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    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeApr 4th, 2012 11:42pm (Apr 4th 2012)
     
    I'm alright now..I've got 24 Silkie eggs coming from another breeder..12 got here today and 12 more coming tomorrow..we'll have to wait and see how many of them hatch.
    Monday when I got home from the hosptial, my little broody hen had hatched out 4 babies..she push 2 eggs out of the nest..one was stone cold and the other one was still a little warm, so I brought it into the house and put it in my smallest incubator..it hatched yesterday..chicken usually hatch on the 21st day, this one didn't come out till the 26th day.
      LW_singleBaby4-3-2012.jpg
    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeApr 4th, 2012 11:43pm (Apr 4th 2012)
     
    These are the 4 that mom hen hatched.
      LW_4Babies4-2-2012.jpg
    • CommentAuthorTrevs Mum
    • CommentTimeApr 5th, 2012 7:07am (Apr 5th 2012)
     
    Lynn I am so glad you are ok and what beautiful little new babies, lucky girl.

    Welcome to hencam Karen and Ian. I dont have hens but love them, love all creatures great and small.:face-smile:
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeApr 5th, 2012 10:45am (Apr 5th 2012)
     
    Oh Lynn, Do take care - I'd rather have my dodgy knee!

    The chicks are so beautiful. It's quite a while since we had any any here.
    I've never seen one of those dinky incubators, they're so cute!

    When ever I write the word "beautiful" I spell it out in my head one letter at a time. As an eight year old I had to write it out, neatly, a thousand times, as a spelling punishment. It worked!
    • CommentAuthordarthalcho
    • CommentTimeApr 5th, 2012 4:13pm (Apr 5th 2012)
     
    hi I'm currently thinking about getting a few chickens and am in the process of researching how much work and money it would take.
    I know my 2 young boys would love to have them in the garden but I dont want to rush in. Any advice anyone cangive me in regards to laws,coops and feed also which sort of chickens to get,so basically everthing would be much appreciated
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeApr 5th, 2012 6:22pm (Apr 5th 2012)
     
    I don't think there's much in the way of laws; I just got a henhouse, a sack of corn and 2 hens! Mine free range round our (walled) garden, but our house is on a heavily used footpath and in the midst of a school, so foxes - the main enemy- don't come by during the day, and I lock them up at night. I have bantams, small hens who do less garden damage than bigguns!
    Lynn; take it steady and get well soon. :heart:
    • CommentAuthordarthalcho
    • CommentTimeApr 5th, 2012 6:35pm (Apr 5th 2012)
     
    thanks
    we have a lot of cats in the area do they cause a problem or are clucks too big for cats to bother with
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeApr 5th, 2012 6:36pm (Apr 5th 2012)
     
    My cats got a good pecking and never tried again...
    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeApr 6th, 2012 4:55am (Apr 6th 2012)
     
    My little Silkie chickens chase my Jack Russell all over the yard and peck her on the bottom.(She never fights back though)My biggest "predator problem" is from the neighbor's dogs. My geese watch out for hawks and eagles and let my chicken and ducks know when one is around, so they can go hide. My big outside dog has wiped out all of the possums around here, so those predators are gone. I've never had a problem with cats around my chickens, they don't seem to bother them.

    I don't know about the laws or what prices are around there, as I am in the USA...so not much help on that account, darthalcho..
    Welcome to the group by the way.
    • CommentAuthordarthalcho
    • CommentTimeApr 6th, 2012 7:22am (Apr 6th 2012)
     
    thanks everyone
    Which chicken breed do you all recommend
    I have 2 boys aged 3 and 4 are there any breeds which are better with kids than others
    which breed produce the tastiest eggs
    sorry about all the questions
    • CommentAuthorzz9zzzalpha
    • CommentTimeApr 6th, 2012 9:14am (Apr 6th 2012) edited
     
    wrong section:face-sad:
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeApr 6th, 2012 10:23am (Apr 6th 2012) edited
     
    Lynn I am glad you are better now and those fuzbutts are gorgeous!!!

    :welcome: darthalcho!

