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#31
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Chickens killing my garden
On Oct 27, 12:25*am, "Christina Websell"
wrote: "Judith in France" wrote in ... On Oct 24, 9:06 pm, "Christina Websell" wrote: "Judith in France" wrote in ... On Oct 23, 5:39 pm, "Christina Websell" I am relieved that mine came home today Tina after staying out all night, bad girls!!! I moved their Egu (Yes, I heard you cuss and the quick intake of breath:-)), just a few feet away, the silly things didn't like the move. I called them this p.m. and they scuttled across the field to me like little old ladies, running, they got double helpings of food tonight. --------- It worked for ages with no roofs on, 6 feet high, but then one fox managed to climb in and kill one of my favourite hens along with her 6 14 week old pullet chicks. Yes, all pullets! Wasn't I lucky? Until that moment. None of them had been taken for food, they were all left in the run with their heads off. 7 bodies and 7 separate heads. I wept when I cleared them up. Oh dear, Tina, I'm sorry, how awful!!!!! *I lock the Eglu at night but they are totally free range during the day, I have been out walking and often walk into them coming back to the village. *I am down to 1 egg a day now, the weather has really picked up and was so warm today that I was in tee shirt and leggings. *Will they continue to lay do you think whilst the weather is warm. --- No, it's more about day length. ----- My neighbour has a lot of hens, last year the fox got into the hen house one night, he killed all the chickens, about 20 or more, and left them as you describe, bodies and heads. *Why do foxes behave that way, killing one and taking it away to eat, I understand but not wanton slaughter. ---------- If foxes get into your hen house they will always kill them all, even if there are 50 or more they will kill the lot. *Why? *I have no idea. It's why me and Mr Fox do not agree. *If he took only one it might be different, but as he doesn't it occasionally means Mr Fox Man comes to tell him the error of his ways. Tina Presumably now, with your construction, the fox can't get in? We have a problem here with birds of prey, my neighbour, a old lady who has kept chickens all her life, said, that during the day, there are at risk, it is not unusual for the odd hen to be taken in this way. Have you experienced that? Judith |
#32
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Chickens killing my garden
Christina Websell wrote:
If foxes get into your hen house they will always kill them all, even if there are 50 or more they will kill the lot. Why? I have no idea. Sickening, isn't it? Someone explained it to me once, but it didn't make sense. They said it was to do with if they killed one, the rest would be gone the next day, but if they killed them all they could come back and they would still be there later, I think. I presume they would prefer fresh meat, but they are scavengers, so I guess they are happy to leave the other 20 or so dead ones in their 'larder' for later. (although I'd expect someone else to come along and finish them off for them first!) |
#33
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Chickens killing my garden
On 27 Oct, 10:42, wrote:
Christina Websell wrote: If foxes get into your hen house they will always kill them all, even if there are 50 or more they will kill the lot. *Why? *I have no idea. Sickening, isn't it? Someone explained it to me once, but it didn't make sense. *They said it was to do with if they killed one, the rest would be gone the next day, but if they killed them all they could come back and they would still be there later, I think. *I presume they would prefer fresh meat, but they are scavengers, so I guess they are happy to leave the other 20 or so dead ones in their 'larder' for later. *(although I'd expect someone else to come along and finish them off for them first!) They often bury corpses. I have found chickens from the breeder half a mile away buried in our veg patch Jonathan |
#34
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Chickens killing my garden
Judith in France wrote:
... moving chicken houses Following the thread I gather that chickens don't like their home being moved. I'm planning on making moveable timber shed big enough for three or four chickens. On wheels. How far can it be moved without upsetting the chickens? I thought it would be a good idea to have a mesh floor and be able to move it a few feet so the droppings fall on fresh ground. I don't know much about chickens at the moment. I plan to make the chicken house and get chickens sometime in the Spring of next year. -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. |
#35
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Chickens killing my garden
On Oct 27, 1:18*pm, David in Normandy
