I've had chickens in my life for over a decade and it's not often I come across "new" ideas. Your video gave me a bunch of 'em! Thank you for these great tips!
Mine love the yellow balls..I put the Grubterra black soldier fly larvae in it, they figured it out immediately. In fact, the Cuckoo Marans figured out how to get the little tag of string to poke out and they grab it by that and shake it violently to get the grubs to fall out. I just ordered the other stick in the ground peck dispensers. I made a nice swing from a two by four. Putting the drinkers in an enclosure also discourages the wild birds from using them..not completely preventative, but, it’s good to minimize any contact or sharing of drinkers with the wild birds.
Ours loved the yellow balls on flat ground but when the grass gets long they definitely prefer the peckers. It's so cute when the tiny chicks gather around it and the hen keeps pecking it
Thank you for the excellent content! I love seeing those lovely chicks playing in their "sand pile" as we call it here in the "Colonies" - that's really good stuff, I know they love having such a sweet home with y'all! ❤❤❤
Seeing your chickens out in the field and still having a field full of grass is impressive. We've had to build them an enclosure cause they ate all the grass. Seriously our garden is all dirt now ( and it's pretty big )
It's all about stocking density for us🙂. Our outdoor enclosure has a fence 200 metres long and we only keep a dozen birds in it when the grass isn't growing (more in Summer). Our covered enclosure is 20 metres x 3 metres and a similar number of birds destroy the grass!
Always so many good tips and tricks in your videos. I wish my gals could free range but I live in a town and can’t have them roaming about. But lots of good ideas to help keep them busy. The suggestion to put obstacles and obstructions around is great. I will be trying that.
@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you for the insights. I hope our chickens are as happy and safe as they can be...we love of growing flock so much we even decided to adopt, for them, their own LGD 😂
@@EnglishCountryLife Well, please forgive my chicken ignorance as I am new to all this...besides the big 3 grey ones, the rest are all freebie eggs from a local homestead that we hatched. There are some Ayma Cimani and other chickens there that we are not sure of. So we probably have some cross breeds, but the Cimani's are gorgeous. I look forward to learning more about the breeds and trying to identify exactly what we have here. Thanks for responding and any advice 😎
I just ordered those from Omlet yesterday! Glad to hear they work and are sturdy as I agonised for ages because I don’t like buying new plastic stuff. Hope they can be reused for a long time!! 👍🐓💚
Thanks for sharing!💜 I just ordered the treat pecking, hanging pendant, for my new chicks. I will be training my chicks, while they are young. By the time my order gets here, they will be old enough to use it. 🤗
i love so much chickens because they so cute and innocent you taking care perfectly i can see ladies so happy and of course boys :) please keep posting for us vids i love your channel
You mentioned using the chairs for your HEALTH INSPECTION. Would you show us how you do that? I am new to chickens, I know to check them for things but not how! It seems easy until you want to do it. Thank you again for your great video’s.
I would love this also! I'm so scared of trying to handle them cause I don't like freaking them out but I want them to feel comfortable with it if had to. I'm so scared of hurting them in the process of catching them. I'm around them every day since they were babies but they are still scared and act as if never seen us before 😩
@@christicostas5825 In that case the best time to pick them up is just before dusk when they have gone into the coop to roost. It's an enclosed space and they will be sleepy. The only way to get them past their fear of you us to spend more time with them. If you stop for a cup of tea or coffee, take a chair in and sit with them. Over time they'll get used to you.
@@christicostas5825 so yesterday after watching several chicken video’s on you tube I went out and practiced catching and holding my three birds. I wanted to get used to looking at them. One of mine has a perfect vent! I just knew. The other two have poopy but! ☹️ and I am so glad I decided to DO IT! Just DO IT! Turns out I found bumble foot on one girl and mites on two. I have started treatment and feel terrible I didnt do it sooner. Two of my birds dont mind being picked up but one hates to be caught. Practice, practice, practice. Its the only way Im going to learn. I have only had chickens since October and when something is wrong it feels overwhelming.
