay, straw etc to each of the yards. When I got married to Bryan we realised Frank was married to Bryan's sister and his son and daughter who used to be around the stables sometimes as young children then became my nephew and niece by marriage. It is a small world isn't it?

[gloria townsin]

Re chicken manure I'd think mixing it in with anything else you are composting is the best way to do it. It should help break down any leafy things in the mix.

I've spent many a warm hour on the muck heap too Jane. Nothing like it to warm you up on a Winter day. Can remember one Christmas Day with dinner to cook for us all throwing up the muck and squaring it off. I must have had a lot of energy in them there days.

[Kath Mulligan]

Oh Gloria! The thought of you working on a muck heap, then cooking Christmas dinner really made me chuckle! Not quite how I usually spend my Christmas mornings! :flypig:

Just had a text message from Claire by the way to say that the quartet have landed in New York, cleared customs and are now waiting for their flight to Nashville. Elizabeth and I will be burning the midnight oil on Wednesday night/Thursday morning as they are due to sing at 1.55am UK time and we shall be watching via a live webcast.:usa2::sing::usa::yawn: (yawning is what I shall be doing a lot of that night!)

Kath

[Barbara]

I've been piling all my used straw and chicken manure beside a bush near the vegie patch....seems I have my own mini muck heap! It was continually sodden from the winter rains and broke down quite well as we found out when we turned the pile over recently, so we've already used some of it in the garden before we planted the next lot of vegetables.
As Gloria said, it will probably be fine if you toss a bit into your regular compost, Liz.
:hippie:

[jane jackson]

See I'm not the only mad one Kath! :crazy_pilot:

[Kath Mulligan]

See I'm not the only mad one Kath! :crazy_pilot:

Obviously not!! Still can't say it would be a pastime that would appeal to me though. :dirol:

Kath

[jane jackson]

You never know until you try but Gloria and I no longer have muck heaps for you to experiment with ~ bet you're glad of that!

:hang3:

[Linda]

I used to put the wood shavings and chicken poo together on the 'compost' and it did make terrific plant food!

[gloria townsin]

Great to hear the girls have arrived and so hope they have a wonderful time. Let us know as soon as you can how it's all gone, I'm hoping Elizabeth is now much better.

[Kath Mulligan]

Great to hear the girls have arrived and so hope they have a wonderful time. Let us know as soon as you can how it's all gone, I'm hoping Elizabeth is now much better.

Thanks Gloria, they seem to be having a whale of a time so far in Nashville, sampling a lot of the bars if Claire's Facebook posts are to be believed! Elizabeth is back at work and feeling much more like her old self now. Hope your cough is settling down too after all this time?

Kath

[Sybille Weber]

Have not been around the forum for a while as I have been quite busy, so here are belated congratulations to Claire on her achievements, Kath. 33rd is not bad in view of such competition, is it? :clap2:
Lovely to hear she is having such a great time and good to know that Elizabeth is fit enough to go back to work again. :dance:

[Kath Mulligan]

Thank you Sybille. Claire arrived home this morning, very tired but very pleased with the way everything went for them. They had a great time, met lots of new people and made many new friends too. She is looking forward to an early night in her own bed tonight!

Kath

PS, Elizabeth is back to full health again too, thank you.

[jane jackson]

So glad Kath that Elizabeth has recovered well. Claire will enjoy being home again however much she enjoyed being away. What a wonderful experience for her and her friends.

[Barbara]

Liz, how are your chickens going?...or to put it in the Australian vernacular... " 'ow're yer chooks?".
I presume they've quite settled in by now. Have any of them started laying yet?
We are having some rainy weather at the moment - and I didn't have any tasty leftover vegie scraps for mine today, so I've just cooked up a big pot of oats (thank you ,Gloria,for the tip) and delivered it up to them on a platter..spoiled girls. They were so engrossed in their mini banquet that they didn't even try to make a break for it when I left the run...happy days.
:laugh:

[Annette]

My hens have just had a pan of left over rice with some overripe tomatoes, they were a very happy bunch when I left them. :D. The sheep and the horses had carrots and apples so they are happy bunnies too.

The weather here today is very wet and windy but not at all cold. Hopefully will plant the last of the tulips today. The hanging baskets have still looked really good up until now but its time to take them down. The last of the wallflowers need transplanting too and the overwintering onions planting.

Not sure how I ever found time to go to work :biggrin:

[Liz]

My four hens are doing well - they now have names, Buffy (Buff Susex) Lilly (Cream Legbar) Meg (Maran) and Becky (Welbar).

I thought initially that I would be able to keep any emotional attachment to them at bay, that they would be just egg layers, it hasn't quite worked out like that!

Maybe its because there are only four, they have such distinct personalities and they give so much pleasure (definitely time wasters I could sit and watch them for hours) I now find that they are very much pets!

The cats were not impressed with the chickens at first and thought it a huge joke to run at the henhouse and leap onto the wire causing total panic inside. You could almost see Phoebe smile to herself before sneaking away for another run!

However once the chickens were allowed out to free range both cats decided that maybe winding them up wasn't such a good idea and now they hardly spare them a passing glance.

I think maybe Buffy might be about to lay her first egg, she is acting rather peculiarly today and I noticed a little blood around her vent area earlier (sorry - that sounds very indelicate!) so I'm keeping an eye on her. Can any of you experienced in the way of chickens tell me if there are usually problems when the first egg is laid? Or am I just being very anthropomorphic and remembering my own babes!

[Annette]

Never had any problems with first eggs tbh, not sure what the blood could be, wonder whether one of the others have pecked her ?.

I would keep an eye on her as hens can be little madams when they spot blood and will peck at a hen with a sore patch. If I see anything like that I usually put a blob of sudocreme on it to hide the sore patch.

Its probably something and nothing and lots of fresh eggs are just around the corner :biggrin:

[gloria townsin]

You make me really jealous........I loved feeding outside animals.......just a joy to see how they love what you give them and watching them eat it is so satisfying.

It's true hens will peck at one that has an injury but hopefully that won't happen. I can't remember anything untoward about a hen laying a first egg, you can sometimes get oddly shaped ones, but they are perfectly o.k. wouldn't appear in a supermarket though. Each egg is like a little miracle, you really appreciate them much more than buying a box. Actuall along Meaver Road, Mullion there is a roadside box, high up at the end of a farm lane with a sign on it 'Eddie's Eggs' I'm always saying I must go and get some, what with that and Eddy's Cottage along the harbour wall, they must have a thing about the name there.