    Laws, it depends entirely where you live. Some places you're not allowed to keep chickens (Morecambe is the only one I know about because Lyle's family live there!), and others you have to get a permit and register your flock. Majority of places you don't need to do anything unless you're keeping a flock of over 50 birds I think :smile:

    My girls used to free-range and cats were never a problem to them, even when Milly was a 12 week old chick! Milly also hatched some chicks which were wandering free-range since they were about 3 / 4 days old, and I saw her take down a cat once for even looking at her babies!! It was funny to see :001_smile:

    Breed-wise, it really depends on what you want. Good with kids, you want the more laid back breeds...any type of Sussex, Orpington, Silkies, Pekin bantam, Australorp, Rhode Island Red. Stay away from the flightier breeds such as the Leghorn. Some breeds do require a bit of maintenance such as the Poland, some breeds with feathered feet, and certainbreeds like the Japanese Bantam prefer to live on dry, short grass and don't appreciate mud!

    A lot of the birds in standard size, such as say a Light Sussex or a Buff Orpington for example, are also available in bantam form which is about 1/4 of the size of the standard form. Bantams are tiny, so don't destroy your grass as much, but they need more delicate handling, can fly higher than standards, lay much smaller eggs and tend to lay fewer too. :hyper_chick:

    If egg production is a priority you probably want to avoid breeds such as Opringtons and Silkies...they tend to go broody a lot and try hatch the eggs, and although they can lay a good number a year it's not as high as some of the dual purpose breeds. Light Sussex / Red Sussex / Speckled Sussex are great starter birds as they are prolific layers and tend to be friendly and curious too. Rhode Island Reds are great layers also, and there are plenty of crosses out there such as Warrens / Isa Browns, Black Sex Links, Bluebelles, Speckledy's etc.
    :_pecking:

    For a coop, it really depends on what you want. If you just want somewhere for them to sleep, a standard house raised off the ground will do. You'll need some perches raised around 20cm off the ground, with 30cm per perch for a standard hen. Your girls will also need an egg box to lay in, one egg box will do for 3 hens and it should be dark and draft free - oh, and lower than your perches otherwise they might sleep and poo in there! :smile: (they might anyway!)

    If your girls will be kept in a run throughout the day, it should be as big as you can possible afford! We have a 12 x 4 foot run and kept 3 hens in there. You should also provide a few stimulating objects such as perches of different heights, swinging baskets containing food or treats, mirrors, footballs etc. Just use your imagination :biggrin:

    There are plenty of reasons for keeping your girls confined (safe from predators, can't escape, less chance of infections caught from wild birds etc) and free-range (more natural, extra freedom eating a more varied diet etc), and really it's up to you :smile:

    You also need to think about what age you want your chickens to be. I highly recommend staying away from chicks, they are very difficult to look after and need a lot of time, energy and money put into raising them. For your first chickens it's probably better to either buy POL pullets (that is hens around 16 - 20 weeks old that will probably start laying soon after being bought) or some ex-battery hens.

    Ex-bats are usually be around 1 - 2 years old and it's certainly worth getting an ex-bat just for that 'feel good' factor and to see a poor shabby hen experience the wonder of the world! Ex-bats tend to be very friendly, tame quickly, and can lay as many eggs as any other chicken. It's a bit of a lottery how long they will live after their tiring life after living in a cage, but many live just as long as an 'ordinary' chicken
    :turkeydance:

    Finally, you want to provide your girls with Layers Pellets to eat and fresh water. They will need to be wormed (we use Flubenvet) and protected against mites (we use Diatomaceous Earth - you just dust the birds with it, scatter a bit where they dust bathe & sleep, and can even put a bit in their food).

    Okay, information overload complete :crazy:

    But hopefully some of it will be helpful - don't apologise for asking so many questions, feel free to ask more!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeApr 6th, 2012 10:27am (Apr 6th 2012)
     
    Oookay that was ridiculously long...sorry!! :rolling:
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeApr 6th, 2012 4:24pm (Apr 6th 2012)
     
    zz9zzzalpha said "Wrong Section"

    Now on this Hencam forum that is of no concern. As you wade your way around all the different catagories you'll notice how we often go "off-topic".
    Of course there are some folks who don't have the luxury of loads of time to graze through everything, so it does help them.

    Still feeling quite sleepy with your name - I suspect there is a story.... pls...
    :cat2:
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeApr 6th, 2012 8:42pm (Apr 6th 2012)
     
    Red, when is that chicken book being published?????
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeApr 6th, 2012 11:42pm (Apr 6th 2012)
     
    I'm curious now as to why Morecambe don't allow people to keep chickens! What country are you in Darthalcho? (and welcome to the forum!)

    That was great info Red - you should copy it over to the 'common questions' thread, or whatever it's called!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeApr 7th, 2012 3:34pm (Apr 7th 2012)
     
    Posted By: chief chickenRed, when is that chicken book being published?????