Found you on a search for, keeping Bantams! Would the poppy pecker suit this breed do you think. We pick three girls up next week😁. We're total novice, and finding conflicting advice on Google, for all sorts of questions we have😬. So thank you 😘
Hi! you might need to shorten the "stem" but it comes in two parts so you could just use half or push it further into the ground. We have a whole series on Chicken Keeping for Beginners that you might find helpful ua-cam.com/play/PLDluIIoNPsldJo1GHNzIyHupbMBgQue-p.html
These are great thank you Fiona! I have been binge watching your channel recently in preparation for our 4 back garden hens. We have considered many run options, however due to the uneven and sloped ground we have, it seems like it will beyond our DIY skills to build an appropriate one. However we are satisfied with their allocated area, a sturdy coop, lots of trees, overlooked by our kitchen, some shelters built (thanks to your ideas!) but I am nervous about birds of prey. Has this been an issue for you on the whole?
You could add gravel. Or else lay down a few wooden pallets, and move them every couple of weeks. The slats on pallets are spaced out so it will dry underneath
Hi, I went for Buffs two years ago thinking they would be gentle and friendly. The three came together, lovely at first one had two babies, BUT I had to give one away as she was so violent to the other sister, the other two are also nasty to the two newcomers. I am baffled, any ideas? Thank you.x
Hi Michelle, that's never been our experience - its possible that it relates to the strain you bought or its a learned behavior. Do they have a lot of space to get away from other birds
I have a 4 month old flock of 20 buff Orpington and a 6 week old flock of 11 guineas. Can I put them together in a coop with a 10’x35’ run without causing too much trouble?
Hi, the RSPCA guidelines state that outside space should be large enough to cordon of areas that become muddy or damaged to allow the area to recover. Over winter the UK was subject to Avian Influenza Restrictions which meant we had to keep the chickens in enclosed runs. We had 8 Orpingtons in the same space you are proposing with 8 smaller breed chickens in a slightly smaller separate run. With this space we could meet the requirements to ensure the ground wasn't muddy but it took constant maintenance. I have no experience of guineas so I can't comment on mixing the species but personally I would be concerned about maintaining the space to avoid mud and allowing the ground to recover with 20 hens and 11 guineas.
It’s so lovely seeing the chickens living the high life in chickentopia!!
Thank you so much 😊
I've had chickens in my life for over a decade and it's not often I come across "new" ideas. Your video gave me a bunch of 'em! Thank you for these great tips!
I'm so glad - thank you 🙂
Mine love the yellow balls..I put the Grubterra black soldier fly larvae in it, they figured it out immediately. In fact, the Cuckoo Marans figured out how to get the little tag of string to poke out and they grab it by that and shake it violently to get the grubs to fall out. I just ordered the other stick in the ground peck dispensers. I made a nice swing from a two by four. Putting the drinkers in an enclosure also discourages the wild birds from using them..not completely preventative, but, it’s good to minimize any contact or sharing of drinkers with the wild birds.
Ours loved the yellow balls on flat ground but when the grass gets long they definitely prefer the peckers. It's so cute when the tiny chicks gather around it and the hen keeps pecking it
Thank you for the excellent content! I love seeing those lovely chicks playing in their "sand pile" as we call it here in the "Colonies" - that's really good stuff, I know they love having such a sweet home with y'all! ❤❤❤
So nice of you. Chicks are always fun 😊
Enjoyable watch again, think you have stolen all our good weather!
Glad you enjoyed it and sorry about the sunshine......
Thank you my neighbors have chickens that I enjoy
Good to hear
Thank you, some really great ideas!!
Glad you enjoyed them Susan
Seeing your chickens out in the field and still having a field full of grass is impressive. We've had to build them an enclosure cause they ate all the grass. Seriously our garden is all dirt now ( and it's pretty big )
It's all about stocking density for us🙂. Our outdoor enclosure has a fence 200 metres long and we only keep a dozen birds in it when the grass isn't growing (more in Summer). Our covered enclosure is 20 metres x 3 metres and a similar number of birds destroy the grass!