[Liz]

Thank you for passing on your experiences all - you were right, on closer inspection I discovered it was a peck injury.

The problem is that Meg likes to sleep in the nestbox and Buffy sleeps on the perch directly above. I can only presume that Buffy's backside was too good a target to resist! :blink:

I've used some diluted Detol solution on the nick and will get some Sudocreme tomorrow. Lets hope it tastes nasty and she's deterred from pecking again.

[Barbara]

Good to know your girls are doing fine, Liz.
Our cat, Willow, is quite fascinated by the chickens. We built our run wrapped around two sides of our garden shed, so she likes to sit on the roof and gaze upon them. Sometimes she just wanders up the back and sits and ponders. The chickens aren't too sure of her - they look at her sideways...in fact I'm surprised none of them has developed a cricked neck.
It has worked quite well having the run built the way it is. Their little chicken house is on one side (although connected to the run) and the entry gate is diagonally across the other side of the shed. Therefore, while the girls are pecking away in the run, I just walk around to the chicken house , open the door and remove the eggs. Willow usually comes to see what I'm up to...she seems to like being involved with the "livestock".
:hippie:

[Annette]

Our cats have never bothered about the chickens although I do remember when we had our first four they would not go to bed one night. When I went to check our cat Tinker was fast asleep in the cosy nestbox :haha:.

Ours have had left over spaghetti this morning, very happy chooks as its a nice dry morning.

Liz, I would keep an eye on that sore patch as the sight of blood does encourage the other to peck the same place. Not trying to worry you but forewarned is definately forearmed.

Gloria, I know what you mean about feeding the outside animals, I was mobbed by the sheep this morning for a few carrots, one of my old boys is terribly thin and arthritic now but in himself is as bright as a button. I know when he stops baaing at me and demanding extra grub it will be time to make a decision but the Vet is happy with him at the moment although he looks like a rescue case :(.

My two coloured horses, Scout & Bertie couldn't be bothered to get up this morning so had their breakfast carrots and apples lying in bed as it were. :D

Barbara, it sounds as though your hens and Willow have a healthy respect for each other.

[jane jackson]

Know what you mean Gloria ~ all this talk of feeding hens, sheep and horses................

I had a horse fix yesterday as went viewing with my friend again and one place had a mare and yearling. The yearling was lying down enjoying the sunshine but curiosity won and she cantered over to see us so had a stroke. My friend really liked this place as it was a small bungalow with a few acres and 4 stables and she really doesn't want to give up her 2 in foal mares + the yearling just yet although she musn't get carried away because of the price and juggling finances. We could see the possibility of chickens beng in her life again there too. I could probably have some too and keep them with hers which is a lovely thought. Time will tell however ~ she's got to get the place yet! There are poly tunnels too so Bryan's got his eyes on them.............

[Barbara]

Annette, it does sound as if you have a large menagerie there. They obviously keep you on your toes... carrots and apples in bed indeed. I think it does add an extra dimension to life - sort of keeps one grounded.
Its been raining here for the last two days. I'm not complaining, however, as South Australia has been in the grip of an "early" heatwave - I think about seven straight days over 35 and today they had 43...unbelievable this time of year. Normally things don't start to hot up until some time in January-February. The other states in the east are feeling the heat as well, so it looks like it might be another bad year for bushfires. We have a big political debate going on at the moment about climate change...made even more topical by the fact that our weather appears to be all wonky.
:flame:

[gloria townsin]

Jane what exciting prospects for your friend and a little share of chicken keeping for you would be lovely. Perhaps I should have been a bit more determined to have some land, trouble is Eddie, the ever sensible half of us, says it would all get too much to look after.......and he is probably right, but oh dear...the longing to have somewhere to keep some outdoor animals will always be with me.

I used to love shaking a feed bucket for my sheep, whoosh they would come running across the field babies with them kicking up a right old noise. Anna was always one of the first and was a lovely ewe, Charlotte the show-jumper, was a bit more skittish and tested the local shepherd's collie to the point he grabbed her, for which he got a severe scolding, though I felt sorry for him being tested so badly. He was used to sensible sheep that flock, but mine were Shetlands and native breeds aren't so good at flocking, probably to do with their native senses. Jon-jon the ram looked magnificent, but was a real terror in the field and got dangerous to be out there with, so he had to go and please do not ask me where......

[jane jackson]

Same place as our George the Jacob ram I expect for similar reasons although he was fine in the field with the ewes but not so good when on his own with the wethers. I wasn't too keen when he got Orf (think I remember the word correctly) and he had to be kept inside while being treated. I did cheat and got an experienced farmer friend to do the treatment ~ he had large horns ~ George not the friend! We still have one of his horns that came off in a hedge and a friend's dog found. That was another reason he went as the wound where the horn ripped out never healed properly so needed constant attention especially when flies were around.

[gloria townsin]

Jon-jon used to stand over any feed put out in the field and guard it, which was one downside but the worst was we had to go out in the field with a broom and be ready to use it if he charged. It all became too much of a worry so when he started charging the horses and damaging their legs the line had to be drawn. Even though he became so frightening to us, when I looked out one day and saw him completely entangled in the thorny hedge there was little else we could do but go out with secateurs and cut the brambles out of his thick fleece. All the time we were cutting him free we knew that once he felt the final ping of the bramble letting him go, he would charge forward......so we positioned ourselves out of his escape route and sure enough away he went with quite a lot of the hedge still attached. One thing he didn't do was make it onto our plates........that was too far for me, although he probably made it onto someone elses!!! :butcher:

[Liz]

I'd love some more animals. At the moment I am trying to decide if I should follow up a request by the local Donkey Rescue Centre, half a mile away, to take in one of their donkeys over the winter period, it would help with their running costs.They only have a small place and haven't been up and running for long so things are tight for them at the moment.

The problem would be having to hand back the said donkey next spring because I am sure that by then it would have become a very important part of the family.

I really admire people who look after guide dog puppies and then hand them back when they are ready for training - it would break my heart to have to say goodbye!

[gloria townsin]

I can understand how you would feel having got to know and love a donk......then having to give him back.

