You’re like the Yoda of chicken advice. So calm, direct, and to the point. Thank you so much for these videos. They have helped me raise my first flock. Everyone survived from chick to “almost “ full grown so far. Their combs are nice and red. There is a rock solid pecking order, and they love to see me coming out (still don’t like me touching them much but that’s ok and for the better). Thank you again.
I love how the chickens are all huddled into the dust bath behind Fiona in the video. It looks like they’re having a conference and Fiona is doing a news report on it 😂
Very useful again thank you. Newly purchased chickens here in Spain, and I’ve been waiting patiently! But, they have changed from caged to free range and the days are very short at the moment. I will wait until the spring!
One day later and we have our first egg! Just like that, when I was expecting to wait until the Spring. The comb on our biggest bird has been noticeably much more red and fleshy lately and she has been doing the ‘squatting’ under the hand trick.
I think from my experience a meal of 40% ground dried fish as powder and broken rice/wheat/millets/dried eggs shells powdered(all combined 30-30-30-10) and separately some greens such as spinach, and other leafy greens as treat in night time before sleeping.. the eggs that we had were so fulling that one was so much you feel like full in breakfast. Our hens use to give eggs very delecious eggs. the fish powdered we use was common mackerel/sardines.
Hi! Unfortunately following the BSE/CJD scandal in the UK it became illegal to feed animal based foods to any animal classified as livestock. As at Nov 20 all UK chickens are classified as livestock whether pets or part of a large commercial flock. As a result feeding dried fish or any fish is not an option open to us.
Hello Fiona i am a new subscriber from Texas, I ordered a few buff Orpingtons, and i was going to raise them for meat but i think i might just keep them around. thanks for the info.
My Coppers stopped laying whilst moulting. That’s usual I believe. I then got two eggs out of the blue but nothing since. They are very healthy and their new feathers are beautiful. Not stressed and quite frankly spoilt. Will they start laying again this side of winter or will it now be spring? Yours vlogs are so informative and enjoyable. Thank you. 🙏🏻
Hi. We live in the countryside. A chicken landed in our yard couple of weeks ago. We inquired with all surrounding neighbors- asking if they were missing any chickens, but no one’s come forward thus far. We have become quite familiar and enamored with her. She seems calm & content as far as we can tell. We take care of her as best as we can, however, we feel bad that she is the only chicken around here. She is love. But, I’m not sure if I can take on such a responsibility. Will she be all right solo? Or shall I post on the local feed store bulletin board and sadly send her away?♥️
Chickens are essentially flock animals so like to be in groups of other chickens. Having said that, if she naturally selected you and your property she may be content with you if no-one else claims her.
I will be adopting some buff orpingtons and salmon faverolles in June and neither breed will be ready to lay until November, when there won't be enough sunlight for them to start. Do I keep feeding them growers feed through the winter and until they are ready to start laying in the spring or do I switch them over even thought they won't be laying eggs? Thank you for all your videos they've been incredibly helpful!
The Orpingtons may surprise you and start laying in November /December - but the may hold on till Spring. Depending on hatch date ours do both. I would stick to growers until they come in to lay as they don't need the extra calcium in layers.
Hey I have 1 buff Orpington that is about 7 months old, it’s pretty cold here on New England and she is pretty low down the pecking order to my knowledge. How much longer do you think till she will lay? Thanks!
Hi there, I have 3 buff orpington hens that are 16 weeks old and one of them has started to lay (albeit very small eggs), I wasn't expecting them to start until 26 weeks, is this a problem?also I have 3 cockerels how long can they all stay together before I have to dispatch them(dreading it!!) Love your videos, they are the reason I bought buffs lol x
Hi Dionne, its very unusual to lay that early. She may stop and start again. I wouldn't worry but keep an eye. You can keep the cockerels until they become too noisy, they fight or are very sexually active (which will quickly wear feathers off the hens). Watch for them treading the hens as a sign to act.
I have 5 Plymouth Rock pullets that started laying a few weeks back but…. Only one is laying with shells. The others are laying without shells. They have access to oyster shell so I’m stumped. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
It may be their oviducts getting used to laying eggs but given it's multiple hens there are 3 possible scenarios: 1) Infection - with multiple hens it could be an infection affecting their oviduct. If it continues or is not improving a consultation with a veterinary poultry specialist may be a good idea. 2) Nutrition - Vitamin D is needed to help them absorb calcium. They will get Vit D from sunlight so having them outside more may help as would a liquid calcium supplement instead of oystershell, It may also be worth checking the nutritional content of your layers pellets and potentially changing brand. 3) Genetics - if neither of the 1st 2 make a difference and they all came from the same breeder and it could be they have a genetic malformation in the oviduct.