    Haha I should probably send it off, but I don't think anyone would be interested :smile:

    I dunno Kate, I just remember Lyle's parents telling me because they semi-thought about keeping some hens once...
    • CommentAuthorTrevs Mum
    • CommentTimeApr 8th, 2012 7:18am (Apr 8th 2012)
     
    Red I know the 'having chckens at home'industry is growing here and I am sure the UK could make good use of such a book as there seems to be loads of people wanting good common sense info and its not always easy to find. Think about it, I am sure you have heaps of material and you could dedicate it to Milly.:face-smile:
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeApr 8th, 2012 11:29am (Apr 8th 2012)
     
    The dedication is a lovely idea Julie.
    The domestic chicken owning population is growing at a great rate. Almost every week there are requests on my local freccycles for coops etc.
    Red, Your Audience awaites.
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeApr 8th, 2012 5:31pm (Apr 8th 2012)
     
    I find most 'how to' books don't really explain the how to part very well! If you don't know how to do something you need it in very basic step by step instructions. For example, a practical explanation of how to put mite powder through the hens feathers, or a detailed poop description - I'm sure you remember writing that once upon a time especially for Diane!!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeApr 8th, 2012 6:22pm (Apr 8th 2012)
     
    Those are good ideas Kate, I'll add them to it!

    I did write the book, I'm just not sure how interested anybody would be in it. There are a few good books out there already, and I'm not sure mine would be any good :P

    The dedication would be a lovely idea, as I'd include pics of Millybobs in the book...
    • CommentAuthordarthalcho
    • CommentTimeApr 8th, 2012 7:27pm (Apr 8th 2012)
     
    Thanks Red that answered just about all my questions and some I'd not thought of you should definitly write a book I'd buy it in fact can i preorder one
    I live in sheffield uk
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeApr 9th, 2012 10:13am (Apr 9th 2012)
     
    Thank you very much :laugh: Not too far from us then really, we're in West Yorkshire :smile:
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeApr 9th, 2012 11:08am (Apr 9th 2012)
     
    We're all on the GOOGLEMAPDIRECTORY at the top of every page.
    Well most/some are...

    I do love seeing where every one lives.

    I once looked up a friend in Aus on Google Earth and wrote to her saying how I admired the tree in her garden. She thought I had been past and not knocked!!!
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeApr 9th, 2012 4:44pm (Apr 9th 2012)
     
    I like Sheffield. We've spent many an hour in the ice rink there watching ice hockey!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeApr 9th, 2012 10:03pm (Apr 9th 2012) edited
     
    We drove there to go to an awesome reptile shop once... :)
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeApr 10th, 2012 11:07am (Apr 10th 2012)
     
    We used to go to Sheffield Speedway. My hubby mechaniced for a speedway rider - Oh, those were the days....
    • CommentAuthorxxxmistybluexxx
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2012 1:14pm (Jul 7th 2012)
     
    Hi, hope someone can help me as im new here, not quite sure if im doing this right :face-smile: I have two chickens at 7 weeks old, looking at putting them in there new coop in a week or so, just wondering at night when you lock them up, do i put feed and water in with them or do i wait till morning when i let them out
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2012 6:53pm (Jul 7th 2012)
     
    Mine wait till morning as a rule, but that's because they kept kicking the water over.
    Welcome to the henhouse, Misty!
    • CommentAuthorchuckmadmalc
    • CommentTimeJul 8th, 2012 12:07pm (Jul 8th 2012)
     
    Hi, we live up in NE Scotland and have a range of breeds. Bed time depends on the birds, at the moment Jim the rose comb cockerel will still be picking about in his pen well after 10pm and a couple of the 'retired' ex commercial birds will come out to see what you're up to in near darkness however Henry the large fowl Croad Langshan heads for his bed any time from 4.30 if the weather is poor. The rest of the chucks tend to toddle off about 8ish and as for the Muscovy ducks if you don't go play hunt the duck they just wouldn't go to bed !
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 8th, 2012 1:29pm (Jul 8th 2012)
     
    I've decided mine are 'early to bed early to rise' as they're crowing from 5 but in their hutch by 7.30! Never heard of a croad Langsham - I'm going to google it!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 8th, 2012 1:30pm (Jul 8th 2012)
     
    I've had a look - aren't they handsome!
    • CommentAuthorKathygreg
    • CommentTimeJul 8th, 2012 6:12pm (Jul 8th 2012)
     
