Chookenham Palace

[Bephlam]

That's what I call space!!!....you've plenty room for more chooks.

Looking great Hayley, I'm sure you'll have hours of endless fun watching the girls!!

[frias]

Hayley. That's one fab pad. Definately got room for a few more there. Once they go out I think you'll find they don't mind the awful weather.

[Glutton4...]

Blimey - I thought mine were spoilt!

I let mine out this morning before I went to muck out, then had to rush back at lunch-time as I realised I had closed the door to their coop!

They were like little drowned rats - I felt so bad - but they all ran up up to me making little chook noises when I got there, and they chose to stay with me rather than get out of the rain when they had the opportunity - Aaaaaah!

Luv 'em!

[MaureenHall]

Hayley, did you mean that they're laying eggs under the nest boxes rather than in them? If so, have you thought of putting some sort of "lid" on the boxes so they feel as if they've got a bit more privacy doing the job? Just a thought, as the nest box in my coop has a rather low roof bit, the chooks can't really stand upright in it but they've got security and seclusion. Also I've heard that chooks prefer nest boxes to be lower than perches

[HayleyB]

Hi

Maureen you must be psychic, I have moved the next boxes under the doors (that are laying on top of the chairs) put a marble egg in one of the boxes and moved it to where we are finding most of the eggs. Fingers x'd they'll lay there now, they did a lot of investigation of the new layout.

We have had about 19 eggs since arrival, they're great entertainment.

Got one with a limp that seems to be improving a tad, we've called her hoppy.

We've got spikey who has a red eye - does that mean she's blind in it?

Alice (from Vicar of Dibley) followed me into one of the stables yesterday she's one of the scrawniest but very bold - she had a go at my legs last night

The girls have explored the yard this morning and are enjoying the sunshine. The dogs are on patrol of the orchard which the other side of the gate to the yard and the only way a fox could potentially get in.

Daft question - how do you all clean up poo, from hard surfaces and out of woodchip? Shaving fork and broom just not seeming to work

[MaureenHall]

Hi

Maureen you must be psychic, I have moved the next boxes under the doors (that are laying on top of the chairs) put a marble egg in one of the boxes and moved it to where we are finding most of the eggs. Fingers x'd they'll lay there now, they did a lot of investigation of the new layout.

We have had about 19 eggs since arrival, they're great entertainment.

Got one with a limp that seems to be improving a tad, we've called her hoppy.

We've got spikey who has a red eye - does that mean she's blind in it?

Alice (from Vicar of Dibley) followed me into one of the stables yesterday she's one of the scrawniest but very bold - she had a go at my legs last night

The girls have explored the yard this morning and are enjoying the sunshine. The dogs are on patrol of the orchard which the other side of the gate to the yard and the only way a fox could potentially get in.

Daft question - how do you all clean up poo, from hard surfaces and out of woodchip? Shaving fork and broom just not seeming to work

The one with the limp might just be a bit bruised, the farmers aren't always very gentle when removing the chooks from the cages, they grab them by the legs and pass them on as quick as possible! Keep an eye on her though, and put some arnica on the leg if you've got any.

Don't know about the red eye, hope somebody else can answer that question, otherwise give Mollie a ring and ask her.

Cleaning up poo shovel and broom I'm afraid With a huge set up like yours, I'd try and get the biggest lumps out first then sift the other bad bits. Spread it around and it should dry out quickly enough to get up fairly easily. I'm thinking of looking for a big litter-tray scoop for my lot

[Snadger]

Crikes what a weekend, I'm knacked.

Well his lordship got his back into it on Saturday and bless 'im converted the stable into Chookenham Palace - at last

Travelled to Coventry yesterday, Ian & Molly say hello Maureen - they sang your praises and are really thankful of the work you've done spreading the word.

Left with 12 ladies in the purpose built crate and arrived at Chookenham Palace with 13. DD was mean't to be counting them as they went in maths is not DD's strong subject

Having laid 6 eggs en route - will be making quiche today.

The girls aren't in too bad a state, Molly thinks the farmer held back the oven readies. We have a fatty with most of her feathers we've named Dawn. One with very dark feathers on her back we've named Cocoa and one who DD named Lizzie cause she's queen bee. Will name the rest when we can tell them apart.

Will post pics when I've taken some.

Ian and Molly have some Dutch whites to rescue in December. DD is trying to talk me into getting some

A bit late to get my congratulations in but congratulations anyway. 13 chooks eh! Will you be selling bakers dozens when they all come into lay then?

I have my hut divided into two areas........one is a roosting area with two X six foot long roosting bars set at 2 foot and 4 foot high. This is for roosting alone and and has nothing in the way of woodshavings or straw underneath to make it easy to shovel up the poo each day (about a shovel full) After shovelling the poo out I give it a quick blast with armillatox but ***** would do, just to freshen it up and kill any nasties.

The other half of my shed has a rather big floor area covered with a light covering of straw which never seems to get dirty. Three nestboxes reside in this half also (filled with straw and changed fortnightly) and my large feed hopper is hanging in the main floor area. The chooks like to scratch around in the straw on the floor for any pellets that spill from the hopper.
With the dark evenings approaching I've just added a couple of the battery driven lights as by the time I finish work and get to the allotment it's dark now so it makes it a bit easier for poop clearance. Thinking about looking for a long handled draw hoe at a car boot sale which may be easier than just using the shovel!

Good luck and happy chooking!

[HayleyB]

Thanks guys, I think that I might try a trowl although my back hates the idea, I have newspaper under the roosting perch on hardboard. I found an egg in one of the nest boxes this morning (two outside of them) so was well chuffed. so far over 20 eggs. Not sure about the red eye as I haven't seen it am taking DDs word for it. Hoppy is getting a bit stronger.

Maureen - am getting closer to getting the festive's I've emailed Mollie asking when the rescue is

Got some meal worms today to try feeding by hand this arvo, the box hopefully will become the bribe box on a shake

Aiming at selling (not bakers dozens ) 6 for £1 to friends and family etc just to get them to pay for themselves