@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you so much for your input it is appreciated.. I am just south of Valencia in Spain so vit D is a problem. I have ordered the liquid calcium! So many products are not found here. It took an age to find the liquid!! With Brexit, so many products are just not being sent into the EU.. I even try Ireland now!, I so want a grandpa feeder and the grit pan you recommend - can I get them no 🥺
@@EnglishCountryLife I have finally got some liquid vit D for their water and it says double dose for egg issues for 4 weeks… I assume this means not an immediate fix. Sound right?
Hi. Sorry to take a bit of to reply. If your hens are eating commercial layers pellets these are balanced with the right amount of calcium so please don't worry. If the hens have soft shell or thin shell production issues it will be for another reason other than lack of calcium in their diet.
I'm concerned. My first time raising chickens from 2 weeks.. always had full grown hens..my chickens are 5 months old..my rooster is encourage d by me but crows at crazy times for no reason...my 5 hens are healthy and happy..I'm raising them in my 3 car garage..in winter in missouri USA...I'm not sure how to raise them to live outside .I play utube video of older hen noises and my rooster didn't know how to crow ..ur.urm..until I played utube crowing.. he's on track as far as his crow but his 5 hens don't pay attention to him..I'm trying to empower him..but their chickens.. hahaha
I wouldn't worry Donna, 5 months is still very young for crowing and....other cockerel things. Think of him as about 12 or 13. The females think nothing of him....yet. You should see a big difference between 26 and 34 weeks.
You’re like the Yoda of chicken advice. So calm, direct, and to the point. Thank you so much for these videos. They have helped me raise my first flock. Everyone survived from chick to “almost “ full grown so far. Their combs are nice and red. There is a rock solid pecking order, and they love to see me coming out (still don’t like me touching them much but that’s ok and for the better). Thank you again.
That's lovely of you Bob. As for the touching "patience you must have" 😁
Oh, I didn’t know that about the coppers... very interesting, they are on my wish list! So informative, as ever. Thank you!
I'm glad it was useful
I love how the chickens are all huddled into the dust bath behind Fiona in the video. It looks like they’re having a conference and Fiona is doing a news report on it 😂
I hadn't noticed. I love it!
Excellent content yet again Fiona, thank you 🥰
I'm really flattered. Thank you Barb.
you have an amazing channel. Simple no nonsense music irritation intro. ... very simple videos. LOve your channel.
Thank you so much 😀
I love your accent and your soothing voice...and of course your videos 😃
Thank you, that's very kind
Thank you so much for your brilliant videos I am new to your channel and am already fascinated thank you so much chicken whisperer
That's so incredibly flattering. Thankyou!
I love your knowledge and experience.thank you
That's lovely of you 😊
Very useful again thank you. Newly purchased chickens here in Spain, and I’ve been waiting patiently! But, they have changed from caged to free range and the days are very short at the moment. I will wait until the spring!
It will definitely be worth the wait!
One day later and we have our first egg! Just like that, when I was expecting to wait until the Spring. The comb on our biggest bird has been noticeably much more red and fleshy lately and she has been doing the ‘squatting’ under the hand trick.
@@Thelegendhaha Fabulous! Its such an exciting moment
I think from my experience a meal of 40% ground dried fish as powder and broken rice/wheat/millets/dried eggs shells powdered(all combined 30-30-30-10) and separately some greens such as spinach, and other leafy greens as treat in night time before sleeping.. the eggs that we had were so fulling that one was so much you feel like full in breakfast. Our hens use to give eggs very delecious eggs.
the fish powdered we use was common mackerel/sardines.
Hi! Unfortunately following the BSE/CJD scandal in the UK it became illegal to feed animal based foods to any animal classified as livestock. As at Nov 20 all UK chickens are classified as livestock whether pets or part of a large commercial flock. As a result feeding dried fish or any fish is not an option open to us.
Hello Fiona i am a new subscriber from Texas, I ordered a few buff Orpingtons, and i was going to raise them for meat but i think i might just keep them around. thanks for the info.
No problem Jim. There are always lots of cockerels for meat!
My Coppers stopped laying whilst moulting. That’s usual I believe. I then got two eggs out of the blue but nothing since. They are very healthy and their new feathers are beautiful. Not stressed and quite frankly spoilt. Will they start laying again this side of winter or will it now be spring? Yours vlogs are so informative and enjoyable. Thank you. 🙏🏻
Marans don't normally lay when the daylight hours are low so it's unlikely (but not impossible!).
Thank you for the compliment :-)
Very informative, especially for someone who is new to poultry like me 😁
Thank you for sharing.. 👍
I'm glad you found it useful 😊
So Informative thanks again. 🤗
You are so welcome!