    Hi all. Kathy in york new to chicken keeping but loving it EXCEPT have to take 2 of my six chickens back from whence they came as they are definitely boys. Kind breeder is swapping. Have a speckled maran called ripley who's 9 months old and laying us a lovely white egg each morning. Chakka who's a rhode island red with gorgeous eyes but only a baby at 4 months old plus purdy (birdy) & priss same age both light sussex. Probably get more marans on wednesday when i return the boys. Getting on well with them all but ripley had sore legs when she came to us. Bathed them for a week in oil and they look much healthier now. All troop to bed at 9pm and wake at 6 when i open the pop hole. :face-devil-grin:
    • CommentAuthorchuckmadmalc
    • CommentTimeJul 8th, 2012 6:22pm (Jul 8th 2012)
     
    Henry is a handsome lad, big bird though, about one and a half times the size of our big Silver Wyandotte cockerel, he thunders when running across the garden. Quite funny to see him stood by the Rose Combs !
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeJul 9th, 2012 11:07am (Jul 9th 2012)
     
    :welcome:Welcome to all our new members.
    It's great hearing about the variety of hens you have.
    I am one of the non-owners, better described as a maiden aunt! I love all my neices (and nephews) to bits. The world of hens is a wonderful,strange place that is giving me lots of happiness in my dotage.
    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeJul 10th, 2012 3:52am (Jul 10th 2012)
     
    Welcome to all the new members!!
      LW_WelcomeHencam.jpg
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeJul 10th, 2012 9:13pm (Jul 10th 2012)
     
    I am also a non-hen owning member, but love to hear about everyone else's adventures with them. They all seem to have huge personalities!

    Welcome to you newbies - it's always great to have new folk joining us!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 11th, 2012 1:20pm (Jul 11th 2012) edited
     
    Welcome to all the new members! :bigsmile:

    Posted By: xxxmistybluexxxHi, hope someone can help me as im new here, not quite sure if im doing this right<img src=" />I have two chickens at 7 weeks old, looking at putting them in there new coop in a week or so, just wondering at night when you lock them up, do i put feed and water in with them or do i wait till morning when i let them out


    Congrats on your chicks, and they will be fine for food and water overnight.
    • CommentAuthornikki88
    • CommentTimeJul 14th, 2012 8:16pm (Jul 14th 2012)
     
    Hey i'm Nikki and i have 3 Banty hens, which i my add have a brand new coop built by my boyfriend (thats what he does), but i think they are stressed by there move as one of them has layed an egg with no shell for the first time ever.
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeJul 14th, 2012 10:35pm (Jul 14th 2012)
     
    Hi Nikki and welcome to the forum!

    I don't have hens but have been on this forum for a while now, so I'm pretty sure it's something that's not unusual when they've gone through something stressful, and will probably settle down once they've settled in and are comfortable in their new home. They are very lucky to have a custom-built home!!!
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeJul 15th, 2012 9:42am (Jul 15th 2012)
     
    Welcome to the forum Nikki.
    Are you good at putting pics on here? (There is a thread to guide you on this)
    We'd love to see your coop, it'll be unique on here.
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 15th, 2012 9:31pm (Jul 15th 2012) edited
     
    Ditto Kate, and welcome to the forum :)
    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeJul 15th, 2012 10:00pm (Jul 15th 2012)
     
    Welcome, Nikki....I'm building new outdoor houses for my Silkies now too...the old ones are looking ugly..I've got the 3 little houses build and working on the attaching runs for them at the moment. I guess I should take pictures of how it's going and post them.
    • CommentAuthorTrevs Mum
    • CommentTimeJul 23rd, 2012 12:57am (Jul 23rd 2012) edited
     
    Welcome Nikki, I love hens and all sorts of animals but dont have any hens...yet!
    • CommentAuthortryphenia
    • CommentTimeAug 2nd, 2012 2:21pm (Aug 2nd 2012)
     
    hi, Ive just found Hencam so hello all...I cant get the hencam to work....is there a problem?
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeAug 2nd, 2012 3:05pm (Aug 2nd 2012)
     
    Hello ryphenia and welcome.

    The cam is off-line at the moment.
    Neil, "Keeper of the Hens can't see it from work but hopefully will push the buttons for us when he gets home.

    Do you have hens? Do tell us about them.
    I don't have any pets but just love the friendliness on this forum. I didn't know hens were so fascinating.
    •  
      CommentAuthorneil
    • CommentTimeAug 2nd, 2012 3:24pm (Aug 2nd 2012)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Welcome tryphenia! :)

    Sorry about the cam, I didn't know it was offline (it's hard to check from work) - I'll get it back online as soon as possible this evening.