wrote: Judith in France wrote: ... moving chicken houses Following the thread I gather that chickens don't like their home being moved. I'm planning on making moveable timber shed big enough for three or four chickens. On wheels. How far can it be moved without upsetting the chickens? I thought it would be a good idea to have a mesh floor and be able to move it a few feet so the droppings fall on fresh ground. I don't know much about chickens at the moment. I plan to make the chicken house and get chickens sometime in the Spring of next year. -- David in Normandy. * * *To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the * *subject line, or it will be automatically deleted * *by a filter and not reach my inbox. David I am a mere novice in keeping chickens. Christina is the person to ask and also I believe Sally keeps hens. I know Mary Fisher used to have an Eglu and kept chickens but Mary hasn't posted here for a while. I sent an email to Omelet today, who make the Eglu, as someone on another group, not Tina, said something about keeping my hens the way I do that concerned not just me but my husband who is now reading everything on Omelet's website. I have sent Omelet her post and asked them to comment. I'm sure Omelet will be concerned about her comments as it could well affect their reputation and sales. I will ask for literature to back up any claim they may make, if there is only a small doubt that the way I keep chickens is damaging, I will go along the route of a fixed house and ask Tina for advice so that they have total freedom during the day. Judith |
#36
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Chickens killing my garden
David in Normandy wrote:
... moving chicken houses Following the thread I gather that chickens don't like their home being moved. I'm planning on making moveable timber shed big enough for three or four chickens. On wheels. How far can it be moved without upsetting the chickens? I thought it would be a good idea to have a mesh floor and be able to move it a few feet so the droppings fall on fresh ground. I don't know much about chickens at the moment. I plan to make the chicken house and get chickens sometime in the Spring of next year. Ours have been moved around quite regularly, within the garden (most recently only about 3m and still in the same 'bark chippings' area, but still the 'house' bit has moved) and they've never had a problem with it. |
#37
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Chickens killing my garden
On Oct 27, 2:44*pm, wrote:
David in Normandy wrote: ... moving chicken houses Following the thread I gather that chickens don't like their home being moved. I'm planning on making moveable timber shed big enough for three or four chickens. On wheels. How far can it be moved without upsetting the chickens? I thought it would be a good idea to have a mesh floor and be able to move it a few feet so the droppings fall on fresh ground. I don't know much about chickens at the moment. I plan to make the chicken house and get chickens sometime in the Spring of next year. Ours have been moved around quite regularly, within the garden (most recently only about 3m and still in the same 'bark chippings' area, but still the 'house' bit has moved) and they've never had a problem with it. What I can't understand is how our chickens, who roam over acres of land and then find their way back, get confused when the Eglu is moved a few feet. Fortunately we are nowhere near any main roads, they roam all over the lane into the village, no main roads as the village is a dead end, with 6 houses in the Bourg, you come into it and you have to go back the same way. Also our neighbours' chickens roam all over their fields, but mine keep to our fields, now that is odd, they do not mix. Judith |
#38
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Chickens killing my garden
wrote:
Ours have been moved around quite regularly, within the garden (most recently only about 3m and still in the same 'bark chippings' area, but still the 'house' bit has moved) and they've never had a problem with it. Sounds like my plan will be ok then. Thanks. -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. |
#39
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Chickens killing my garden
On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:18:44 +0100, David in Normandy wrote
(in article ): Judith in France wrote: ... moving chicken houses Following the thread I gather that chickens don't like their home being moved. I'm planning on making moveable timber shed big enough for three or four chickens. On wheels. How far can it be moved without upsetting the chickens? I thought it would be a good idea to have a mesh floor and be able to move it a few feet so the droppings fall on fresh ground. I don't know much about chickens at the moment. I plan to make the chicken house and get chickens sometime in the Spring of next year. David, I have only had hens for about a year and a half so IANAE, but when we merely turned our hen house round 90 degrees they were very reluctant to go in that night. If you want to move it, I suggest do it at night while the hens are inside. -- Sally in Shropshire, UK Posted through uk.rec.gardening |
#40
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Chickens killing my garden
On 2009-10-27 19:02:21 +0000, Sally Thompson said:
On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:18:44 +0100, David in Normandy wrote (in article ): Judith in France wrote: ... moving chicken houses Following the thread I gather that chickens don't like their home being moved. I'm planning on making moveable timber shed big enough for three or four chickens. On wheels. How far can it be moved without upsetting the chickens? I thought it would be a good idea to have a mesh floor and be able to move it a few feet so the droppings fall on fresh ground. I don't know much about chickens at the moment. I plan to make the chicken house and get chickens sometime in the Spring of next year. David, I have only had hens for about a year and a half so IANAE, but when we merely turned our hen house round 90 degrees they were very reluctant to go in that night. If you want to move it, I suggest do it at night while the hens are inside. Sounds a bit like moving bees - there are specifics for doing so. I think it's either 3' or 3 yards for them but forget the details now. It sounds as if both hens and bees take some kind of mental picture of their homestead and its location to help them get back to it. -- Sacha |
#41
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Chickens killing my garden
On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:23:13 +0100, Sacha wrote
(in article ): On 2009-10-27 19:02:21 +0000, Sally Thompson said: On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:18:44 +0100, David in Normandy wrote (in article ): Judith in France wrote: ... moving chicken houses Following the thread I gather that chickens don't like their home being moved. I'm planning on making moveable timber shed big enough for three or four chickens. On wheels. How far can it be moved without upsetting the chickens? I thought it would be a good idea to have a mesh floor and be able to move it a few feet so the droppings fall on fresh ground. I don't know much about chickens at the moment. I plan to make the chicken house and get chickens sometime in the Spring of next year. David, I have only had hens for about a year and a half so IANAE, but when we merely turned our hen house round 90 degrees they were very reluctant to go in that night. If you want to move it, I suggest do it at night while the hens are inside. Sounds a bit like moving bees - there are specifics for doing so. I think it's either 3' or 3 yards for them but forget the details now. It sounds as if both hens and bees take some kind of mental picture of their homestead and its location to help them get back to it. Sorry to follow up my own post, David, but I was wondering why you think it is a good idea to have a mesh floor? My hen house has a slide-out floor and it is the work of 5 minutes each morning to remove the night droppings. The floor is covered by a thick layer of shavings, which provide good absorption, but also good insulation to keep them snug in the winter. Also, they walk over those shavings to their perch which helps to dry them a bit in very wet weather before bed. I would have thought a mesh floor would be a bit draughty and cold for them, and also it is probably less work to clean the droppings from the house than to move what will be a very heavy hen house (even on wheels!). Getting very OT here, so feel free to email me if you want. -- Sally in Shropshire, UK Posted through uk.rec.gardening |
#42
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Chickens killing my garden
Sally Thompson wrote:
Sorry to follow up my own post, David, but I was wondering why you think it is a good idea to have a mesh floor? My hen house has a slide-out floor and it is the work of 5 minutes each morning to remove the night droppings. The floor is covered by a thick layer of shavings, which provide good absorption, but also good insulation to keep them snug in the winter. Also, they walk over those shavings to their perch which helps to dry them a bit in very wet weather before bed. I would have thought a mesh floor would be a bit draughty and cold for them, and also it is probably less work to clean the droppings from the house than to move what will be a very heavy hen house (even on wheels!). Getting very OT here, so feel free to email me if you want. What you say makes sense. I will ponder the design of my shed a bit more. -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. |
#43
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Chickens killing my garden
