The chickens seemed pleased to see me when I got in from work tonight. I think they had probably had a nice day in the sunshine.
I topped up their food and they pecked away. I did see Mavis have a go at Meryl though which wasn't too good. Video below:
I sprinkled some feed on the ground for Beryl which she seemed to enjoy, she pecked away for ages. If you watch until the end she looses her balance and nearly slips off the end of the ramp.
Video below:
Thursday 24 February 2011
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Day 5
Apologies for the lack of blog yesterday, time flies when you’re having so much fun! lol
I managed to get home before it got dark to go and have a chat with the girls before tucking them in their cosy house for the night. They had managed to knock their water container over. I propped it up again and filled it to the top with water. They were all very thirsty and didn’t seem to mind the presence of a human while they drank themselves silly.
I just got an image of a drunk chicken then, I mean drank themselves silly with water!
James had given them some potato peelings yesterday morning and they had gobbled them up. I was looking round the garden for something to give them but other than nettles there didn’t seem to be anything. You can give them nettles, they like them apparently but I’m not too sure, I wouldn’t want nettles stinging down my throat!
Beryl seems to be getting a little braver and doesn’t really mind you peering in, Meryl on the other hand is like a wild bird, she flaps and runs away as soon as she hears you coming down the path. Mavis is filthy from the wet mud and now looks sort of browny white as opposed to white, white when we first got her. Beryl seems to be filling out a bit now as well, she looks very happy.
James will be building a bigger run this weekend so they will have plenty more room. I’m not sure how well James is going to get on building said run. We may need to call on the services of Woodisse senior!
All the grass has been eaten in the area they are in, we need to buy some woodchip so they don’t get so muddy.
We were advised to block the egg laying area of the coop up so that they did not sleep in it. Now that 5 days have passed they will now know not to sleep in that area so I removed the cardboard.
Monday 21 February 2011
Sunday 20 February 2011
The Great Escape
We opened the house door up to let the ladies down for their breakfast, the run is not very big so we put the old dog wire fence round the coop. I suggested that we opened the main door so that they could have a bit more room and they could spend the day outside in the bigger run. James agreed unwillingly as he was a bit concerned they might fly away. I was sure they would be ok and convinced him to let them out.
Mavis was the first to venture out. She seems to be the more confident one of the three of them and first to do everything. Meryl just seems to be lazy and after a feeding frenzy she returned to the bedroom!!
Beryl seems to be the baby of the group and is a little shy.
We came back into the house to have our breakfast, standing up occasionally to make sure none of them have flown away, lol!
I thought a nice picture of the chicken house from the living room would be good so I go and get my camera. I look out into the garden to see Mavis strutting across the grass near the pond! The little devil had escaped!! I shouted to James that Meryl had escaped. He was less than impressed. I stood giggling in the living room until I heard 'don't just stand there woman!' I dived into my wellies and legged it outside. I told James he would just have to be brave and catch her. I on the other hand, still too nervous to pick them up was supervising James :0)
We decided to try and scoot her near to the chicken house with the lid of the composting bin. This back fired as she escaped through the fence to the outside of the garden! (I knew we should have got the fencing done last year). James ran round to try and direct her back into the garden which she kindly did. I thought I could use the empty composting bin to contain her, this frightened her even more and she ran out of the fence and out of the garden again. James ran round again and scooted her back in. I managed to escort her back into the old dog run and contained her in there. We then moved the run to the door of the chicken hutch and persuaded her to get back in to the safety of the roofed coop! Meanwhile Beryl and Meryl were trying to get out! Luckily we managed to catch them in time and they went back into the coop as well. Phew!
They are now all in the bedroom of the coop and haven't ventured down. They are probably debating the next escape plan!
Its all good fun at Number One Samsons Cottages this morning :0)
Mavis was the first to venture out. She seems to be the more confident one of the three of them and first to do everything. Meryl just seems to be lazy and after a feeding frenzy she returned to the bedroom!!
Beryl seems to be the baby of the group and is a little shy.