    It's such a shame too as the new girls are in with Penny and they seem to be settling together which is really nice to see!
    • CommentAuthortryphenia
    • CommentTimeAug 2nd, 2012 3:47pm (Aug 2nd 2012)
     
    Hi..pity about the hencam but Im looking forward to seeing it..I might put the laptop in the hen house and see what our three make of it! They are Tryphenia, Flossie and Doris...all named for family members except for Doris who is named after a friend of 81 (with her permission!) Doris is a sussex hybrid and white as is Doris.... Tryphenia fancies herself as head hen, the others just ignore her, but Flossie is spending a lot of time hanging round the hen house just now which is mildly concerning....fingers crossed....
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeAug 2nd, 2012 11:18pm (Aug 2nd 2012)
     
    Let us know what they think of hencam - hope your laptop can stand up to a bit of pecking!!

    Welcome to the forum too!
    • CommentAuthorsteveandmelanie
    • CommentTimeAug 3rd, 2012 1:39pm (Aug 3rd 2012)
     
    Hi Everyone...thanks to Hencam for approving our membership

    We are Steve, Melanie and Jordan (son) from Swindon, Wiltshire, UK and are completely new to keeping chickens. All ready for the arrival of our 3 Pekin Bantams next week. Cant wait.

    Chat soon :face-smile:
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeAug 3rd, 2012 11:50pm (Aug 3rd 2012)
     
    How exciting! I'm sure they will be great fun!

    Welcome to the forum - we look forward to seeing photos!!!
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeAug 4th, 2012 2:30pm (Aug 4th 2012)
     
    Whoops.. I've been off-line momentarily (someone knocked phone plug out - I live alone...) and come back to find lovely new members popping up. Welcome to all.
    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeAug 5th, 2012 3:57am (Aug 5th 2012)
     
    Welcome to the Hencam,Steve, Melanie and Jordan..and tryphenia. I live in the USA on the west coast in Washington state. it's always great to see new people here!
      LW_WelcomeHencam.jpg
    • CommentAuthorTrevs Mum
    • CommentTimeAug 5th, 2012 10:21am (Aug 5th 2012)
     
    Welcome to hencam everybody,:welcome:
    I live in Australia so we are a widespread and friendly bunch here. I don't have any hens but love the site and all sorts of animals.:cat::bunny_cute::cute-chick::dog::elvis::frog1::fish::grubby_duck::rat::milly_hen::mouse2::turkeydance::bear::chinchilla:
    • CommentAuthortryphenia
    • CommentTimeAug 5th, 2012 12:33pm (Aug 5th 2012)
     
    Weve had our three chickens for about four and a half months which makes them 9/10 months old. They've always been healthy and happy, free range for a lot of the day and lay consistently and well. This week we've got a broody! All the usual symptoms including no eggs and we've separated her from the other two but they can see and hear each other. Do I need to keep her totally isolated 24 hrs a day?..... Any ideas? One of the others (a hybrid Sussex) has also gone of lay, unusually. Is she getting broody too? I don't know what make Flossie, the broody hen, is. She is apparently a cross between two pedigrees, my best guess being a Welsummer or possibly some sort of Rhode Island Red cross. She has a pert black tail and is a great, glossy brown colour. The other hen is a bluebell. All advice gratefully received.....thanks:
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeAug 5th, 2012 1:39pm (Aug 5th 2012) edited
     
    Hellooooo, everybody; nice to have some new bods here with tales of chicken happenings! :D
    Unless you have fertilised eggs in the hutch and want eggs, I think Red says to lock them out of the henhouse during the day to stop her sitting. Not sure myself as we have cockerels so I let my girls hatch if they wanted to. If you use the search facility at the top of the forum page to look up 'broody hen' it'll probably come up with some useful posts.
    • CommentAuthortryphenia
    • CommentTimeAug 5th, 2012 6:19pm (Aug 5th 2012)
     
    thanks chief chicken!
    •  
      CommentAuthorneil
    • CommentTimeAug 5th, 2012 8:53pm (Aug 5th 2012)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Like CC says, unless the broody is sitting on fertilised eggs, I wouldn't have her separated from the others, just keep collecting the eggs from under her and make sure she's eating and drinking.

    If she insists on still sitting, you can try and break her out of it by locking them out of the nest box area in the afternoon (most hens will have laid by then)...

