The Poultry Keeper The Independent Forum for Poultry Keepers    FAQ   Search     Register   Log in  introducing hens Goto page 1, 2  Next          The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> General & Misc Author Message eejay Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Cornwall Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:33 pm    Post subject: introducing hens We are finally about to get some chickens (6 months later than we thought!) Our neighbour is moving house, and has offered us 3 Silkie hens and a Light Sussex cockerel. But- we'd like to get a Maran and an Orpington too. I know they have to be kept separate during the day- but what happens at night? We've only got one henhouse! Secondly, the cockerel, although very friendly, has very large spurs. Should we get them clipped? Would a vet clip them? Thanks Back to top eejay Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Cornwall Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:42 pm    Post subject: Introducing hens Oops, sorry- just found the answer to this question lurking in the FAQs section! I'd still like to know the answer about clipping the erel's spurs, though! Thanks Back to top eejay Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Cornwall Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:44 pm    Post subject: Introducing hens Sorry - by "erel" I mean a male chicken- think the parental control software on my computer is being a bit overzealous- it won't let me use the first half of the word! Back to top jaydee67 Moderator Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5152 Location: Shetland Islands Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:53 pm    Post subject: try typing coq instead! lol! I've never clipped a cockeral's spurs, depends on how big they are and if they are damaging the hens I suppose! Back to top Knobby Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 6707 Location: North Warwickshire Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:07 pm    Post subject: Ive got three cocks, and so far Ive yet to see any evidence of spurs causing problems to the girls......Im just waiting for the Orp Cock to mature a bit.............Then I can buy a couple of poultry sadlles......Yipeeee Ride-em-cowboy !!!! Back to top jaydee67 Moderator Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5152 Location: Shetland Islands Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:16 pm    Post subject: How about this one of Nancy's designs Knobby? Then you'd have a real biker chick! Back to top Knobby Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 6707 Location: North Warwickshire Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:20 pm    Post subject: Are they studs.....I hope so ??? Back to top fluffly_fifer Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 411 Location: Fife, Scotland Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:09 pm    Post subject: jaydee67 wrote: How about this one of Nancy's designs Knobby? Then you'd have a real biker chick! Wow is that for chickens with a fetish? Actually they look pretty cool. Back to top Heather Moderator Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 4010 Location: West Sussex Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:10 pm    Post subject: now I know what to wear for our meeting Back to top Dab Guest Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:51 pm    Post subject: Santas Little Helper wrote: Are they studs.....I hope so ??? Oh you pervert Back to top 1 Chicken Smuggler Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178 Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 1:08 am    Post subject: Here are two links,one for trimming spurs and the other for dubbing. http://www.slipspurbantams.com/TrimmingSpurs.htm http://www.slipspurbantams.com/Dubbing.htm Hope this helps. Back to top eejay Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Cornwall Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:13 pm    Post subject: introducing hens that's really helpful. Thanks everyone. Happy Christmas in advance! Back to top 1 Chicken Smuggler Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178 Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:22 pm    Post subject: Those links are well worth saving.Read them very carefully before attempting to do either one.One bit of advice.Do the dubbing when it is cold and don`t do it if the chicken had to be caught and has his heart rate up.Let him calm down.Best way to do it is take him off the roost at night and do the dubbing.Once done put flour in the fresh cuts and put him back on a roost in a separate pen from the others when you are done.leave him there 3-4 days until he has healed some,so the others won`t peck him.Once you are ready to return him,depending on the color of his surgery areas,put some Vicks Vapor Rub on the cut areas and he should be good to go. Back to top poultry poofs Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 1808 Location: Wensleydale,North Yorkshire. Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:44 pm    Post subject: I have had to cull a few cochin hens after the cock has ripped huge wounds into their sides, and the cock bird doesnt even have well developed spurs, so i think the breed influences the need to de spur them, maybe its because of the soft feathering, not sure, i manged to treat one last year that had huge gaping wounds either side, but sadly she was split open again two weeks ago and was in a very bad way, so went in the pot when i have de spured i have used pliers gripped round the spur, you wiggle them back and forth and the sheath will seperate and slide off, leaving a soft stump, a little blood clotting powder if it bleeds and job done. we have to do Big Frank our 18 1lb orpington or he does serious damage. i am not squeamish but the idea of dubbing makes me feel icky it has its place i guess, just glad its not my birds. weeg Back to top Bhindi Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 1643 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:52 pm    Post subject: Not too impressed with that dubbing lark, Styleising animals for fashion just does not and will never be acceptable if its surgical in my opinion. 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