We came back into the house to have our breakfast, standing up occasionally to make sure none of them have flown away, lol!
I thought a nice picture of the chicken house from the living room would be good so I go and get my camera. I look out into the garden to see Mavis strutting across the grass near the pond! The little devil had escaped!! I shouted to James that Meryl had escaped. He was less than impressed. I stood giggling in the living room until I heard 'don't just stand there woman!' I dived into my wellies and legged it outside. I told James he would just have to be brave and catch her. I on the other hand, still too nervous to pick them up was supervising James :0)
We decided to try and scoot her near to the chicken house with the lid of the composting bin. This back fired as she escaped through the fence to the outside of the garden! (I knew we should have got the fencing done last year). James ran round to try and direct her back into the garden which she kindly did. I thought I could use the empty composting bin to contain her, this frightened her even more and she ran out of the fence and out of the garden again. James ran round again and scooted her back in. I managed to escort her back into the old dog run and contained her in there. We then moved the run to the door of the chicken hutch and persuaded her to get back in to the safety of the roofed coop! Meanwhile Beryl and Meryl were trying to get out! Luckily we managed to catch them in time and they went back into the coop as well. Phew!
They are now all in the bedroom of the coop and haven't ventured down. They are probably debating the next escape plan!
Its all good fun at Number One Samsons Cottages this morning :0)
Saturday 19 February 2011
The First Night
We have just been down to the bottom of the garden to tuck the chickens in. They were all in their house, sitting on top of each other.
We shut the door and will let them out in the morning.
We shut the door and will let them out in the morning.
The Homecoming
James built the coop in the living room this morning. We decided not to do it last night as were too tired!
At 13:30 we went to collect the ladies from the chicken farm. We chose 3 in the end as the coop is a tad smaller than we thought. We decided on a Columbian Blacktail, a light Sussex and a Cambridge Blue. The man managed to grab the white one (light Sussex) now named Mavis,and gave it to James to hold. He then grabbed the brown one (Columbian Blacktail) now named Beryl and tried to give it to me to hold. I was a little petrified and declined! So he then had to grab the grey one (Cambridge blue) now named Meryl, one handed!
We loaded them into their box (with air holes as prepared earlier by my fair hands) and popped them in the boot. We also bought food, straw, water and food containers and some grit stuff.
==Now back at home==
After filling the sleeping area with straw we coaxed the girls from their box into their new home. They seem happy enough, they are already pecking at their food and they seem to be taking it in turns to view their new bedroom :0)
At 13:30 we went to collect the ladies from the chicken farm. We chose 3 in the end as the coop is a tad smaller than we thought. We decided on a Columbian Blacktail, a light Sussex and a Cambridge Blue. The man managed to grab the white one (light Sussex) now named Mavis,and gave it to James to hold. He then grabbed the brown one (Columbian Blacktail) now named Beryl and tried to give it to me to hold. I was a little petrified and declined! So he then had to grab the grey one (Cambridge blue) now named Meryl, one handed!
We loaded them into their box (with air holes as prepared earlier by my fair hands) and popped them in the boot. We also bought food, straw, water and food containers and some grit stuff.
==Now back at home==
After filling the sleeping area with straw we coaxed the girls from their box into their new home. They seem happy enough, they are already pecking at their food and they seem to be taking it in turns to view their new bedroom :0)
Friday 18 February 2011
The day before........
So.......... we decided a couple of months ago that we would like some Chickens. We have plenty of room in the garden and the thought of a fresh supply of eggs seems very exciting!
The chicken coup arrived this morning by courier and I will be persuading James that it needs to be assembled first thing tomorrow!
We will be collecting our Chickens tomorrow lunchtime as well as buying feed, bedding and a couple of water drinking things.
I will post some pictures of the coop soon
The chicken coup arrived this morning by courier and I will be persuading James that it needs to be assembled first thing tomorrow!
We will be collecting our Chickens tomorrow lunchtime as well as buying feed, bedding and a couple of water drinking things.
I will post some pictures of the coop soon
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