I'm now down to a "flock" of two remaining four year old ex-batts, having laid to rest Holly (my favourite white leghorn) and two 4 y/o ex-batts in the last 4 months, all from old age. I doubt if the last two will see the summer out, so my thoughts are turning to what I might get next. In the past, I've alternated between ex-batts & hybrids &/or pure breeds. Looking at Surbiton Poultry's website, they appear to have blue leghorns (for white eggs), wheaten Marans (for nice DBEs) & cream... Read more ..read more

Hi, We've been rescuing hens through the bhwt for a number of years now, and this last lot of 11 hens are little horror bags! We got them in December, and after becoming beautiful full feathered girls, a few of them mid April, suddenly turned into feather eaters. Meaning most of then now look moth eaten, one of them is currently residing in another area and on medication, because we found her covered in blood one evening as some had been happily pecking at her vent after pulling out her... Read more ..read more

A whole incubator of eggs (35) and all infertile. Guess that Mottled Orpington cockerel isn’t up to the job. Oh well Exchequer Leghorns gone in so it will be a late season for hatching this year ..read more

Terrible memory. What do they call that timber for perches. It’s about 3 ins x 2ins and has chamfered edges ..read more

I log in, click on "new posts" and am told that there aren't any . I know that BYM's away, but where has everyone else gone? It's lonely here all on my own... I've resorted to reading a fountain pen forum, but there's nothing remotely cute about fountain pens & they'd make a dreadful omelette... Where are all of my poultry forum friends??? Is it something I said ..read more

Hi, I’m a very excited Chicken newbie and need some advice from experienced chicken owners please. I’m planning on having my hens in a large run in my garden next spring. I have seen runs that have metal poles as the supporting structure and also runs that have wooden supports. I plan on having an apex roof which will be covered too. There are so many decisions to make and although I have done loads of reading on here and other sites I’m still quite unsure as to whether to go for wooden... Read more ..read more

Happy New Year everyone. Hope all of you are ok and surviving these terrible storms. It's really bad in Nottinghamshire tonight! I've been working full time since 2020, so not had much spare time, I usually walk 5-7 miles a night. Sadly I now have a poorly knee, so off for an MRI tomorrow. I've been meaning to pop back into the forum. Anyway, all my original girls have died of age, except Miss Muffet which I believe I told you that a bird of prey killed her. I now have a covered run. I... Read more ..read more

Another one for new chicken keepers in cold weather... It's great cleaning up chicken poo in freezing weather, as most of It's in the coop- less searching it out on the run floor, & it doesn't smell so bad. But when it's frozen solid to the floor, a dedicated garden trowel is handy for chiselling deposits off the run floor! I also wear a pair of plasticized warm gloves with a disposable glove over the top of the one that won't be holding the trowel handle ..read more

For the benefit of anyone out there looking after hens (or other poultry) through their first cold winter, I thought I'd share a tip for when drinkers freeze. Each day when I feed the hens & take them clean water, I bring their (second) dirty drinker back indoors. If the contents are liquid, I empty the drinker on the garden or down a drain. If it’s frozen, you can leave it in the bath or shower to defrost (we've got an outbuilding with a sink that I leave the drinker in to drain as it... Read more ..read more

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all ..read more