The Poultry Keeper

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

I've had a really great day with my girls! Although I we did have a close call with a rogue cat which got my heart pounding. Wil have to get my girls and shepherd properly introduced so he can guard them properly!!
And my mind is buzzing with 'stuff'!!

My little pekin is very much on her own - the others have teamed up in pairs and she is the one that is getting pecked at. I need to get her a friend or get her to bond with someone else - any ideas??

This maybe running before I can walk - but in the future I fancy having a go at having chicks!! We live in a rural area and have a huge garden for them - but there is neighbours to consider. So cockerels really going for it at nop notch would not be appropriate - do any of the breeds I've got have 'quiet cockerels'?

The current free range area the girls have is 140 feet by 35 feet - and is completely uncultivated - so there is lots to keep their attention. I am a bit concerned that although I have been providing them with growing pellets and food from the kitchen or garden they aren't eating it. Can i assume that they are getting enough from their free range environment? and therefore don't have to worry about them not eating 'my food'?

Their actual hen house is 3ft by 3ft by 4ft high. I know I need to work on the perches - but do their nesting boxes have to have sides on them? They currently have 3 within the house that are 1ft x 1ft and have edges on them but with wood shavings its not that obvious that they are for nesting. Do I need to something else with them? ( We are going to reassess perches after reading Jaydees advice!! )

Hmm - I think that's my lot for today!!! Have got loads more to come I'm sure ROFL

Love
Debs 2

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Debs2, try and take away the 'treats' so that all they have are the pellets. They may just be eating too much 'candy' and not enough basics. Give them a few days and see if that fixes the situation. Wink

CP · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:55 pm Post subject:

Glad you've had a lovely day with your girls. Very Happy

Most people who have them will tell you that cats will give chickens a wide berth once they've felt how sharp a beak is!

Poor little pekin! The best thing to do is get another pekin friend! They will sort themselves out eventually.

Don't know of any specific breed that has 'quiet cockerels' so if you hear of one, let me know please!

Don't worry about them getting enough food - they will be eating lots of things around the garden, but they are eating the pellets too I'm sure. You will notice the levels go down!

Generally speaking the nest boxes should be situated in a quiet dark place in the coop. It's better if they are divided up & not just 1 big one. Mine have 'curtains' on the entrances to help keep them dark.

Having said that, you will also get hens that lay out in the open, on top of haybales & in the most unlikely of places! Rolling Eyes

Knobby · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:42 am Post subject:

I still think the BIGGER the breed, the less noisy the Cockadoodledoo is.....the little Pekin & L Sussex are such "gobby little gits" whereas the Orp usually only crows when he sees strangers in the garden..........but its only my opinion....perhaps he saves his energy for "other things" ! Shocked

Lisa

Glad to hear you had a great day with your chooks! Very Happy

If your little pekin is lonely I'd go back to the breeder you got her from and see if you can get her a little pekin friend from there - one she might have grown up with. As you've only just got her she has more of a chance of still recognising the newcomer as family and so bonding with it (I remember reading somewhere that they can recognise and remember a lot of other birds by sight).

Its great to plan ahead, isn't it. I'd love to have some chicks too one day, but I can't think of any quiet cockerals either - except the one called Sunday lunch Confused

(And I say that as a vegetarian!)

If you are worried your chickens are not eating enough food, you could always keep them in a run, with just their pellets and water, for an hour or so first thing in the morning and let them out after. Being hungry first thing they'll be more likely to eat their pellets/mash then.

Maybe go easy on the household scraps as Deb said. Although chooks will eat lots of things, they still need a nutritious diet to grow well, remain healthy, and lay lots of lovely eggs. You have to be careful with the extras that you're not unbalancing the diet in some way, for example by adding too much extra fat, salt, or too much of any one ingredient. IMHO if you do add extras then try for the biggest variety of different, healthy ingredients possible. At least this way their diet is likely to be balanced overall.

NannyP · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:18 am Post subject:

It's amzing how chooks are able to pair up and recognise each other. I bought 2 bantam Orps and a Wyandotte at the same time, from the same place. The Orps paired up, the Wyandotte is still a loner. I have also noticed that the older hens tend to group together and the younger ones too. So, yes, definately go back and get another Pekin, and as Lisa says, prefarably one who grew up with her.
Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I'm so pleased you had a good day with your new girls ~ sorry for the little pekin though ~ do as has been suggested and I'm sure it will be fine. What a good excuse to get more so soon!!!
I keep my girls in their run in the morning with only the layers pellets and water. Then in the afternoon they can go wherever they choose in the garden. I occasionally give them treats but usually the only treat they get is the corn that I use to get them all back in the run before dusk.