Awesome. My latest book involves a chicken, paramedic Chris and the runaway chicken
We know a wonderful paramedic called Chris 😊
Always so many good tips and tricks in your videos. I wish my gals could free range but I live in a town and can’t have them roaming about. But lots of good ideas to help keep them busy. The suggestion to put obstacles and obstructions around is great. I will be trying that.
I'm really glad it's helpful :-)
I am so glad I found your channel, you are absolutely fantastic, thank you for all this great information!
Welcome! Thank you so much!
Fabulous fun...I love chickens. They are such characters 👍🐔
Always entertaining!
Blimey, Jonny's going to be busy this weekend 😆 Great video 👌
Thanks 👍 Tractor tyres????
Nooice! 😎 STOC We started free Ranging yesterday and it is magical!
It really is!
@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you for the insights. I hope our chickens are as happy and safe as they can be...we love of growing flock so much we even decided to adopt, for them, their own LGD 😂
@@SundryTalesOfConstance79WESTY What breed did you choose?
@@EnglishCountryLife Well, please forgive my chicken ignorance as I am new to all this...besides the big 3 grey ones, the rest are all freebie eggs from a local homestead that we hatched. There are some Ayma Cimani and other chickens there that we are not sure of. So we probably have some cross breeds, but the Cimani's are gorgeous. I look forward to learning more about the breeds and trying to identify exactly what we have here. Thanks for responding and any advice 😎
I just ordered those from Omlet yesterday! Glad to hear they work and are sturdy as I agonised for ages because I don’t like buying new plastic stuff. Hope they can be reused for a long time!! 👍🐓💚
We're finding that they are really sturdy especially with the amount of hens we have!
Great video. You've got beautiful grounds for your chickens. Fun tips. Cheers from Minnesota!
Thank you so much!
Just ordered 2 of the poppy peckers, think ours will love it!
Honestly ours really love them!
Thanks for sharing!💜 I just ordered the treat pecking, hanging pendant, for my new chicks.
I will be training my chicks, while they are young. By the time my order gets here, they will be old enough to use it. 🤗
How lovely - new chicks are such a joy!
i love so much chickens because they so cute and innocent you taking care perfectly i can see ladies so happy and of course boys :) please keep posting for us vids i love your channel
Thank you
Innocent eh? Chickens can be super jerks lol
@@clockworkNate yee you right :D but i love chicks anyway
Thank you Fiona! Great ideas 😊
Glad you like them!
That's soo awesome
Thanks!
Just rewatching your boredom busting videos. What do you put in the omelet pecking toy. Great content as always thank you Fiona and Hugh 😘
Generally whole wheat Barbs
I see that your Omlet toy link is for UK. I take it it can't be used for US purchases via your UA-cam channel.
Sadly not, but the toys are available in the US
www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/chicken_peck_toy/
You mentioned using the chairs for your HEALTH INSPECTION. Would you show us how you do that? I am new to chickens, I know to check them for things but not how! It seems easy until you want to do it. Thank you again for your great video’s.
That's a great idea for a video. I'll add it to the list. The list is quite long so let me know if you would like some help in the meantime.
I would love this also! I'm so scared of trying to handle them cause I don't like freaking them out but I want them to feel comfortable with it if had to. I'm so scared of hurting them in the process of catching them. I'm around them every day since they were babies but they are still scared and act as if never seen us before 😩
@@christicostas5825 In that case the best time to pick them up is just before dusk when they have gone into the coop to roost. It's an enclosed space and they will be sleepy.
The only way to get them past their fear of you us to spend more time with them. If you stop for a cup of tea or coffee, take a chair in and sit with them. Over time they'll get used to you.
