Since the sad news of my last post here's a long overdue update...
Both other hens are fine and don't seem phased at all by the loss of their little pal. They've not missed a laying day for a good while now so clearly not egg bound at all.
We do plan to get two more chickens in the near future but we're a little concerned how the pecking order thing will work out.
I've now also instigated a further extension - a roll of chicken wire supported by bamboo rods which can be easily pushed into the ground. It just gives them more space to run around. A bit more free-range if you like... We only use this when we're around in the kitchen or garden particulary now that the foxes have had cubs. More hungry mouths to feed.
Both other hens are fine and don't seem phased at all by the loss of their little pal. They've not missed a laying day for a good while now so clearly not egg bound at all.
We do plan to get two more chickens in the near future but we're a little concerned how the pecking order thing will work out.
I've now also instigated a further extension - a roll of chicken wire supported by bamboo rods which can be easily pushed into the ground. It just gives them more space to run around. A bit more free-range if you like... We only use this when we're around in the kitchen or garden particulary now that the foxes have had cubs. More hungry mouths to feed.
I'm glad to hear your remaining two chickens are still doing well.
ReplyDeletePeople seem to let new hens get used to each other before putting them in together, but you need two hen houses to be able to do that, and it seems it can still take a long time. A friend of mine just put the new ones in at night and that didn't seem to work to well, either. It was a couple of months ago, so I shall try and find out how long it took them to settle in. Equal numbers seem to be a good idea, then neither party is outnumbered.
Hello, just wondering how your hens are doing - mind you, I haven't mentioned mine in a while, it's been a busy summer.
ReplyDeleteWell it's nearly a year since you had your chickens and you are no longer a novice chicken keeper. How's it going?
ReplyDelete