    If you think that the broodiness has gone on for weeks and is becoming detrimental to the hen's health, then you can start to think about separating her and then trying her in a nest box with a mesh floor (the cool air circulating around their bum helps them realise they aren't sat on viable eggs).

    Of course if she's sat on fertile eggs, then you're doing fine and in twenty odd days you should have suprise bundles of cute!
    • CommentAuthortryphenia
    • CommentTimeAug 6th, 2012 7:43pm (Aug 6th 2012)
     
    Phew! Flossie seems to have forgotten about being broody!! All we have to do now is wait and see when she lays again. She's been running around the garden with the others all day and hasn't thought about the nest box, even when in the hen house. She lived a bit uncomfortably in a wicker cat box for 3 days, which got popped in the shed overnight.
    Thanks for your help...We'll do the same again next time
    • CommentAuthorJenhen
    • CommentTimeAug 12th, 2012 1:11pm (Aug 12th 2012)
     
    Hello, I am new to the forum. I have 9 hens ranging from 2 large light Sussex to 2 point of lay Mille Fleur bantams. I have been keeping hens in my garden for many years and yet they still surprise me at times. They run around our large garden, with a veg patch, shrubbery, trees etc. and go to bed at night in two purpose houses.

    I look forward to meeting some friends on the forum.:face-smile:
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeAug 12th, 2012 4:25pm (Aug 12th 2012)
     
    I love Millefleurs bantams - I had two, but they died, the last one a few weeks ago. I'm thinking about getting two more. Welcome to the forum! Hope you crack the pic thing, too.
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      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeAug 13th, 2012 7:20am (Aug 13th 2012)
     
    Welcome to hencam, jenhen! Love to see new people join.
    :welcome:
    • CommentAuthorJenhen
    • CommentTimeAug 13th, 2012 8:42am (Aug 13th 2012)
     
    Aw thanks for the welcome Chief Chicken and Lynn!
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      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeAug 13th, 2012 9:57pm (Aug 13th 2012)
     
    Welcome from me too! (Sorry, have been watching the Olympics and couldn't tear myself away to surf the net!!!)
    • CommentAuthorJenhen
    • CommentTimeAug 14th, 2012 7:38am (Aug 14th 2012)
     
    Thanks Kate and I've been glued to the Olympics as well. Life seems very strange without them but it's paralympics in a few days time and I am looking forward to supporting our athletes in those.
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      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeAug 14th, 2012 11:28pm (Aug 14th 2012)
     
    As my son says, if there's one thing us Brits can do, it's a montage!!!

    It will be interesting to see if Channel 4's coverage is as good as the BBC's was. I think they did a really good job of the whole thing with knowledgable commentators (the guy doing the diving got it spot on every time!) and guests that were there to talk about the sport not themselves.
    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeAug 16th, 2012 5:05am (Aug 16th 2012)
     
    I didn't watch too much of the Olympics, it came on at weird hours over here.
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeAug 16th, 2012 11:15pm (Aug 16th 2012)
     
    That's a shame. I really enjoyed it - that was partly because GB did so well this time, but also because I think London did a really good job of putting them on, and the volunteers did an excellent job of making sure it all ran smoothly!
    • CommentAuthorzz9zzzalpha
    • CommentTimeAug 18th, 2012 9:37am (Aug 18th 2012)
     
    Hi Jenhen,

    I hope you find this site as helpful and friendly as we do.

    Karen & Ian :swingin:
    • CommentAuthorJenhen
    • CommentTimeAug 21st, 2012 6:40am (Aug 21st 2012)
     
    Thank you Karen and Ian and Hello to you both!
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeAug 24th, 2012 3:38pm (Aug 24th 2012)
     
    Hi I really could do with some help my hen - an ex-bat - is 4 years old (she's a warren). After we came back from a 2 week holiday our friends, that had been looking after our chooks, said that she had started laying soft shellled eggs. 2 weeks on, she has still not improved. We have gone from soft crushed eggs to harder crushed eggs to off coloured crushed eggs to yolks to no eggs at all. What can we do she has never layed soft eggs before, she has been our no.1 layer!!! Is there a cheap recipe that can boost her calcium levels??? :face-smile: :face-smile:
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      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeAug 25th, 2012 7:35am (Aug 25th 2012)
     
    I always give my girls Oyster shell in their feed, George. It's has worked the best for them.

