I cleaned my chickens out on Wednesday and chucked them a whole bale of straw to try to make sure they're not standing in mud the whole time. I don't think it matters what the animal is, if you chuck them a bale of straw they're happy. I remember I used to love giving the sheep extra bedding after they'd been fed, they always seemed so content, these chickens were no exception.
I did cut the bale and chuck it around the pen once they'd inspected it!
It was nice to spend a bit of time in the pen to look at the chickens a bit closer. I was pleased with the condition of my hens, they all seem to have a good coat of feathers, clean bums and no obvious health issues, egg production has really picked up at the moment and we've started selling a few eggs again. I'm thinking about getting some more POL hens and having a mobile flock again as they seem to pay for themselves if I can keep the fox away and it's a good use of space.
Has our mild winter (in the UK at least) been kind to everyone else's chickens?
Those hens looks great, seems enjoying in the open space
ReplyDeleteThey seem a happy lot and don;t fight much which I always take as a good sign.
DeleteLambs and a bale of hay is hilarious, they will spend hours jumping on and off
ReplyDeleteI used to love that then the lamb races afterwards where they all charge around!
DeleteI only have 5 chickens now. But they have started to lay again and seem happy .
ReplyDeleteRosezeeta.
5 is a good number to keep yourself in eggs I think. Our numbers go up and down all the time but I'm planning on getting more.
DeleteWe threw some old hay into the pig paddocks the other day which the little ones ate but the mum pig managed to make a bed for herself in the middle of the paddock, sort of like a sun lounger area!
ReplyDeleteYour cockerel is a splendid boy, Kev. Our hens have to do without for the moment until we get their permanent housing sorted out.
I like having a cockerel in the pen and hearing him crow I think it makes it feel like the countryside!
Deleteyour chickens are beautiful Kev! and they seem to be really enjoying that hay! congrats on the egg production!
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber
(straw not hay!) They do love anything to jump on or something new to feed on. I give them loads of weeds over the summer and it keeps them happy.
DeleteBeautiful Cockerel! What breed his he? The birds are always happy when they have something new to explore!
ReplyDeleteWelsummer(ish) but I'm not sure of his purity. He's a good sized bird though.
DeleteGorgeous pictures Kev, I agree they look a healthy and happy lot.
ReplyDeleteOur piglets used to love the big Hestons that we stacked in their field and would spend hours running round and round them. The adults just used the shade they provided on a hot day.