A family who we used to live near puppy walked for years. They had some beautiful pups through their hands and hearts, very generous of them to do it, plus they had a disabled daughter, though she wouldn't thank me for calling her disabled. (There was a TV programme about her some years ago called 'Alison' don't know if anyone remembers it, it covered her getting married to a Welsh, rugby playing vicar, she went on to have a family.) Anyway, the only reason they stopped walking pups was as Jean said, to give their lawn a rest. Don't know if they went back to it, sadly Jean passed away much too young a couple of years ago, she was wonderful when I had Matt, used to pick Jeff up from the front door and take him to nursery for me. Hmm... nice to have my thoughts jogged back to her and her family.

[Liz]

I am feeling really sorry for my chickens at the moment, after having the freedom of the garden for so long they are very fed up with being confined. I've tried explaining that they are very lucky and if they were battery hens they'd have something to moan about but they're not impressed.

A question for all you experts out there - are chickens able to cope with very low temperatures or should I be doing something more like trying to insulate the hen house?

They seem ok and three of them are laying now. The wellbar really makes me laugh as she announces the arrival of an egg with an amazingly loud crow / chuckle, I thought something terrible had happened the first time she did it but its just her way.

They are thoroughly spoiled - I've been giving them thick warm porridge with sultanas in every morning since the snow arrived and they have lots of sprout or cabbage leaves from plants in the garden plus pellets, wheat and corn (sounds as if I'm over feeding them but I keep a strict eye on the quantities)

One interesting thing, they don't like greens that I've bought in, how they know the difference I haven't a clue! Is it possible they can taste something on the bought in greens or just that straight from the garden is fresher, still full of life - who knows...

[jane jackson]

Our hens were fine on Exmoor when it was very cold for longish periods. I suppose it will have something to do with the size of the henhouse for the number of hens in that if it's just the right size and not too big their combined body heat will keep them warm. We had shavings on the floor and did semi deep litter so that would produce warmth too. Our largest henhouse which was already there when we moved was wooden clad with corrugated iron but then a lots of buildings are on the Moor. A friend's farmhouse on Dartmoor had one gable end wall clad on the outside with corrugated iron ~ to do with damp I think. Our smaller henhouse was just wooden but again with semi deep litter shavings shavings. There was one rooster who lived outside on his own as the other cockerels picked on him. He used to stay around the smaller henhouse and mostly roost on top of the wire enclosure but when the weather got cold he moved into one of the stables with a horse or into the sheep shed where he had the warmth of the ewes.

Your hens sound as though they're having a wonderful life Liz with all the goodies you're feeding them. Enjoy the eggs. I do miss collecting eggs.

[Liz]

Our hens were fine on Exmoor when it was very cold for longish periods. I suppose it will have something to do with the size of the henhouse for the number of hens in that if it's just the right size and not too big their combined body heat will keep them warm. We had shavings on the floor and did semi deep litter so that would produce warmth too.

Thanks for the reassurance Jane. Our hen house was built for 6 hens but I'm hoping that having 4 wont make too much difference. There is a six inch layer of shavings on the floor and lots of hay in the nest box so fingers crossed they should be quite snug.

[gloria townsin]

I think they dislike wet more than cold........and if they are well fed in a warm coop (which yours definitely are) they should be fine. The fact you are getting eggs is reassuring - if they were miserable they wouldn't lay at all.

[Liz]

There's still one not laying yet (blue eggs and I'm longing to see them) but I have a feeling that she might be slightly younger than the others.

[gloria townsin]

You will be so excited when you collect your first blue egg and probably be certain it tastes different......lots of baking days ahead!

[Annette]

Hens as long as they are dry really do not seem to feel the cold. I had a little hen that decided to go into a full moult in January last year. She looked really "oven ready" but it didn't seem to bother her at all.

Porridge with sultana's sounds yummy !

My chicks from last year have just started to lay, they are eight months old now.

[Liz]

I'm sure that as soon as the thaw sets in and the 'spring in the air' feeling arrives there'll be more eggs - change in length of day is already noticeable, its now not quite dark at 4.35, a bit of an improvement.

Presumably your days are quite a lot shorter than ours Linda?

[Barbara]

I'm having the opposite problem, Liz.
My little sweeties have been having the freedom of the back garden during our hot weather - and they love it. Our weather hasn't been too bad heat wise - we had nice mild mid-twenties days recently, although it is in the process of getting back into the thirties at the moment. On the really hot days I let the girls out in the morning and they just poke around all over the place all day.
I've blocked off my vegie patch - although the little imps found a way in and dug up my leeks which are now leaning horizontally. I've had to elevate a few of my pot plants as the girls seem to think my patio is some sort of buffet, and I have given them a little garden at the side to sit in and dig around in as it is under a shady tree.
On really hot days they come up to the back door with their wings slightly splayed as if to tell me how hot it is (I'm sure they're waiting to be asked in for a refreshing drink or something) - instead I've been putting on the sprinkler in the afternoon, which they seem to enjoy. They mooch about on the outskirts of the spray, get a little water on themselves, then ruffle their feathers - all in all, they are quite entertaining and they're laying well too.
:hippie:

[jane jackson]

Sounds really lovely especially the mid 20s temperatures. Your hens are really keeping you entertained.

[Liz]

I hadn't realized how entertaining chickens were Barbara and I'm surprised how mine have quickly become part of the family. They all have different personalities which are easy to pick up on when there are only 4!

I've been looking around lately for information about worming chickens - how often you are supposed to do it, what they should have etc. I read on one site that cider vinegar in their water keeps worms at bay and I must say that this appeals to me as it is a natural product rather than chemicals. But does it work I wonder?

How do you know if they have worms or is worming just something to be done regularly as with cats and dogs?

[Barbara]

Yes Jane, they are incredibly entertaining. It's quite interesting how they all seem to have their own personalities. One in particular is really endearing - she is a real "people chicken". They minute you walk out the door she is by your side and follows right behind you wherever you go. Right from the start if you clicked your fingers at her she would come to you.
Liz, I don't know too much about the worming regime for chookies - but I will definitely have to look into it. I like the idea of cider vinegar - same as you - because it's natural.

[gloria townsin]

Have a feeling you add something to their drinking water for worms, but there might be a better way now. Cider vinegar is useful for all kinds of things, helps breathing as well.
Liz and Barbara sounds as though you have some happy hens between you, cool showers for one flock and warm brekkie for the other.
And, Yes, Hurray - I've noticed the evenings drawing out.

[Liz]

A question for all you experienced chicken people.......