Hi. We live in the countryside. A chicken landed in our yard couple of weeks ago. We inquired with all surrounding neighbors- asking if they were missing any chickens, but no one’s come forward thus far. We have become quite familiar and enamored with her. She seems calm & content as far as we can tell. We take care of her as best as we can, however, we feel bad that she is the only chicken around here. She is love. But, I’m not sure if I can take on such a responsibility. Will she be all right solo? Or shall I post on the local feed store bulletin board and sadly send her away?♥️
Chickens are essentially flock animals so like to be in groups of other chickens. Having said that, if she naturally selected you and your property she may be content with you if no-one else claims her.
Thank you So much. Your lessons are truly guiding me through this new experience. What a joy🌺
@@mandyporter2886 Thanks for the compliment ☺
I will be adopting some buff orpingtons and salmon faverolles in June and neither breed will be ready to lay until November, when there won't be enough sunlight for them to start. Do I keep feeding them growers feed through the winter and until they are ready to start laying in the spring or do I switch them over even thought they won't be laying eggs? Thank you for all your videos they've been incredibly helpful!
The Orpingtons may surprise you and start laying in November /December - but the may hold on till Spring. Depending on hatch date ours do both. I would stick to growers until they come in to lay as they don't need the extra calcium in layers.
@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you so much!
Hey I have 1 buff Orpington that is about 7 months old, it’s pretty cold here on New England and she is pretty low down the pecking order to my knowledge. How much longer do you think till she will lay? Thanks!
Hi Asad, we often find that if they don't come into lay before Winter, they wait until Spring. It's nothing to worry about.
Hi there, I have 3 buff orpington hens that are 16 weeks old and one of them has started to lay (albeit very small eggs), I wasn't expecting them to start until 26 weeks, is this a problem?also I have 3 cockerels how long can they all stay together before I have to dispatch them(dreading it!!) Love your videos, they are the reason I bought buffs lol x
Hi Dionne, its very unusual to lay that early. She may stop and start again. I wouldn't worry but keep an eye.
You can keep the cockerels until they become too noisy, they fight or are very sexually active (which will quickly wear feathers off the hens). Watch for them treading the hens as a sign to act.
I have 5 Plymouth Rock pullets that started laying a few weeks back but…. Only one is laying with shells. The others are laying without shells. They have access to oyster shell so I’m stumped. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
It may be their oviducts getting used to laying eggs but given it's multiple hens there are 3 possible scenarios:
1) Infection - with multiple hens it could be an infection affecting their oviduct. If it continues or is not improving a consultation with a veterinary poultry specialist may be a good idea.
2) Nutrition - Vitamin D is needed to help them absorb calcium. They will get Vit D from sunlight so having them outside more may help as would a liquid calcium supplement instead of oystershell, It may also be worth checking the nutritional content of your layers pellets and potentially changing brand.
3) Genetics - if neither of the 1st 2 make a difference and they all came from the same breeder and it could be they have a genetic malformation in the oviduct.
@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you so much for your input it is appreciated.. I am just south of Valencia in Spain so vit D is a problem. I have ordered the liquid calcium! So many products are not found here. It took an age to find the liquid!! With Brexit, so many products are just not being sent into the EU.. I even try Ireland now!, I so want a grandpa feeder and the grit pan you recommend - can I get them no 🥺
@@EnglishCountryLife oh… the breeder is very recommended and all the birds arrived vaccinated and free range with the cockerel.
@@EnglishCountryLife I have finally got some liquid vit D for their water and it says double dose for egg issues for 4 weeks… I assume this means not an immediate fix. Sound right?
@@stevencoster2767 Almost certainly not as eggs take time to form and nutrients to absorb
I have leghorn hens..5 months old.im scared they are not eating the calcium dry food..scared my hens will have an egg break inside them.
Hi. Sorry to take a bit of to reply.
If your hens are eating commercial layers pellets these are balanced with the right amount of calcium so please don't worry. If the hens have soft shell or thin shell production issues it will be for another reason other than lack of calcium in their diet.
I'm concerned. My first time raising chickens from 2 weeks.. always had full grown hens..my chickens are 5 months old..my rooster is encourage d by me but crows at crazy times for no reason...my 5 hens are healthy and happy..I'm raising them in my 3 car garage..in winter in missouri USA...I'm not sure how to raise them to live outside .I play utube video of older hen noises and my rooster didn't know how to crow ..ur.urm..until I played utube crowing.. he's on track as far as his crow but his 5 hens don't pay attention to him..I'm trying to empower him..but their chickens.. hahaha
I wouldn't worry Donna, 5 months is still very young for crowing and....other cockerel things. Think of him as about 12 or 13. The females think nothing of him....yet. You should see a big difference between 26 and 34 weeks.
Is it normal for bo's to lay white eggs?
No, pure bred Buff Orpingtons lay pinky beige eggs
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Thank you