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The Lounge - General Hencam Chat »   A funny thing happened on the way to the chicken coop

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorvolka
    • CommentTimeJun 29th, 2009 3:57pm (Jun 29th 2009) edited
     
    So, we've got a 90ft long garden split into 3 parts: nice pretty lawn and flower beds nearest the house, functional veg and fruit growing plot in the middle and at the bottom, the anything-goes-chicken-pond-compost-bonfire-plants-I-shouldn't-have-bought-because-I-have-nowhere-to-put-them section.

    There's a gate between the lawn and veg plot but nothing between the plot and the bottom end, just a line of rosemary and lavender bushes.

    So, anyhoo (I am getting there), in the plot is a collection of raised beds within a barricade of trellis panel fencing and topped off with netting (looks like a rectangular circus tent). The netting is fastened to the trellis with cable ties and where the two lengths of netting meet, they are also joined with cable ties.

    The chickens have taken to sitting on the trellis fencing and picking off any green stuff that pokes through. This I don't mind. However, when we came home late on Saturday night, I trot off down to the bottom to shut up the chicken coop when I catch out the corner of my eye the devastation in my veg plot. What on earth?! I walk around it - no signs of breaching, no signs of anything. I go over to the chicken coop and lift the nest box lid - only 3 chickens. Where is number 4?

    I go back to the veg beds, this time with a torch. There, tucked up in a nice little bed amongst the peas is one very fat sleepy hen - who has the cheek to look up at me and go (I swear she did this) "uh-oh".

    What must have happened is that she was on the edge of the trellis and over-reached herself, fell through between the two pieces of netting which being quite taut just closed up behind her so she couldn't get out again. What a lovely evening she must have had. It would certainly explained the ginormous green poo she did the next morning.
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeJun 29th, 2009 5:05pm (Jun 29th 2009)
     
    What an adventure!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJun 29th, 2009 7:03pm (Jun 29th 2009)
     
    I do hope Diane enjoys the 'ginormous green poo' reference...:)
    Now you just have to hope that Naughty Hen doesn't teach the others how to do it: '...and then after a lovely meal, the Human comes and gives you a lift home. You simply must try it...'
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeJun 29th, 2009 7:52pm (Jun 29th 2009)
     
    When you fenced it in did they look at you as if to say "waddaya mean its not for us?" I bet the other 3 were very jealous!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJun 29th, 2009 10:03pm (Jun 29th 2009) edited
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Yeah, she'll definitely try do it again and then teach the other...little buggerlugs!! Bet she really enjoyed herself though, bless her. Did she do the big puppy-dog eyes and the "But I was only trying to help..." :rolling:
    • CommentAuthorLynnW
    • CommentTimeJun 30th, 2009 9:03pm (Jun 30th 2009)
     
    She was just trying to help you keep the weeds down and in the dark couldn't tell the difference..doesn't that sound convincing enough? How about the other 3 chickens pushed her through the opening just to get her in trouble with you.:lol:
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 1st, 2009 1:40am (Jul 1st 2009)
     
    Or a strong wind picked her up and blew her in there? You have a nasty suspicious mind, Volka...:)
    • CommentAuthorvolka
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 3:10pm (Jul 7th 2009)
     
    I am coming to the conclusion that chickens are far more clever than they let on. Far more naughty, far more bl**dy-minded and definitely far more cheeky.
    •  
      CommentAuthorneil
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 3:43pm (Jul 7th 2009)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    It's why we love 'em :)

    (although if anymore of my sunflower seedlings 'go missing' I will be having words with milly)
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 5:32pm (Jul 7th 2009) edited
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Posted By: neil
    (although if anymore of my sunflower seedlings 'go missing' I will be having words with milly)

    Yeah but you won't dad, you'll be having words with me and that's hardly fair!! :P

    volka, chickens are clever, much more than we give them credit for. And they know exactly how to wrap humans round their little...um...claws :D

    Tilly and Penny know exactly where i don't want them to go but, whereas Milly respects that and generally behaves herself, T&P set out to cause trouble. When i put them back in their pen, they just find another way to escape and make a mess...if i block one escape route they simply go straight to another one.
    • CommentAuthorvolka
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 6:32pm (Jul 7th 2009)
     
    Oh, I've just given up trying to have a show garden (well, I'm using the chicklets as an excuse) and going for the ramshackle let-nature-take-its-course look. Quickly finding out which plants are chicken-proof nibble-wise and which ones are very comfy to sit on (like my 10 year old peony which was a bush but now is a flat circle).