My Maran chicken has started to lay but her eggs are not the right colour. They are supposed to be a dark chocolate colour but are pale brown with some very faint speckles (very difficult to see)

I am wondering if it takes time for the colour of a chicken's egg to develop. Do they change colour as the chicken gets older or have I been sold a duff chook - :blink:
I love her to bits though......

[jane jackson]

I don't remember my Marans laying such a strong dark colour that would be described as chocolate and I think they varied in strength of colour according to the hen. Annette might have more up to date info though Liz. They'll taste just as good whatever the colour!

[Annette]

Hello Liz, my first hens were marans and I seem to remember they were laying mid to dark eggs. I only have one maran in my flock now and she is one of my OAP's and hasn't laid for ages. Perhaps the eggs may darken although I seem to remember that they actually get slightly paler as the seasons progress. Might be worth having a word with your supplier.

With regard to the worming I think the ACV makes the gut an inhospitable place for worms. you can also use a natural product called Vermex. Tbh I have never noticed a chicken with worms but I do give mine a powder once a year mixed with their pellets, Its called Flubenvet.

Being a bit sceptical I think the whole worming thing is blown out of proportion by the pharmaceutical companies. Whilst I would always worm puppies and young horses its now become a really expensive and I do wonder in older animals how much of it is really necessary.

[Liz]

I can see we think along the same lines Annette, I am very sceptical where pharmaceuticals are concerned, its about making money as most things are.

My concerns, dare I say it, also apply to vets. I know that we really couldn't do without the hard work and dedication they put in when pets are ill but I think that in some cases they are quite happy to pander to the over protective owner when they dish out expensive drugs. I think its like all things medical, you need to read and understand as much as possible about the problem yourself before going to see the experts (not always possible I know)

I am putting cider vinegar in the chicken's drinking water and am keeping an eye on droppings for signs of worms, although I know that there are worms that also live in the respiratory system.
To be on the safe side I will also use Flubenvet once a year as you suggested Annette.

[Liz]

I don't remember my Marans laying such a strong dark colour that would be described as chocolate and I think they varied in strength of colour according to the hen. Annette might have more up to date info though Liz. They'll taste just as good whatever the colour!

You're absolutely right Jane - the eggs taste delicious whatever the colour............... but it would be nice to have some really dark chocolate ones......... maybe its the easter egg association that makes them so attractive - can't resist those !:girl_wacko:

[Barbara]

A few weeks ago we found the most gigantic egg - I couldn't believe one of the chickens had laid it being that it was about three times the size of their normal ones - and the other day we got a tiny little one that looked as if it had been laid by a budgie - strange, but true.:blink:
On the whole though, they lay good sized eggs. I have to keep an eye on them however, if I have to let them out of their run early because of the heat, they tend to go in amongst our bushes and lay in the shade - quite often then I can't find the eggs. I heard several chickens cackling close to the house the other morning of a 40 degree day and I was sure they were laying in a pile of leaves and grass clippings, but couldn't find any eggs afterward. The best thing for me to do is try to keep them in the run until they have all done their duty for the day.

[Liz]

That huge egg must have hurt - it brings tears to the eyes just thinking about it! :wacko:

The 'f'ind the eggs' game must be a problem but its still worth it, knowing that the chickens are living as natural a life as possible - I know you feel the same about it as I do.

At the moment my three girls go back to the hen house to lay but once the summer comes I can imagine they'll prefer the great outdoors!

Thinking about it though, one still isn't laying...... or is she....... maybe I'll check the borders tomorrow!

[jane jackson]

I used to have one old fashioned bantam hen and she was notorious for laying away. I hadn't realized she was doing it until one evening she didn't return to the henhouse. I looked around but couldn't find her. Every morning she was there at feeding time but it took a couple of days before I discovered her nest as although I thought I had my eye on her feeding, I only had to glance away and she'd gone. Eventually I found her very well hidden high up on the bank by the car park in a lovely hole made by the roots of the hedge ~ she had something like 16 eggs in that nest. I felt really mean removing the eggs but we didn't want all those chicks, there was bound to be loads of cockerels that we'd have to dispose of and we didn't need any more of the smaller hens. I did enjoy the chicks we did hatch though, they were such fun.

[Liz]

Grey with the occasional sunny patch here today but the wind makes it feel very cold.

I've spent the morning chicken proofing (although its effectiveness is yet to proved) part of my garden, the girls have been having a wonderful time of late removing bulbs, eating the first shoots of plants and generally causing mayhem!

The final straw yesterday was when they dug a tunnel under the fence and spent a very enjoyable half an hour in next doors veg patch! Fortunately the neighbours are away at the moment.......... and I can't actually see any damage although from the smug look on their faces when I discovered them they had certainly found something to feast on.

I wouldn't mind but they are very well fed. They are providing a good supply of eggs now and I am about to try my hand at pickling some. John threw his hands up in horror when I suggested this - even the thought of them makes him feel queasy- but I really like them, its the old love/hate Marmite thing I suppose!

[Barbara]

They are ravenous little feathered beasties (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) - aren't they, Liz. I blocked off my vegie patch ages ago from their advanced raiding parties. It has been hot here lately so they have been let out into the garden everyday, and this means that they have been mooching around my pot plants on the patio. I elevated quite a few plants but couldn't get them all out of harms way - they seem to particularly like busy lizzies and almost-ready-to-bloom plumbago flowers. My mum managed to get me a lovely frangipani plant and I accidentally left it on the ground but thankfully they didn't think it was appetising - dear little mites - I suppose they need their sustenance.
:chicken:

[colleen]

Love the talk of chickens when I was a child we had a small farm in British Columbia and sold chickens to the local butcher.I remember I hated picking the pin feathers out of them. In the cold winter nights we would put the baby chicks in a box on the oven door the wood fire gone out but still warm. We had little banty hens and a rooster I was scared of them as they would come after you. I love ducks and geese where I live now walk down to the park and watch the ducks in their pond. The park is where they filmed the BBC comedy Butterlies with Wendy Craig . I dont know about it would anyone remember it.

[Liz]

The park is where they filmed the BBC comedy Butterlies with Wendy Craig . I dont know about it would anyone remember it.

Yes, yes, yes Colleen - loved that series!

Its one of those oldies which I don't think would grab the younger generation today, the action (or lack of it) would be too slow. Although not much progress was ever made between the main characters it managed to intrigue and delight to the end.

