Newbie

[kirsty b]

As I'm in Suffolk, not a million miles away from Diss (sbout 30ish) I'm pretty concerned. I've bonded and got my girls really tame and friendly and the thought of something happening to them (either flu or culling) horrifies me. If i have to I'll keep them inside, but if I'm told to cull I will, even though I'll hate doing it. I think I'll look into extending their shed to give them more room indoors, got an area on the lottie that about 9m2 that I can fence and roof. Thankfully a building site across the way is letting me have all the pallets I can carry.

[Tracey]

Oh Kirsty, I hope it doesn't get bad enough for culling. One of my chickens was behaving odd earlier, it wouldn't move from a hole it had dug and was making some strange noises. I carried it into its run and it just lay there with its legs twitching, whilst the others were eating. I was worried and thought may be it was cold, so I rushed to get a box with straw to put it in for warmth. When I returned a few minutes later it was fine, eating and mingling with the others. I'm a bit paranoid about them as these are the first chickens I have cared for, and I don't know what is normal or abnormal behaviour for chickens yet.

Tracey

[kirsty b]

Have checked out the DEFRA website. According to the map, Haverhill is just inside the wider restriction zone so as a precaution, I'm not going to let the girls out of the run to range when I'm down there (as I have been doing) for the time being and I'm going to work on increasing the amount of space they have under cover. Also going to invest in a good agricultural grade disinfectant and give ALL of their bits and pieces, shed, nest boxes a treatment. Run extension was going to be done anyway, just looks like it will be sooner rather than later. I'd rather take precautions now than risk something nasty.
All birds well and eating everything that sits still long enough.

[milliebecks]

One of my chickens was behaving odd earlier, it wouldn't move from a hole it had dug and was making some strange noises. I carried it into its run and it just lay there with its legs twitching, whilst the others were eating.
Tracey

You might have done the same, Tracey, if someone had whipped you out of your bath, where you were sighing with contentment

[HeyWayne]

Keeping chickens in an omelet cube?! Aren't there some animal rights against that kinda thing?

Be like keeping a pig in a bacon cube...

[kirsty b]

You might have done the same, Tracey, if someone had whipped you out of your bath, where you were sighing with contentment

That made me think, with my first lot os girls I had them during the really hot weather and they would lay down with their wings spread at odd angles. Looked really strange, but they seemed happy.

[milliebecks]

Have you ever sat in the sun and stretched like a cat?

My chooks do the same - one leg and wing stretched out, then swap sides (to get a nice, even tan)

[Tracey]

Thanks

I'll add that to my list of normal behaviour.

Tracey

[Tracey]

When I got my chickens, I didn’t want to have their wings clipped unnecessary. After today’s experience they will be having them clipped at the weekend.

Yesterday it rained so heavy all day that they spent the day huddled undercover. This morning I let them out in to the run and they were so exited they flew out. One of them (Penny) was so eager she flew right over the fence. The others started clucking excitedly staring at Penny as if she had performed a great escape. I tried to catch Penny but she kept running under the holly hedge out of my reach. Our cat (Pud) took an interest and sidled closer and closer to her, but thankfully with my beady eyes on him he lost interest. The other chickens were entertained following her antics. After my pathetic attempts to catch Penny and several runs around the fence I lifted the netting up, she went in and was happily greeted by the other chickens.

This is my first time keeping chickens and I am surprised at how smart they are. I’m going to have fun with them!

Tracey

[Tracey]

Hi

1st egg today. Dead chuffed, we all shared the soft boiled egg with soldiers, delicious.

Tracey

[TPeers]

Fantastic! The first of many, I'm sure.

Have you clipped their wings or mearly built Coldiz?

[Tracey]

Hi

We clipped the wings, but they still managed to escape. We now let them range around the garden when we're home, mostly remembering to keep the garden gate shut!
Kind regards
Tracey