    Welcome to the hencam!:welcome:
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeAug 25th, 2012 2:17pm (Aug 25th 2012)
     
    I give them it but they just seem to turn their noses up at it anything else to try??????
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeAug 26th, 2012 5:51pm (Aug 26th 2012)
     
    Oh and where abouts are you based lynn???
    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeAug 26th, 2012 7:46pm (Aug 26th 2012)
     
    George, I'm in the USA, Washington state on the west coast. :face-smile:
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeAug 27th, 2012 9:22am (Aug 27th 2012)
     
    Lynn, I'm in England, Warrington
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeAug 27th, 2012 6:52pm (Aug 27th 2012)
     
    P.S. There is a beautiful part of this site at the top of the page called "GOOGLEMAPDIRECTORY" where some of us have put our marker to show where we live.
    Have a look George, it is fascinating. ie., I love it!
    •  
      CommentAuthorneil
    • CommentTimeAug 29th, 2012 4:44pm (Aug 29th 2012) edited
     

    Keeper of the hens

    George, it might be best if you post your question in the 'Animal Care' (or even 'Emergencies' if it's urgent) category as it will probably get more responses there.

    I would say that you should probably offer your hens crushed oyster (you can buy it from most pet shops - it's sometimes labeled bird grit or pigeon grit, or sometimes it's for laying budgies!) - or you can bake crushed up egg shells and see if they'll go for that.

    However hens will often lay soft-shelled eggs when they are coming into and going out of lay - now the days are shortening there aren't enough daylight hours in the day and you can get a few weird eggs as they stop producing eggs (of course it depends on age and breed on when they stop for the winter - if they do at all).

    Good luck and let us know how you get on!
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeAug 30th, 2012 8:29am (Aug 30th 2012) edited
     
    Hi Neil, I give my girls access to oyster shell and the other thingymoboby but they dont seem atall interested.

    Yesterday, I received the egg that was the size of a cadburys mini egg but with no yolk. It looked like she had stood on the egg or even pecked it open. I'm not entirely sure which of my two hens it is laying as they both go in to lay but there is only ever one egg. The one that i suspect is laying is ronnie. She is a 4year old warren - a retired battery hen - we got her along with 3 others that all have sadly paseed away apart from this fighter! And the other hen we purchsed from a keeper that had kept it purely free range. We got her when she was 1 1/2 years old and she decided to stop when she was 2 1/2!!! Any ideas on getting her back on the box ( she's 3 now.)
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeSep 2nd, 2012 8:28am (Sep 2nd 2012)
     
    Hi I need some help my hen florrie, has got quite a big swollen belly and its quite hard. I've just give her a warm bath, she's not layed an egg for atleast 6 months. But lately I've been giving my 2 girls cheese because 1 stopped laying and it's got her back on the nest but florrie has been eating it aswell could it have made her want to lay again? If she hasn't layed for a while could the eggs get stuck???
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeSep 2nd, 2012 8:29am (Sep 2nd 2012)
     
    Hi again this morning she is walking around just fine! But over night she has pooped out some shell coloured blobs ang green poooooo!
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeSep 2nd, 2012 8:41am (Sep 2nd 2012)
     
    And i noticed that she has a dirty bottom again! Can u stop this happening???
    • CommentAuthorshirtentie
    • CommentTimeSep 11th, 2012 8:43pm (Sep 11th 2012)
     
    hi i have just been accepted to hencam forum looking forward to having a chat to you all,
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeSep 12th, 2012 9:54am (Sep 12th 2012)
     
    Hello Shirtentie.:welcome:

    Do you have hens? Please tell us about them and were you all live We do love pictures too.
    I don't have any hens but find them just fascinating and pretend I am Great Aunt to all these wonderful chickens and their carers on here.
    • CommentAuthornanny north
    • CommentTimeOct 4th, 2012 6:57pm (Oct 4th 2012)
     
    Hi there I thought I had best re-introduce myself as I have been absent for such a long long time. So much has been happening I havent known if I am on my head or heels!!! Still none of it really matters...... all water under bridge now and time to get back to some semblence of order. It will take me a while to get to all your news so please bear with me or tell me of important stuff that I may have missed. Still got most my critters sadly I have lost a couple of hens but got a couple more mischevious fur balls to introduce you to. So Nice to be back with you all again. I have often thought of you and even had a look in every now and then. It is so nice to see a coop full of hennies again. I will have to get to grips with their new names now. I got loads of photos to regale you with. But for the moment I just want to shout HELLO FRIENDS, I have missed you all xxxxxxxx
    •  
      CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeOct 4th, 2012 8:13pm (Oct 4th 2012)
     
    Wonderful to see you here with us again, NN..so happy to see you..you were greatly missed!!!:yay_jump:
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeOct 5th, 2012 9:36am (Oct 5th 2012)
     
    There you are!!!:seeya:

    We want a note from your Mum explaining your absence. So good to have you back NN. Hope things have worked out alright for you.