[Barbara]

Hi Colleen,
I was just about to pop off to bed as it's the middle of the night here, but thought I'd reply to your post first. I remember Butterflies and Wendy Craig.
We have a nice little duck pond just over the road from us. In reality it's an overflow collection area for rainwater run-off. However, the area has been beautified and makes quite a quaint little pond surrounded by a bush reserve. Problem is that usually around this time of year when we have had a long hot summer it dries up and the ducks move to a larger wetland area a few miles away. The local residents do try to keep them here for as long as possible - in years gone by they've taken receptacles of water across to the pond and it's not unusual to see the ducks gathered around a blue kiddie's pool on someone's front lawn. We used to have a large family of domestic ducks living at the pond with the wild ducks but I think they have all met their maker as I haven't seen them for a while.

[colleen]

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[adesmith]

I remember Butterflies and find it very nostalgic. It was being filmed in the late 70s/early 80s I believe and not long after my family had moved to Cheltenham from Lincolnshire. It just brings back so many memories. Apparently (I dont remember) one day my Mum, my sister and I were walking down the Promenade and they were filming. I think we were extras although I dont think we were in the final cut. Wendy Craig came over and spoke to us and my Mum says that she said we were adorable children. Whenever its on the tv I like to watch it for old times sake.

[adesmith]

I meant to say also that at St Fagan's Museum there is a little bakery that bakes old fashioned bread. There are some birds that live near by and people feed them bits of the bread but the lady baker gets really cross. She tells them that bread is bad for them because its swells up inside them and she gives them scones instead! That doesnt really help with the pollution of ponds though.

[gloria townsin]

Butterflies was a brilliant series. I was torn between wanting Wendy Craig's character, please someone remind me what she was called, to have a romance with her dream chap and wanting her not to because of her husband. Geoffrey Palmer was brilliant in it a very dry wit. Loved her culinary disasters, and the way the family gathered to experience them. The boys eating everything because that's what boys are like. This was also an early Nick Lindhurst venture although he had appeared on childrens TV.

Had to laugh at your naughty chickens Liz......bet they had a wonderful time until you brought them back in. Hens have such an attitude of quietly digging away never thinking what mess they are causing.

Ah just thought of her name 'Ria'.

[Kath Mulligan]

Butterflies was a brilliant series. I was torn between wanting Wendy Craig's character, please someone remind me what she was called, to have a romance with her dream chap and wanting her not to because of her husband.

Had to laugh at your naughty chickens Liz......bet they had a wonderful time until you brought them back in. Hens have such an attitude of quietly digging away never thinking what mess they are causing.

Ah just thought of her name 'Ria'.

I clicked on reply before I read to the end of your post, Gloria, and was about to say "Ria" but you beat me to it.

Liz, I had a real chuckle at your wandering chickens too - perhaps as well the neighbours were away! Obviously the old adage of "the other man's grass ...." also applies to chickens.

Kath

[jane jackson]

I remember Butterflies too ~ a lovely programme. I like both Wendy Craig and Geoffrey Palmer, he was very good with Judy Dench too in "As Time Goes by" if I have the title right.

Love your chickens Liz, bet they were having a wonderful time. I used to love watching our small flock on the move just like an army always in the same order.

[gloria townsin]

Oh the lovely 'As Time Goes By'..........oddly the song always makes Jeff feel sad. I suppose a song about time passing is thought provoking. I just love the song. 'Play it again Sam' although that wasn't actually what was said in 'Casablanca', think it was something more like 'Sam play the song...........'

[colleen]

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[Barbara]

I was always under the impression that Play It Again Sam were not the actual words said in the movie.
I loved As Time Goes By - it was a real gem. But then I used to love all of those shows from the 70's and 80's. I loved The Good Life and Fresh Fields and To The Manor Born, to name a few ( I could go on and on).
On the other subject of duck ponds - today as we drove passed, I spotted a green kiddies pool on a neighbour's front lawn surrounded by some native ducks - and one of the last of the family of domestic ducks - so glad the old fellow is still with us.

[Kath Mulligan]

I just googled and found a clip on youtube. The actual words Ingrid Bergman said were "Play it once, Sam, for old times sake. Play As Time Goes By.

What a stunningly beautiful woman Ingrid Bergman was.

Kath

[colleen]

Read that Play it Again Sam was one of the most misquoted lines in a film. What Humphrey Bogart said was Play it ,Sam
The piano player got the message any which way

[gloria townsin]

Yes it is misquoted which is why I can never nail exactly what was said. Ingrid Bergman was very beautiful but her daughter Isabella Rossilini is stunningly so.

[Liz]

I'm here again with my chicken problems!

Buffy has decided that going broody is the in thing and that sitting in bed all day carefully manoeuvring the other hens eggs underneath her is much nicer than being outside scratching around. The others are getting somewhat fed up with her as she manages to take up most of the nest leaving little room for them.

I Googled the problem and bought a wire dog cage which has allowed me to isolate her and for cold air to circulate around her nether regions, lowering her temperature, thus (hopefully) convincing her to snap out of her trance and start laying again. However, she is not amused and has moaned and complained all day especially when I go out.
I feel soooo guilty every time I look at her! :(

Do any of you more experienced chicken keepers know of a gentler way?

I know I should probably put some fertile eggs underneath her but I don't really want to increase the size of my flock (all four of them) and I would hate to have to get rid of/eat the inevitable cockerals!

All advice would be gratefully received......

[colleen]

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[jane jackson]

Sorry Liz, don't have any answers other than what you're already doing. We had about 30 hens so just let them get on with it and made sure we kept removing the eggs. I was also quite happy to have a broody hen as we did rear our own chicks every now and again which is why we ended up with
9 cockerels. We didn't really have that many that went broody, we had marans but quite a lot of hybrids which don't go so broody I believe. Hope Annette or Gloria can be of more help.

[Barbara]

Hi Liz,
None of my girls has gone broody yet, so I'm not able to help you with that one. It does sound as if you are doing the right thing. Let us know how she goes.
:chicken:

[jane jackson]

Sorry Barbara, forgot to mention you as a possible source of help to Liz!

[gloria townsin]

I think the only thing you can do is to take the eggs away as soon as they are laid and turf her outside not letting her 'sit' is the quickest way to get her in a productive state of mind again. I doubt you will have to do it for long............Bantams are especially ace at going broody which is why they are so good at hatching everyone's eggs.

[Liz]

Thanks everyone - its good to know that I am doing the right thing, I suppose its just a matter of waiting now.

