Quite Simply, Chook Chat 2

[Shortie]

Hi all

The last thread got rather large (which is great as talking about chickens is a great topic) but it's time to get a new one started.

So, here we are - to quote the original thread (because I don't see a better way of wording it ) a "place to talk all things Chook."



Link to the original thread: https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ply-chook-chat

[Shortie]

So, I'm itching to talk about chickens so here goes....

I got some rescue hens on Saturday. The chicken math was thankfully contained due to the fact the we couldn't find one of our cat carriers, so instead of the planned 8, we took home 11

The last of my previous rescue hens finally passed to the other side just before Christmas, and I missed an email about rehoming in March so I missed the window for more just before lockdown. Then we thought about not getting more and reusing the space for a shed, but we have chickens again, lol

Yesterday I introduced them to Kale - my last lot wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, this lot seem to love it so I'll happily grow in that case. Today I gave them some windfall crab apples . They struggled to work them out so I had to squash those

These girls seem like a really friendly bunch - even during the rehoming they were way too nosey and wandered up to the rehomers, so none of them needed to be chased down. I'm spending time in the run with them where I can, and I find them around my feet, on my shoulers and under my bum if I sit on some wooden edging that's in the coop

I didn't realise just how much I had missed the personalities of chooks

[Nicos]

11?.... wow!.. fantastic...good on ya!

All my chooks are different breeds so I can tell them apart-I'm presuming yours all look pretty similar? How will you tell yours apart?
My son has 4 chooks , 3 of them near enough are identical so they use little coloured bands on their legs.

Have you taken any photos yet?... pretty please?

[Shortie]

Not sure why I said I had fed them Kale, I meant Chard (doh)... And they seem to be going potty for it which is great as it's an easy to grow, hardy plant

At the moment I don't have a way to tell them apart. I've never worried about it though to be fair, unless on gets ill and then I tend to know which one to kee an eye on as I pay much more attention to their waffle shape, anything distinctive about their feet... And generally I get to know (and sometimes name ) them by the pecking order or personalities

Right photos....

Their first steps into their new home:


One photobombing whilst I tried to take a pic of one dustbathing - this was literally 2 mins into leaving the crates and cat carriers:


This was the first one braving it into the coop, and promptly threw the hay all over herslef as she scratched around for any seed that fell off the hay:


And the comedy shot.... one finding the join between two planks facinating whilst the other shook her head refusing to have a sensible photo taken :

[Ms-T]

Great photos....they look happy all ready.

[Nicos]

Those look fantastic thanks

I love How one layed an egg for you too!

[Shortie]

Those look fantastic thanks

I love How one layed an egg for you too!

Haha, you spotted that? It definately felt like a 'thanks for the new home' gift, lol

[Snoop Puss]

Bet they can't believe their luck! Good for you.

Our three were youngsters when they first arrived. Terrified of everything. Now they're big and fat from all the scavenging they do. They bully all the cats and dogs and us. Great to see them being so jolly and happy with life.

[Nicos]

Hats off to you both! ...good on ya xxx

Just wish more people could find a place to rescue more chooks....

[peanut]

I'd love to rehome some chickens. Could someone give me an idea of the ongoing costs involved for 3 hens?

[Shortie]

Hi Peanut - in terms of the chickens themselves, I can ony speak for the British Hen Welfare Trust that ask for a suggested donation of £5 per chicken

There is then the cost of their coop and run - tht will depend if you are very handy or need to by something in. Mr Shortie built ours out of pallet wood which he bought already dismantled and was really clean / new looking. And I've had our run in place for a number of years now but is essentially fence on one side and chicken wire attached to fence poles for the other 2 sides

That's not very helpful sorry - I can't recommend any coops that you buy as I haven't had one of those since my first chickens some 10 plus years ago :-/

[peanut]

Hi Shortie, that is very helpful thank you, I love pallets and would definitely look at making a coop myself. What about feed, vet, any other costs etc?

[Nicos]

As an aside....Have a look at this stickied thread for some ideas of what you might need...

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...keeping-chooks

If you can get chooks peanut-go for it!
There are loads of peeps on here happy to support you if you have any problems/questions.
Had it not been for the chooks support on here I'd probably not been brave enough to get mupy first chooks!
And have since had geese and quail!

There is also another stickied thread on here with piccies of people's coops -you might want to bounce off some of those ideas?

[peanut]

As an aside....Have a look at this stickied thread for some ideas of what you might need...

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...keeping-chooks

If you can get chooks peanut-go for it!
There are loads of peeps on here happy to support you if you have any problems/questions.
Had it not been for the chooks support on here I'd probably not been brave enough to get mupy first chooks!
And have since had geese and quail!

There is also another stickied thread on here with piccies of people's coops -you might want to bounce off some of those ideas?

That's great, thanks Nicos

[Shortie]

So this morning we were looking to order fence posts etc to extend the chicken run, then Insaw on facebook someone mentioned the omlet fencing system. I already have decent veg posts so actually just need the rolls of fencing. We'll still lock them away overnight in the original run that offers far better protection

So for today, feeling bad that I haven't yet extended their run, I let them loose in the garden. I may regret that later, haha