changes afoot

i have has three aylesbury ducks and have reluctantly re homed them - they are really messy and the boy has become less and less friendly (scares my daughter) - so they have gone to a local young man who keeps lots of poultry and is capable of putting all the leg work in that goes with ducks

he has however offered me three little chooks (or more if i want them which are just a couple of weeks old) he will sex them so we only have girls - dont want the probs that go with cockerels

i still have my little re homed battery chook (Mrs can can) and i couldnt let her go and am hoping she will be a good mother hen to the babies when they arrive

loopy

 

here is Mrs Can Can

 

She looks lovely Loopy. I am glad the ducks went to a good home though.

 

oh they did - some friends of friends who have lots more space and time than i do and i know they will be kept together and enjoyed

loopy

 

Ducks are fab, but incredibly messy and need constant cleaning out to maintain any resemblance of decent husbandry.

What breed of chickens are you getting - some are easier to sex than others, some even from hatching. Stick with three to begin with - better to have less than more. Also be aware that they will need segregating from your old ex-batt for a couple of weeks, just to minimise risk of disease, etc. Depending on her temperment, she might accept them...or she might take a bit longer, but if they are young, keep them separate until they are big enough to handle any pecks. Mind you, young birds can run FAST!

 

sussex gardener - i dont know what breed - he brought three over just to make my daughters day - a selection of what he has to offer

one yellow and brown, one pure black and one a golden brown (daughters favourite one)


the infants school have had a project running and have hatched 40 (yes 40) eggs they suddenly realised that they had to find a place for them to go so they rang this young man and hes happy to take them on

hes a villager and i know him through the allotments, my daughter knows him through friends- he does seem very knowledgeable about hens though - i called mine an isa brown but he knew the correct name - cant remember now - warwick or something

anyways hes a proper grafter and a pleasant person

mrs can can is the mildest tempered of birds - but i will keep a segregation thing going, i also want the little uns to get a bit bigger and they are pretty fast already

how clever of you - we had thought three would be a nice number to have even though he said we could have more if we wanted and the coop is plenty big enough for more

Loopy

 

Get some pics up of them when you get them. If he knows his breeds and birds, then sexing them beforehand won't be a problem, but emphasise you can't have a cockerel. The last thing you need is to integrate the three and then have to give one back because it's a boy...and start with integration all over again.

Three is better than two, just in case one of the chickens keels over and dies (they can do that sadly, fine one day, gone the next :( )

 

thanks sussex gardener - i have fully explained that i do not want a cock bird - my daughter will see these as her pets and wouldnt be happy if she then had to let one go. she is allergic to most pets (those with fur or hair) so these will be her babies. i think it might be a couple of weeks before we get them

she adores mrs can can and i have already explained we need to be careful, integrate them at the proper time when they are bigger and may possibly have to separate them

it is after all the 'pecking order' which can be a cruel thing which we must bear in mind and, if necessary address

i must admit i am a little excited myself


loopy

now i have got the photo thing under my belt i will certainly post some pics

 

Have you got the new chickens yet?

 

no, not yet!!! i think i have decided to get four!!

mrs cancan is laying me one egg every day and having a good free range round the garden so shes quite happy

i will phone the guy and we will se best date to get em


loopy

 

Find out what breed you're getting - I want to know!

My broody hatched chicks last week. Currently have three little bundles of fluff, cheeping madly. Broody hen is tickled pink

 

hooray, the chickens have finally arrived!!! three little ones - two black and one speckled

a white sussex and two colombian? i think he said!! they are black and beige

Mrs can-can is not amused!!! and is being very vocal



Loopy

 

Hi Loopy, they sound so cute, can we have some pics soon?

 

Yeah come on, get some pics up!

 

lol i will!!!

i have to get my daughter to help me cos shes got a better camera than me

loopy