    Biggest event recently is Red moving on and starting her own http://www.budgiecam.co.uk/ Have a look, it's very interesting.

    The new hens (it took three of then to replace the sudden loss of Tilly) are; the white is Sophie,:milly_hen: blue is Ivy :grubby_duck: and the ginger is Elsie:_pecking:

    They are so cute dashing about all the time. Penny is definately the cock and keeps them in order!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeOct 5th, 2012 5:10pm (Oct 5th 2012)
     
    NN!!!! Hooray, you've come back -we missed you...:heart: So glad you're back. Are you well?
    • CommentAuthornanny north
    • CommentTimeOct 5th, 2012 8:12pm (Oct 5th 2012)
     
    Hello Lynn, Ollie and CC. Thank you for the lovely welcome and it is so nice to be back with you again.
    Ollie thank you for the updates, I did find Red a few weeks or so back and played a little game with her by calling myself something different. She soon saw through it and was pleased to meet up again. It will be odd not having her here as she is our very own Hencam Princess.
    Thank you for the girls names as well Ollie I have a similar hen to Elsie now... she is called Chewbacca needless to say she is one of Aurelia's hens. How sad about Tilly I lost a couple of mine, it is so upsetting when they go. They will give Penny a new lease of life her very own flock especially as she was at the bottom of the pecking order all her life.
    I'm afraid my Mum is over rainbow bridge now Ollie, helping out with looking after all the animals. But there was a beautiful rainbow yesterday so I know she is still looking out for me. I will share it with you as I have it on my desktop

    Lynn and CC yes I am ok thanks just had a touch of some bug or other with flu like symptoms. It is doing the rounds at Aurelia's school so caught it of her.
      Img_9606.jpg
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeOct 8th, 2012 10:10pm (Oct 8th 2012)
     
    Hello NN! Sorry I'm late with the welcome back - I find I'm so tired on a weekend after being to rehoming and looking after the grandkids I rarely use the computer, and now I have a Kindle I'm reading a lot of the time.

    I hope you are well - so sorry to hear about your mom.
    • CommentAuthornanny north
    • CommentTimeOct 14th, 2012 1:10am (Oct 14th 2012)
     
    Hello Kate thanks for your greetings. I know just what you mean about being busy with Grandkids, I am getting to the age where mine wear me out in next to no time. It is real good to see them and real good when they go back home sometimes !!!!
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeOct 14th, 2012 10:18pm (Oct 14th 2012)
     
    I agree with that sentiment NN! (Hope they don't find this post when they're older and use it against me!!)
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeOct 19th, 2012 6:02pm (Oct 19th 2012)
     
    I need some help please. Florrie my 3 year old warren has not layed for months but she keeps going in the coop to "lay". Her bottom is severely pooed up. You'd think she had black feathers. Also, her tail is pointing towards the ground while she walks, she is also always hunched up. Is any of the above anything to worry about?

    Thanks
    George.
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeOct 19th, 2012 6:25pm (Oct 19th 2012)
     
    Yes. Take her to a vet. I don't know much about chickens, but I recognise an unhappy/sick hen when I hear about one! Hope she's feeling better soon.
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeOct 20th, 2012 8:27am (Oct 20th 2012)
     
    Thanks for the advice. This morning I found a mushroom wish a massive chunk out of it and she is also a lot worse today. Do you think she has been poisned? If so how can I cure it other than going to the vet.
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeOct 20th, 2012 8:34am (Oct 20th 2012)
     
    Also just remembered, she is not eating or drinking either. I've tried. I put her next to the food, the water she just won't have it!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeOct 20th, 2012 4:47pm (Oct 20th 2012)
     
    Did you take her to the vet??
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeOct 20th, 2012 5:07pm (Oct 20th 2012)
     
    No not yet didn't see the message.
    • CommentAuthorgeorge
    • CommentTimeOct 20th, 2012 5:30pm (Oct 20th 2012)
     
    I have just found her now with her feet locked on to the roosting bars hanging upside down dead.:face-crying::face-crying::face-crying:
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeOct 20th, 2012 6:43pm (Oct 20th 2012)
     
    Oh George, how awful.
    That must have been horrific but signifies that her end was very swift.

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