Buffy is a very determined broody hen. I have her separated from the others during the day and then towards the evening I let her back with the flock. However after an initial few minutes pecking around she heads straight back to the coop and the nest box!

I had to laugh at her, I'd put upturned flower pots in the nest box to deter her from sitting but found her all fluffed up and precariously balanced on the top of them! :secret:

[jane jackson]

I had to laugh at her, I'd put upturned flower pots in the nest box to deter her from sitting but found her all fluffed up and precariously balanced on the top of them! :secret:

What a wonderful picture that conjures up Liz! A very determined Buffy.

[gloria townsin]

She's one determined chookie Liz. Perhaps she thinks she will hatch flower-pot men......as in Bill and Ben......hello little weeeeed..........

[Liz]

She's one determined chookie Liz. Perhaps she thinks she will hatch flower-pot men......as in Bill and Ben......hello little weeeeed..........

lol - good news today she seems to have given up trying to hatch everything including the flower pots!

It will be interesting to see how long it takes her to come into lay again!

[gloria townsin]

She has obviously woken up and thought 'Righty Ho!! Enough of that......let's get on with life!' Doubt it will take her long to begin laying again now she's over her wanting to be a mummy.

[Kath Mulligan]

Oh dear, we all know that broody feeling, don't we? When Elizabeth was about 3 years old I tentatively mooted the idea of having another baby with Vin to be told very firmly to forget it!! Glad your broody hen seems to have got over the urge to hatch flower pots, Liz.

By the way, did you hen that was going to lay blue eggs start to lay for you? I'm sure she must have done by now, but don't remember seeing any postings about it.

Kath

[colleen]

Love the word broody, I seen where you were talking about chickens as far back as 2006.

[gloria townsin]

That's how I ended up with three children........would have loved more though, Eddie, however, thought three was enough!! Would love grandchildren but no luck on that front............

[colleen]

All this talk of being broody and wanting more babies didnt know you were such a sexy lot.

[Liz]

Oh dear, we all know that broody feeling, don't we? When Elizabeth was about 3 years old I tentatively mooted the idea of having another baby with Vin to be told very firmly to forget it!! Glad your broody hen seems to have got over the urge to hatch flower pots, Liz.

By the way, did you hen that was going to lay blue eggs start to lay for you? I'm sure she must have done by now, but don't remember seeing any postings about it.

Kath

All four of the hens are laying Kath but no blue eggs - don't know why, my cream legbar hen who, we were were assured by the breeders would lay blue eggs, lays large mid brown ones.

I have wondered about complaining to the breeder, because our hen must be a bit of a dud, but not sure what they'd say. I wouldn't want a replacement as it is difficult to introduce a new hen to a small flock - the others would likely bully her.

I can guess what they might do if we took this one back for an exchange :hungry: !!!!!

So softies that we are, we've decided to keep her - her eggs are delicious after all.

[Kath Mulligan]

I can guess what they might do if we took this one back for an exchange :hungry: !!!!!

So softies that we are, we've decided to keep her - her eggs are delicious after all.

I'm with you on that one, Liz, I wouldn't be able to take her back if she was likely to end up as someone's Sunday lunch either! And so long as her eggs are tasty, what does it matter what colour the shell is (says she who always goes for the dark brown eggs!)

[Kath Mulligan]

All this talk of being broody and wanting more babies didnt know you were such a sexy lot.

I was in my thirties then, Colleen!!!! Nowadays, like Gloria I would settle for grandchildren but nothing doing on that front at the moment.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

We'll have to console each other on the grandchildren front Kath.......for the moment at least - we can live in hope!!

Re blue eggs, perhaps once the warmer weather begins or the hen is a bit older will be when the eggs will be blue.......just a thought.

[colleen]

A few people have mentioned to me that they thought Jeanne and Derek had an open marriage . Why would they think this and is there any evidence of this.

[Kath Mulligan]

A few people have mentioned to me that they thought Jeanne and Derek had an open marriage . Why would they think this and is there any evidence of this.

Can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would think that! For a start, where was the opportunity when they were together 24 hours a day at Minack?!!:fie: Think Derek had one or two lady friends after Jeannie died, but there is no harm in that. Sometimes, after a long and happy marriage, I think the surviving partner may try to find someone else to try to recreate some of that lost closeness and companionship.

Kath

[Liz]

Can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would think that! For a start, where was the opportunity when they were together 24 hours a day at Minack?!!:fie: Think Derek had one or two lady friends after Jeannie died, but there is no harm in that. Sometimes, after a long and happy marriage, I think the surviving partner may try to find someone else to try to recreate some of that lost closeness and companionship.

Kath

I'm with you there Kath - time and opportunity would seem to make this possibility unlikely and from his books comes the very strong message that Derek and Jeannie were devoted to one another - why risk spoiling something beautiful for something so meaningless....

[Janet Swan]

I don't think we should try to find out really personal details about Derek and Jeannie's private lives - the books they wrote say all we need to know, don't they?

Janet

[jane jackson]

I agree with you all there.

[Linda]

Derek mentions it himself in his books Colleen. Think we simply take him at his word.

To discuss the deepest parts of his life would perhaps be an intrusion into his memory and we can only ever surmise and conjure up ideas to which most times as human beings we end up getting it wrong. :):)

[colleen]

I agree with you all.

[colleen]

Tangke the beautiful black labrador dog from Afghanistan will be flown to Britain on Wednesday and then be in quarantine for six months and then found an adoptive home hopefully with Linda. I do feel bad when an animal has to go into quarantine after running free but dont know what the situation is like in quarantine.

[Mary Young]

Lets all hope Tangye the dog gets a home with Linda.

[jane jackson]

Most definitely. I saw an article about Tangye in the Daily Mail re him coming back to the UK

[gloria townsin]

Yes - I'm still hoping he will go and live with Linda and Jeff.

[Liz]

Had an interesting happening with the chickens yesterday. One of them laid me a soft shelled egg - so soft it was hard to pick it up!
The others laid nothing at all for a day.

I can only presume it was the shock of the sudden freezing temperatures with a bitterly cold wind again - have to admit it would put me off if I were a ckicken! :blink:

[Kath Mulligan]

Had an interesting happening with the chickens yesterday. One of them laid me a soft shelled egg - so soft it was hard to pick it up!
The others laid nothing at all for a day.

