Chicken Diary

Extract from end of April '05

Tues 26th April:   I built a simple climbing frame in the hen enclosure, so they have more climbing and perching places.

Wed 27th April:   Took mother Jones out for a graze.   Andy and I had a massive clean, clear out and rearrange of the chicken pen.   It took all day!   And the weather was not so good- rain and sunshine, typical April weather.  It was quite smelly too.   We got some great compost though!   Andy really wants another couple of hens and I have finally given in, we're gonna go and get them tomorrow.   We called the farmer that we got the others from and he said he had some for sale.

Fri 29th April:   Took Mother Jones out to graze.   She really enjoys scratching around in the soil picking out worms and bugs.   Andy and I went to High Wycombe to get some hens.   They didn't have anything pretty or very unusual but we got a couple of black ones.   When we got them back the others went crazy- especially Houdini.   They just started pecking them and pulling their feather out.   It was quite scary for a moment, but we managed to segregate them for a while whilst they calmed down.   Andy and I stayed with them until dusk and decided to put them away together in the same house.   Putting them away proved difficult- the young hens tried to go in but got thrown out, then they were too scared to go in.   We tried everything to try to persuade them, but finally had to carry the house she was hiding to, to the coop and push her in.   We stayed around for a while to make sure they settled down.

Sat 30th :   They survived the night!   I was a bit worried about them.   Andy and I stayed with them most of the day to make sure everything was ok.   Warhole chased them around a bit and tried to stop them getting food.   We made sure both the new hens ate some pellets and drank some water undisturbed by the others.

Sunday 1st May:   The new hens are beginning to settle in.   The others are still a bit vicious and occasionally chase and peck them.   I guess it'll take a bit more time for them to accept each other.  

Mon 2nd May:   Found a bath, I'll fill it with sawdust and soil so they can clean themselves.