"Judith in France" wrote in message ... On Oct 27, 12:00 am, "Christina Websell" wrote: "Judith in France" wrote in ... On Oct 25, 12:11 pm, David in Normandy wrote: Christina Websell wrote: You were lucky that you got them back, if any of mine were out overnight that would be the end of them, down the throat of Mr/Ms Fox. I don't know if foxes are such a nuisance in France as they are here though, they didn't seem to be in Germany. I plan to keep some chickens here in Normandy sooner or later, but my French neighbour thinks I will lose them. Seems he kept some at one time but foxes broke into his barn and killed the lot. I get the impression they were very clever and determined to get to them in what he thought was a secure place. We are surrounded by miles and miles of open countryside and forests here, so lots of wildlife. -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. I too am surrounded by open countryside, we live in the Foret National Livrados. I'm sure Tina will have a small fit but I would buy an Eglu if I were you David, they are guaranteed fox proof. Mine only sleep in it, during the day there are totally free. You can get a long run with them if you don't want them roaming the countryside. It's Eglu by Omelet, they have a website. ---------- No, no, no. Get a wooden shed and attach a weldmesh run, put paving slabs as a floor if you want fox-proof. Eglus are small plastic things that get wet inside from the chickens breathing in it overnight. They are not at all suitable. Just a manufacturer jumping on the bandwagon of the new chicken popularity. "Want to keep chickens, keep them in one of these Eglus" Except don't. I cannot say how annoyed I get about it. Judith, your chickens liked their Eglu so much that they refused to go into it when you moved it a few feet. I don't blame them. Tina LOL Then how do you explain that a wooden one on wheels was moved in someone's garden and they refused to go into that. I know that you are I will never agree on the Eglu so we have to agree to disagree. BTW there are vents in the Eglu so that moisture does not build up. It seems that yours are not free range and I want free range. Of course I understand that you can't because of the fox problem but just as you dislike the idea of an Eglu, I dislike the thought of hens not being able to roam. --- Oh, so do I dislike the idea that they cannot roam. It used to be possible but now it isnnt. Once upon a time it was quite safe to let your chickens out during the day here as long as you shut them up as soon as dusk came. Now the ferking foxes come in the day so after some mega raids I had to reluctantly put them into huts and runs. I did try trapping for a while, with a vermin controller coming to shoot them in the catch-alive traps. I did that for 3 years. We got 39 very quickly. Three in a week. It got pointless. They would never stop coming after my chickens so now my fowls are safe with runs made of weldmesh, roofed and with paving slab floors. Tina |
#44
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Chickens killing my garden
"Judith in France" wrote in message ... On Oct 27, 12:25 am, "Christina Websell" wrote: "Judith in France" wrote in ... On Oct 24, 9:06 pm, "Christina Websell" wrote: "Judith in France" wrote in ... On Oct 23, 5:39 pm, "Christina Websell" I am relieved that mine came home today Tina after staying out all night, bad girls!!! I moved their Egu (Yes, I heard you cuss and the quick intake of breath:-)), just a few feet away, the silly things didn't like the move. I called them this p.m. and they scuttled across the field to me like little old ladies, running, they got double helpings of food tonight. --------- It worked for ages with no roofs on, 6 feet high, but then one fox managed to climb in and kill one of my favourite hens along with her 6 14 week old pullet chicks. Yes, all pullets! Wasn't I lucky? Until that moment. None of them had been taken for food, they were all left in the run with their heads off. 7 bodies and 7 separate heads. I wept when I cleared them up. Oh dear, Tina, I'm sorry, how awful!!!!! I lock the Eglu at night but they are totally free range during the day, I have been out walking and often walk into them coming back to the village. I am down to 1 egg a day now, the weather has really picked up and was so warm today that I was in tee shirt and leggings. Will they continue to lay do you think whilst the weather is warm. --- No, it's more about day length. ----- My neighbour has a lot of hens, last year the fox got into the hen house one night, he killed all the chickens, about 20 or more, and left them as you describe, bodies and heads. Why do foxes behave that way, killing one and taking it away to eat, I understand but not wanton slaughter. ---------- If foxes get into your hen house they will always kill them all, even if there are 50 or more they will kill the lot. Why? I have no idea. It's why me and Mr Fox do not agree. If he took only one it might be different, but as he doesn't it occasionally means Mr Fox Man comes to tell him the error of his ways. Tina Presumably now, with your construction, the fox can't get in? We have a problem here with birds of prey, my neighbour, a old lady who has kept chickens all her life, said, that during the day, there are at risk, it is not unusual for the odd hen to be taken in this way. Have you experienced that? No, there are no birds of prey here big enough to take a chicken. My friend in Germany has problems with goshawks, is that what is taking your neighbours chickens? Tina |
#45
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Chickens killing my garden
X-No-Archive YES
The bird is called a Buse, which I presume is a buzzard? Judith |
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