I can only presume it was the shock of the sudden freezing temperatures with a bitterly cold wind again - have to admit it would put me off if I were a ckicken! :blink:

Perhaps they are saving up some extra special ones for you tomorrow, Liz - maybe decorated shells?!!

Kath

[Barbara]

Sometimes strange things happen with eggs - although for the most part my chickens have been fairly consistent in the egg department. However, I think I've already reported on here our huge egg that was about three times the normal size - ouch!. A few days after that we got a tiny one - budgie size - I suppose that evened things up.

[gloria townsin]

Might be worth checking out the soft shelled egg on the internet........I have a feeling there is something you can do about it, although it might well be a one off.

[Linda]

Hi Liz,
A good site re eggs
http://www.blpbooks.co.uk/articles/egg_problems/egg_problems.php
usually its to do with diet/illness/weather/age.....
worming regularly twice a year using Flubenvet, sprinkle in feed or mix with a bran mash, tonic in water afew times a year, varied diet to include grass/insects/feed.....I always leave mine to have total free range so that they dont soil the ground in one place which can lead to bacteria/parasites...yes they can still pick things up that way but think its better than in house or in a small enclosure thats not moved about. Theres no need for a cockerel unless you want fertilised eggs to sell, rear chicks...
We still have three left, and they lost all their feathers in middle of winter and I thought they were going for sure, but it was a moult...a good sign is a nice red comb that is standing up well....if it begins to flag or go paler then they are not feeling 100%.
Hope this helps a bit...

[Liz]

That's a useful site to know about Linda - the chickens seem to be back to normal now so I think it must have been the very cold snap we had.

[Liz]

Perhaps they are saving up some extra special ones for you tomorrow, Liz - maybe decorated shells?!!

Kath

That would be nice Kath - I've promised my niece that we'll have a go at painting and decorating some eggs although it might be too fiddly for her little hands at the moment.

The pickled eggs I made a couple of weeks ago are very yummy but I have to 'partake' of them when John isn't around - he's quite disgusted that I'd even contemplate eating one! :noway:

[colleen]

I looked at that site you suggested Linda really informative wonder if anyone has ever kept Turkeys, you always hear about ducks,geese,chickens not that much on turkeys

[gloria townsin]

My friend's husband kept turkey poults (think that's the name for young turkeys) one year. They had a large stable to run round in, don't think they ever went outside though as the ponies would have probably chased them and they are very nervous creatures. He reared them for Christmas and I have to say it is still the best turkey I have ever tasted, although not keen to see them raised and slaughtered. They aren't as sturdy as fowl and need a reasonable climate to grow in. They do have quite a pungent smell I seem to remember.

[colleen]

Well spring has sprung at "Butterfly Park" the ducks are ducking nature is in bloom and I even seen a beautiful big bumble bee which was nice as I think they are or will be on the endangered list, what a shame that would be.

[colleen]

Just to add the first bumble bee sanctuary was established at Vane Farm Loch Leven National Reserve Scotland in 2008

[Sybille Weber]

Bumble bees are just great, aren't they, Colleen?
Have posted a photo of one that I took in spring last year.
Saw a lot of bumble bees around two weeks ago when we had that warm spell, but hardly any at present.

[colleen]

Just absolutely lovely Sybille you can see how they get that expression "busy as a bee" love the buzzing sound they make as they go around doing their thing , also thought Patricas cottage is called bumble bee cottage.

[adesmith]

Colleen, I read your post about the bee and thought how nice, a sign of the warmer weather. I then went into the garden to change the bird feeder around (the saga continues as we move it back to the front garden again) and saw a bee of my own buzzing around! My first one of the year.

I was a bit sad though because I noticed the other day that where we had put some of the rotten wooden flooring and shelves from the newly refurbished potting shed there was a big plastic tub that had filled with water (it is all tucked behind the house until we can dispose of it) and it was full of frogspawn. The lady a few doors up has a pond and we often get frogs/toads in the garden. Anyway I decided to leave the frogspawn and the frog and thought that I would show it to Rupert, let them change to frogs etc and then either leave them to find their way to the pond or carry them down to the river (as I ahve said before the river is tidal and quite fast flowing so I am not sure that they would like that). Well I went to move the tub today so that I could show Rupert tomorrow and I found a dead vole that had drowned in the tub! It was really sad! I am a bit squeamish about dead animals so Rachel went and scooped it out for me - its taken the edge off the frogspawn thing though. I might put some wood in the tub tomorrow so that if anything else falls in, it can climb out.

[Liz]

Excellent that you have frog spawn Adrian - there's not so much around this year as so many frogs have not made it through the winter.

Several of my friends with ponds reported that during the cold spell they found lots of dead frogs on the ground around the pond - one friend found 15! Looking it up on the web it said that the iced over ponds had caused a build up of damaging gases in the water and at the first opportunity the frogs had climbed out to escape the poisons and then become caught out by the cold - very sad.

I'm sure Rupert will love watching the tadpoles develop into tiny frogs - make sure there's something for them to eat, weed for the first week or two and then they'll need protein - fish food is handy for this. Not sure about the brackish water of the tidal river, don't think frogs do saline conditions but any freshwater pond would be great.

Good luck with your frog nursery!

[Janet Swan]

Adrian, you can just leave the froglets in your garden and not move them anywhere, because they can live happily with you and eat up all your slugs etc. They don't need to be taken to water, but do feed them, as Liz says. Some years ago, I found several frogs in my garden and I'm a long distance from any ponds or streams so don't know how they got to me, but they did. I initally sunk a cake tin (!) in the ground, so they had some water to jump into if they needed to (e.g. to get away from cats or when it was very hot). Then progressed (!) to two old washing up bowls sunk in the ground, containing some large stones and a bit of pond weed from a friend, partly covered by a couple of old tiles, and several generations have since lived very happily like this.

Janet

[adesmith]

Thanks both for the advice. I didnt get out into the garden today with Rupert but I think on Thursday (have to do school work tomorrow :() we will have a look and make sure that all is well with the frogspawn. Thats interesting about the cold winter having such an effect on them. We really do get quite a few in our back garden and sometimes in the front as well. I would be very grateful if they ate the slugs, Janet! What kind of weed shall I find for them? We have fish food for the fish indoors. I am planning eventually to have a mini pond in the garden and was considering a half barrel or building a trogh and sinking a small pond into it. I shall have to have a think. There isnt much ground in the back that I could sink a pond into because it is mostly paved.