@@christicostas5825 so yesterday after watching several chicken video’s on you tube I went out and practiced catching and holding my three birds. I wanted to get used to looking at them. One of mine has a perfect vent! I just knew. The other two have poopy but! ☹️ and I am so glad I decided to DO IT! Just DO IT! Turns out I found bumble foot on one girl and mites on two. I have started treatment and feel terrible I didnt do it sooner. Two of my birds dont mind being picked up but one hates to be caught. Practice, practice, practice. Its the only way Im going to learn. I have only had chickens since October and when something is wrong it feels overwhelming.
@@christicostas5825 go watch HOW TO HOLD A CHICKEN by sustainable poultry, 2:53 seconds long. I love how he ends…his vlog❤️🙌
Found you on a search for, keeping Bantams! Would the poppy pecker suit this breed do you think. We pick three girls up next week😁. We're total novice, and finding conflicting advice on Google, for all sorts of questions we have😬. So thank you 😘
Hi! you might need to shorten the "stem" but it comes in two parts so you could just use half or push it further into the ground. We have a whole series on Chicken Keeping for Beginners that you might find helpful
ua-cam.com/play/PLDluIIoNPsldJo1GHNzIyHupbMBgQue-p.html
These are great thank you Fiona! I have been binge watching your channel recently in preparation for our 4 back garden hens. We have considered many run options, however due to the uneven and sloped ground we have, it seems like it will beyond our DIY skills to build an appropriate one.
However we are satisfied with their allocated area, a sturdy coop, lots of trees, overlooked by our kitchen, some shelters built (thanks to your ideas!) but I am nervous about birds of prey. Has this been an issue for you on the whole?
Never had a problem with them Sarah. We have kestrels, sparrowhawk, kites, buzzards, harriers etc. but have never lost a chicken or chick
@@EnglishCountryLife Great to hear, thank you for letting me know. And thank you for your wonderful channel!
@@SarahFHJones Thanks for watching 🙂
Sounds fun wish my neighborhood would allow them.
❤❤❤🌷
What should I do if my chickens have ripped up all the grass in there pen, so it's just dirt.
Hi! This video might help. Let know if you have any questions
ua-cam.com/video/ZaUSQmsEZbw/v-deo.html
You could add gravel. Or else lay down a few wooden pallets, and move them every couple of weeks. The slats on pallets are spaced out so it will dry underneath
Is there a minimum size for sand bath? I have old bee boxes I was hoping to use
In our experience the hens need to be able to scoop sand up with their wings - so the wingspan of your chickens really 🐔
@@EnglishCountryLife thank you
@@maggiewatte7911 Any time 🙂
Hi, I went for Buffs two years ago thinking they would be gentle and friendly. The three came together, lovely at first one had two babies, BUT I had to give one away as she was so violent to the other sister, the other two are also nasty to the two newcomers. I am baffled, any ideas? Thank you.x
Hi Michelle, that's never been our experience - its possible that it relates to the strain you bought or its a learned behavior. Do they have a lot of space to get away from other birds
I have the poppy toy, however when a fox got in to our run it obviously fell onto it or something, because the toy was bent out of shape. 😣
Oh no 😲. Is it just the wire that's bent?
@@EnglishCountryLife Yes, so with some luck it should be ok!
@@moonkiwi6402 Phew. I am resisting saying bad words about foxes!
Thank goodness your chickens are OK
I have a 4 month old flock of 20 buff Orpington and a 6 week old flock of 11 guineas. Can I put them together in a coop with a 10’x35’ run without causing too much trouble?
Hi, the RSPCA guidelines state that outside space should be large enough to cordon of areas that become muddy or damaged to allow the area to recover.
Over winter the UK was subject to Avian Influenza Restrictions which meant we had to keep the chickens in enclosed runs. We had 8 Orpingtons in the same space you are proposing with 8 smaller breed chickens in a slightly smaller separate run. With this space we could meet the requirements to ensure the ground wasn't muddy but it took constant maintenance.
I have no experience of guineas so I can't comment on mixing the species but personally I would be concerned about maintaining the space to avoid mud and allowing the ground to recover with 20 hens and 11 guineas.
@@EnglishCountryLifeone way to maintain the ground is to lay down some wooden pallets over an area. Move them every few weeks.