    There's a thought... crop circles... wild chickens...?
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 6:36pm (Jul 7th 2009)
     
    Volka, do what I did and give up on plants. Just put loads of signs, dangly things, mirrors, water features, seats and weird stuff in the garden and nobody notices the absence of flowers...
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 8:33pm (Jul 7th 2009)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    I wish my mum would just give up... :(
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 8:37pm (Jul 7th 2009)
     
    Give it time...
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 8:53pm (Jul 7th 2009) edited
     

    Keeper of the hens

    It won't happen. Ever. We've had chickens six years now, and she's worse now than she ever has been. They're not supposed to go anywhere in the garden now, but what you don't know doesn't hurt right...? :)

    And yet she still allows Milly in the house and on the patio :-\
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 8:57pm (Jul 7th 2009)
     
    She's weakening then!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 7th, 2009 9:09pm (Jul 7th 2009)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Haha, true...at this rate you think i'll have persuaded her to let me relocate the chicken coop by next summer?! :)
    •  
      CommentAuthorJonny
    • CommentTimeJul 8th, 2009 12:25am (Jul 8th 2009)
     
    Posted By: RedHaha, true...at this rate you think i'll have persuaded her to let me relocate the chicken coop by next summer?!<img src=" />


    ..into the house??? :)
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 8th, 2009 6:45pm (Jul 8th 2009)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    I wish, but sadly don't think it would be fair on the chickens...they'd have to put up with seeing the state of my hair first thing in the morning!!!

    I wanna put it up where the rabbit hutch currently is. If it was up there we could make it bigger, and my uncle has even said if i can design a coop he'll construct it for me...but so far it's a no-go with my parents :(
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeJul 8th, 2009 11:51pm (Jul 8th 2009)
     
    Bloomin parents, stifling your growth Red, depriving you of a childhood, cruelty (are you too old to call childline?)

    (Er, what happens to the rabbits if you move the chickens to their plot?!)
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 9th, 2009 12:56am (Jul 9th 2009)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Haha, I know! Doms would move to the patch where the current coop is - easy swap ;)

    I can't wait till i get away from mum's allergies so i can have a dog - but as my dad pointed out I won't be able to get one till i am "old" due to work / money issues. Thanks dad :D
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 9th, 2009 5:08pm (Jul 9th 2009)
     
    You could go for a career in begging; then you could have a dog on a bit of string...:D
    I always annoy those beggars by giving them nothing...but giving the dogs a chewy stick.
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 9th, 2009 10:43pm (Jul 9th 2009)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    :rolling:
    •  
      CommentAuthorKateb
    • CommentTimeJul 10th, 2009 12:02am (Jul 10th 2009)
     
    Go to your local kennels and help them walk the dogs - better than nothing and the mutts would appreciate it!
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 10th, 2009 2:31pm (Jul 10th 2009)
     
    What a good idea - our local Dog Rescue lets people walk their dogs. They hope that some people will fall in love with the dogs and want to keep them...I know I would!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 10th, 2009 10:24pm (Jul 10th 2009) edited
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Posted By: KatebGo to your local kennels and help them walk the dogs - better than nothing and the mutts would appreciate it!

    I've tried and nobody wants me :(
    :D

    It's a real shame though because there's a kennels at the top of Wilsden not even a twenty minute walk away, so it really would be perfect...
    • CommentAuthorollie in UK
    • CommentTimeJul 10th, 2009 11:17pm (Jul 10th 2009)
     
    Maybe they suspect you may not bring them back one day?
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 11th, 2009 3:14pm (Jul 11th 2009)
     
    Have you a Dog Rescue place near you?
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 12th, 2009 3:42pm (Jul 12th 2009) edited
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Have just googled and there is a cat rescue and an RSPCA in Bradford somewhere...I've never been a big fan of the RSPCA since Eva, but I might get in touch and see if they need any voluntary help...

    If not I'll try the cat rescue ^__^
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 12th, 2009 3:58pm (Jul 12th 2009) edited
     

    Keeper of the hens

    Oh my bob they have battery chickens waiting for a good home...

    Dratt they're down near London :confused:

    Sheesh the way some of these animals have been treated is so sad. It's a real shame that I can't have a cat or a dog, I'd love to give a rescue fur-baby a new home.

    The smaller animals are a real good adoption price too.
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 12th, 2009 4:25pm (Jul 12th 2009)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    :gasp:
    THE BRADFORD RSPCA HAS FERRETS FOR A GOOD HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

    Daaaaaaaad....
    •  
      CommentAuthorchief chicken
    • CommentTimeJul 12th, 2009 5:14pm (Jul 12th 2009) edited
     
    :rolling: Ready for a nice quiet summer holiday, Neil & Helen...? :D
    • CommentAuthornanny north
    • CommentTimeJul 12th, 2009 7:29pm (Jul 12th 2009)
     
    Ferrets are so sweet just don't keep them in the same run as your hens !!!!!!
    • CommentAuthorTrevs Mum
    • CommentTimeJul 13th, 2009 7:02am (Jul 13th 2009) edited
     
    :_pecking::blink::001_huh:

    Milly: 'Oh look Tilly it seems we have a pet ferret'.

    Tilly: 'Oh goody just what I have always wanted':clap:

    Penny: 'Hmm I wonder how much it eats? It better not pinch any of my food.':broccoli:

    Milly: I think it's more likely it will try to pinch us'!!!:chicken_catch:
    •  
      CommentAuthorRed
    • CommentTimeJul 13th, 2009 8:18pm (Jul 13th 2009)
     

    Keeper of the hens

    :rolling:

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