[jane jackson]

Your frogs sound wonderful Janet, they obviously like the way you provide for their needs. Good luck Adrian with the frogspawn, hope you have lots of tadpoles and then frogs. I love tadpoles, they're such fun to watch.

[colleen]

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[Kath Mulligan]

You shouldn't have said that, Colleen, I have just been cutting some branches off my forsythia to go in a vase with some daffodils, now I feel I ought to go out and apologise to the bush for cutting some bits off!! :oops!::toomuchinfo:

Kath

[colleen]

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[Janet Swan]

Oooh, Adrian, I don't know what the pond weed is called! I just looked in my friend's pond and said "Can I have some of that, please?"!!! It grows like long bits of thread with green fronds making a sort of sausage shape growing off the thread, looks a bit like mini bottle brushes - help, someone who knows, please?!!!

Janet

[adesmith]

Dont worry Janet. If I get a chance I may ask the lady who has the pond, she is bound to be bale to spare some. If not we buy weeds for the inside fish (they live in a Biorb) and I could just pinch some of that.

Funny you should say that about trees. The people opposite (and slightly to the left of us) had some big fir trees, possibly Leylandii in their back garden. They didnt really spoil our view because there were only two and as I said they were slightly to the left of us (we are higher than them and so have a view over their roof to the river, flood plain and hill, village and fields on the otherside) but when some tree surgeons arrived today I thought it would be good because it would improve our view. I now feel a bit sad that they have gone because they were so tall and stately! I can understand why the people chopped them down because they must have blocked out a lot of light.

Wasnt there a Tales of the Unexpected when they could hear plants cry out in pain? There was that scary movie (I cant remember what it was called) when the plants and grass did something with like a wind that made people kill themselves as well. It was like a funny wind thing that effected their minds! I pestered Rachel to let us watch it because she doesnt like scary movies and then I sat there scared to death as usual - it was entertaining but a load of nonsense!

[adesmith]

Just found this which looks interesting:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/reptile-and-amphibian-forums/10066-feed-tadpoles.html

Its the second time that I have found useful help on this particular forum.

[jane jackson]

That link was fascinating! Good luck with your taddies..................

[Kath Mulligan]

Since my garden is still a blank canvas after having it completely cleared out last autumn, I think I might borrow Janet's idea of sinking an old washing up bowl into the soil and seeing what happens. For several years we had a toad that lived quite happily in our jungle; he used to squat nearby croaking at me if I was sitting out in the garden on a warm evening but there was no sign of him when we were clearing everything out because I was planning to rescue and re-locate him if he was still there.

Since we are being forecast some nice warm and sunny weather for the next few weeks, I shall be tempted out to remove the black polythene sheeting which has been hopefully killing off most of the perennial weeds over the past few months, then I am planning to have a go at some veg growing this year. Potatoes, dwarf French beans, sugar snap peas and maybe carrots, and lots of sweet peas along the back fence.

Kath

[jane jackson]

Since my garden is still a blank canvas after having it completely cleared out last autumn, I think I might borrow Janet's idea of sinking an old washing up bowl into the soil and seeing what happens. For several years we had a toad that lived quite happily in our jungle; he used to squat nearby croaking at me if I was sitting out in the garden on a warm evening but there was no sign of him when we were clearing everything out because I was planning to rescue and re-locate him if he was still there.


Kath

As you have a blank canvas why not go the whole hog and get one of those pond bases which you put into the ground or utilize the black polythene if it's possible to make a small pond and then you can plant around and in it with maybe a water lily + a goldfish or 2? We only have the half barrel with a few marginal plants in and 2 shubunkins which are now only 1 since Silver died about 10 days ago. Our friends who are coming this weekend are hopefully bringing a replacement from their very large deep pond. It's great fun and fascinating to watch the fish and snails ~ somehow water snails are nice unlike garden variety, perhaps because they can't eat the plants in the garden, different shape too. We tried a small water lily and it flowered once the year before we moved and then never flowered again so we've given up on that, the barrel may be too small.

[Kath Mulligan]

The garden area I have left, Jane, is not really big enough for one of those moulded plastic pond bases and I do have an old dark brown washing up bowl that would fit the bill and not take up too much space. (Also, having now got two more holidays booked, I am on an economy drive and counting the pennies, so the washing up bowl will be much the cheaper option!).

Kath

[gloria townsin]

When we had our ducks I sunk our old baby bath and they loved it. We will have to re-site our front garden pond at Bryher at some point as it is in the way of how we want/need to change that bit of garden. Much as I hate the idea we have to make a way of turning round once in the drive as backing out onto the very narrow road on your own is not terribly safe or easy......Adrian will confirm that. That bit of garden is a tiny scrap of lawn which is now a tiny scrap of mud as the builders have for the past couple of years been dumping all kinds of materials and rubble on it. I say two years because we had odd bits of work done before the major build, not to mention the work when we had the burst pipe flooding. There are no fish in that pond but of course there will be tads and other pond life, so will have to wait until they are all froglets before doing anything and then it will be as quick as poss so that they can resume living in a new home.

[Janet Swan]

I believe I read somewhere that if you want wildlife to visit your "pond" (be it a bowl or a lake!), then not to have any fish in it - I think they might eat any small tadpoles etc. Your brown bowl, Kath, would be ideal. Just put some stones/rocks in the bottom, to vary the height, and ask a friend for some pondweed.

Janet

[adesmith]

Much as I hate the idea we have to make a way of turning round once in the drive as backing out onto the very narrow road on your own is not terribly safe or easy......Adrian will confirm that.

Adrian can confirm that but I seem to remember that as whenever some precise turning, reversing or parking is required I handed the keys over to Rachel!

The frogspawn experiment took a turn for the worse today when after introducing Rupert to them I caught him a little while later stirring them with a stick!!! There are still a lot of dots in the frogspawn and some have become little tadpoles although most of them look a bit dead! I have a feeling that this may not be the most successful of our wildlife endeavours!

On a more positive note. The saga of the bird feeder continues. Apart from the one starling that we saw nothing was happening with the feeders new position in the back garden. We then noticed down the road that a house had a feeder in their front garden so we decided that it may be worth another try. So back we moved it and it is now in front of the sitting room window again. I put some cheese on it, just to encourage some birds to discover its location and I noticed that some of it had been eaten. Today a big black bird swooped down and took some cheese whilst Rupert and I were watching. Later it returned and ate some of the 'Spring/Summer Seed'. I think that it is a Jackdaw. It was very exciting!