The Poultry Keeper

joey · Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 11 Location: GLOUCESTERSHIRE

I am completely new to chickens, but was given 2 rescued birds last Saturday. They have to use our old guinea pig run with a sleeping area at one end. It looks a bit like an ark, but there is just straw down and obviously food and water.
The problems are;
One bird (Hetty)is bigger and more dominant than the other and won't let er feed or drink or even come out of the sleeping bit when they are shut in.
They both laid for the first 3 days but smaller (Kiwi) hasn't laid for a couple of days, I think she is stressed. I do put food outside for her and even left Hetty in when Kiwi was out yesterday,but she is very nervy.
The other problem is we had them very quickly without time to prepare and don't really know what to do about housing. We can't afford anything elaborate but need something better. They are let out when I am home.

Knobby · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:08 pm Post subject:

Firstly........Ive had chickens in a guinea pig run before........I just built a new ark from scratch, based on the design of the guinea pig run.....its very simple, and only cost me the price of the wood......Another of my hen houses is a converted dog kennel, and the other hen house is a huge over engineered thing !!
Keep whatever you decide to do simple, and remember it needs to be easy to clean !!!

As for the bossy chicken.....Mmmmm....need to think about that !!!

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Hi Joey,

Ok...go take a look in feeding to housing to get ideas about that. Look under Golden nuggets to get ideas about what new chook owners need to prepare for, and what possible diseases/treatments, etc.

As for the bullying...I guess try and seperate them, but let them see each other until the new housing arrangements are made up. Then put the one who is picked on in the new house first for a day or so, so she will have the upper hand. Might want to introduce a third chook at the same time just to add to the confusion and keep the big one at bay. Wink

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Hens don't need anything elaborate, so long as it's dry and secure they'll be ok

Put 2 lots of food at opposite ends of the run, then kiwi might be able to get some

try adding a little ACV to the water as this helps with stress

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

same as the others say really, it just takes time for them to settle sometimes. How big is your run? Is there any way that you can make it a little larger to give them a bit more room away from each other? I had my girls in a rabbit hutch when I first got them, with 2 x 6ft run panels and a 3ft one at the end.
How do they feel about being handled ? Maybe gentle handling will help them settle down.
Keep us informed how they get on, and try not to worry, the girls are usually stronger than they look.

NannyP · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:37 am Post subject:

It's Apple Cider Vinegar (should it be ACV??)
Best to buy from a country feed store, usually solf for horses. It's a booster I think?
Not intruding just asking Wink

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

ACV

Apple Cider Vinegar

Knobby · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:38 am Post subject:

Are you two talking to yourselves ???

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

LOL

It looks like it since Deano deleted his post !
Rolling Eyes

NannyP · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:40 am Post subject:

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

Thank you, because I didn't know what ACV was either! Very Happy

sasha.p · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 472 Location: gwent

hello !my dad lives in Gloucester,abbeymead ,its worth checking the free adds(yellow paper not sure if its called the same there) and looking and posting wanted chicken house otherwise just try and build one of your own we had to build ours as nobody around here knows much about chickens and the ones they sell in countrywide shops are so expensive I'm too a new chicken owner great ain't they lol Very Happy

joey · Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 11 Location: GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Just to let you know that things seem a bit better, although Hetty is still picking on Kiwi, will possible get another hen when have more accommodation.
We have just had a massive storm and the silly chickens just stood in the rain, I don't think they've seen it before.
Eggs have stopped but I think they were on automatic pilot because of their previous life and now realise there is no pressure.
I'm really enoying them. Everyone else thinks I'm mad.
Hi Sasha I know Abbeymead well .

NannyP · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 3:07 pm Post subject:

If you're mad, that's fine cos there are many here who are too. Wink

Not me of course, I'm completely sane Very Happy

mojo · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 3:29 pm Post subject: hi

and if you believe that youll believe chickens lay square eggs made of chocolate..................mojo Cool