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Al Jones
Junior Member
Hello...
Tina and I have fenced off 7metres x 22metres area for our new chicken coop and area and are looking for advice and guidance on getting 6 hens and a cockerel.
The breeds we fancy so far are the West Sussex and Welsummer. We are very new to this and we are looking for layers for the house and to build our own flock. What's the do's and don'ts?
We live Essex/Suffolk border,
Thanks.
Al
Tina and I have fenced off 7metres x 22metres area for our new chicken coop and area and are looking for advice and guidance on getting 6 hens and a cockerel.
The breeds we fancy so far are the West Sussex and Welsummer. We are very new to this and we are looking for layers for the house and to build our own flock. What's the do's and don'ts?
We live Essex/Suffolk border,
Thanks.
Al
Comments
But what do I know?!!!
Helen. McGregor
I will take your advice on board !
Regards Al
Can't post any pics though as the URL won't copy !
Anyway the Coop and pen are built and painted, the lady's had their first night, cockerel coming later !
Sorry I missed your original post. Welcome to the forum!
Hopefully there is a new improved site format coming later this year which will enable easier posting of pics.
What breeds did you get in the end?
We went to The Suffolk Chicken Company up near Bury St Edmunds,
We now have,
Two Suffolk Blues,
One Suffolk Star,
One Sussex White,
Two Suffolk Speckled.
All 18 weeks old, settled in well, eating drinking, clean backsides, happy to go in and out of their coop, not at dusk yet without 'encouragement'. Enjoying their 20' X 10' pen, but they have 2 acres in a couple of weeks when they get orientated.
Cockerel in a couple of days.
We're happy with our little lot, and between them and the Calves that are being born we're enjoying our new life style !
Bet you'll be eggsited when they start laying ;) :D
that's a nice big run and a pretty selection of breeds:)
re the hen to cockerel ratio...cockerels very often pick a favourite who will get more attention than others so its not a case of bullying but favouritism
if the hen is likely to get injured by the constant attention then you could use poultry saddles or simply separate the hen now and again -cocks are fickle so easily switch their attention
cocks like to reassert their authority each morning so its quite natural for them to give a peck or two and a chase - again this isn't aggression but natural- hes just making sure that everyone knows hes in charge (well he thinks he is anyway:D )too many hens can be a problem for a cockerel as the stress can kill him
cockerels are all different so one of 3 things will happen on introduction
1 he will be a gent and show some manners and the hens will just accept him
2 hell go in guns blazing and put everyone in their place - not nice but a natural set up
3 hell be scared and nervous and the hens will gang up on him -if this happens take out your top hen for a while and any that have a go at him so hes left with quieter ones to build up his confidence .....gradually bring the others back into the mix
wishing you lots of luck and enjoyment
x kath
if you use google plus or you tube you can post the links to pics on here
They are keeping him in check, showing him the ways of life here !
He doesn't mind the Calves as neighbours either !
hell soon pluck, pun intended, up the courage to assert his position :D
i want pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xx kath
lovely pics of your girlies
nice to see your cockerel has found his feet - hes a stunner
youve got a lovely little flock there - thanks for sharing the pics
xx kath
We are seriously looking at KuniKuni Pigs, Herdwick sheep, Donkeys, and the Lady pines to have four Clydesdales to pull a coach that she has in France which she wishes to bring here.
Our dream of a fun life in the country is slowly coming together, we had set the goal fourteen years ago, and we have gently built it over the years. There is a lot of things that we need to achieve, carefully, but with ambition and hard work, and a wee bit of luck it won't be long before we are all cwtched up in our home with our animals around us.
Going to keep you posted, and will be asking for guidance and knowledge as we go.
Regards
Al & Tina
A very large, a very very large long coated German Shepherd and his family look after them during the day !
thats some size of a dog and a brilliant crew for keeping the fox away whats their names?and are they good with the chooks?
my last dog was brilliant and luckily for me our new dog george, a staffie is proving really good too .........doesnt bother the chooks at all but keeps stealing their food and licking up their messes from the path :-&
keep the pics coming - im really enjoying seeing them
xkath
They stare at the chooks, but have never tried to snap at them, the chooks are fairly calm around them but keep their distance.
We are lucky to have a happy-to-live-together bunch of animals, I reckon because they understand OUR pack mentality, they understand that we are to live together in harmony.....-ish !
The bull that we have visiting our ladies at the moment isn't overly chuffed with the hounds, but they all give each other respect and enough room. Although he does enjoy bellowing and a bit of ground stomping to assert his authority.
As I do, but they all know that Tina is our real top Boss !
Other visitors to Abrams Croft !