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Mon 18-Oct-10
1:42 pm

Budo1

Improver

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hello... been a week or 2 of silence here, been so busy trying to sort out work etc.

We have 7 new additions .. did have 16!! we have chickens, the kids love em. i love the eggs- which they so kindly started laying on day 1 but i have to say i find them a wee bit smelly and i have a some unwanted visitors already ( rats) which i have never has trouble with before. Kind of anoying. wasnt sure if there was something i should or shouldnt be doing. had me wondering if i should have gone with my first idea which was quail.... any thoughts???

Mon 18-Oct-10
4:24 pm

danast

Argyll, Scotland

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wave Hi Rob

Glad you are enjoying your chickens. I don't knoe why they would be smelly. What are you using for bedding? Fiona has lots of advice on getting rid of rats. This link should help.

http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/rats-in-the-chic.....en-run-838

Old teachers never die, they just lose their class

Tue 19-Oct-10
1:11 pm

Toffeeapple

North Bucks

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Rob, did you try any of Fiona's tips?

I'll try that again!

Tue 19-Oct-10
4:09 pm

seth

lincolnshire fens

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7 from 16 = 9 big meal i_am_hungry ?

Seed catalogues are responsible for more unfulfilled fantasies than the web and playboy combined . (after Michael Perry)

Tue 19-Oct-10
8:43 pm

Budo1

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I found the break in the mesh that i have placed as a 'skirt' at the bottom of the fences burried a foot down and replaced it and then the gap of about of 4 ins between that and the run i have obtained a large bag of coarse gravel and back filled all along the fence line.

The chickens have only laid 3 eggs today so i preseume the appearence of the rats has upset them. am going to dig some worms and see if that will cheer them up.

Seth - i gave a few away. 16 were far too many. The cockerel i admit made a beautiful one pot i_am_hungry

there were a couple of scrawny looking chooks which our new bull terrier pup enjoyed over several days dog

Thu 4-Nov-10
12:41 am

Terrier

York

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Egg production does slow down as the nights draw in, we have 11 hens and a cockerel, they aren't youngsters, but we have been getting 6 eggs a day all summer, now down to 3 if we're lucky.

Thu 4-Nov-10
10:13 am

islandgirl

Isle of Wight

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Tue 7-Sep-10

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Finally, I think I have worn OH down and he is now considering getting a few chickens. The main concern for both of us is the rather exposed garden, it can blow quite a hooly in the winter and wondered just how this would affect them. Are some breeds a bit tougher than others? ( not to eat! I've waited too long to get them to start thinking about the pot yet!! )

Thu 4-Nov-10
11:42 am

JoannaS

Latvia

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I used to throw an old sleeping bag and blanket over the ark they were in to keep mine warm in the chilly Derbyshire winds. cheers

Blog: thejourneytosomewhere.blogspot.com

Thu 4-Nov-10
3:36 pm

Toffeeapple

North Bucks

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islandgirl said:

Finally, I think I have worn OH down and he is now considering getting a few chickens.

Well done and lucky you!

I'll try that again!

Thu 4-Nov-10
11:43 pm

Terrier

York

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Our site is quite windy too, I try to keep them out of the garden as they eat all the hostas and any new shoots...not too much of a problem at this time of year, but don't want them to get a taste for it. We have one Houdini Hen who still manages to get through and we often catch her wandering about. They wander around everywhere else and always seem quite happy, irrespective of how cold or windy it is.

We've never done much to give them extra heat, as we have a few, they huddle together for warmth in the hut, but seem quite content wandering around during the day in the snow and rain. amongst out little flock we have 2 silkie bantams and you should see the state of them after a few hours of rain....

Thu 4-Nov-10
11:53 pm

danast

Argyll, Scotland

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wave My hens are supposed to stay in their field, but the chicks of this year are flying out and are scraping all the earth around the fruit trees in front of the house. We have had so much rain their field is a bit of a quagmire in places. The ducks like it but the hens are not so keen. Sometimes there are three hens out at a time and they are very lucky the labs have decided they are Mum's and are not to be attacked. I could have their wings clipped, but I don't think I will bother. They are very happy. I am only getting an average of two eggs a day out of I think 7 layers so winter is really coming.

Old teachers never die, they just lose their class

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