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Come Inside... => The Snug => Topic started by: Berek on July 04, 2008, 02:58:24 PM

Title: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Berek on July 04, 2008, 02:58:24 PM
in a couple of weeks I am taking delivery of a couple of hens. Do you think the dog will kill them ?? also what do I feed them ??

I plan to eat them in a couple of months
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Uncle Mort on July 04, 2008, 03:32:35 PM
I thought most people keep them for the eggs rather than to eat.  rubschin:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Berek on July 04, 2008, 03:40:07 PM
i'm going to have eggs for a couple of months then i'm going to eat them.. this decision is final
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Pastis on July 04, 2008, 03:52:13 PM
Beware of the fox!
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Berek on July 04, 2008, 04:08:30 PM
do bats eat chickens ?? we have one in our attic ! scared2:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Uncle Mort on July 04, 2008, 04:10:38 PM
Not the belfrey then?  ;)
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 04, 2008, 04:32:52 PM
Strange as this may sound Berek but Chickens eat CORN + anything they can grub up in your garden (Slugs, worms etc are particular favourites). Boiled potato peelings and other stuff mixed with "chicken mash" helps and they need grit (to form the egg shells) Speak to whoever you are getting them from about feeding. They also drink a lot of water.
OR at least ours did when we kept them and I doubt that chickens have changed their habits much over the 55 years since I use to feed them.

AND yes your dog will probably chase and kill them given the chance.
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Darwins Selection on July 04, 2008, 04:51:25 PM
Strange as this may sound Berek but Chickens eat CORN + anything they can grub up in your garden (Slugs, worms etc are particular favourites). Boiled potato peelings and other stuff mixed with "chicken mash" helps and they need grit (to form the egg shells) Speak to whoever you are getting them from about feeding. They also drink a lot of water.
OR at least ours did when we kept them and I doubt that chickens have changed their habits much over the 55 years since I use to feed them.

AND yes your dog will probably chase and kill them given the chance.

I have nothing to add.

Except, there will be foxes even where you are, and they are very persistent.

Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Pastis on July 04, 2008, 05:47:31 PM
Except, there will be foxes even where you are, and they are very persistent.

Exactly. (see above)

They wreaked havoc with my sister's Buff Orpingtons and eventually killed the lot in spite of the wire.

When she first told me she was going to see the Buff Orpingtons I assumed it was yet another chapter in her hectic social whirl involving drinks and finger food  redface:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 10:14:48 AM
Have you considered a crocodile?

The foxes wouldn't bother it
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 05, 2008, 10:16:46 AM
<snigger>

(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mrpunch.co.uk%2FMr%2520Punch%2520%26amp%3B%2520Crocodile.jpg&hash=ef3222aae9472ed975ab8824206f5e68942d2e5f)
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 10:22:00 AM
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080704/tod-switzerland-animals-offbeat-7f81b96.html (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080704/tod-switzerland-animals-offbeat-7f81b96.html)
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 05, 2008, 10:27:24 AM
I have a niece who lives in Switzerland. She tells me that they are very strict about obeying local byelaws and have no hesitation in "reporting" infringements, even by their firends and relatives.

There are, of course, byelaws about how close to housing one may keep chickens in the UK too ~ I wonder if Berek has thought this through  rubschin:



Apart from foxes they also tend to attract rats, who will scavenge any food the hens do not consume ...... expect trouble from the neighbours Berek.
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 10:46:06 AM
http://www.gardenpoultry.cwc.net/ftpk1.htm (http://www.gardenpoultry.cwc.net/ftpk1.htm)

A friend of mine was arrested in Switezarland for some piffling traffic offence. I think it was something to do with his windscreen wipers  rubschin:

He was subjected to an array of psychometric tests and a machine was produced which tested his hand eye co-ordination.

His licence was confiscated.  noooo:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 05, 2008, 10:55:58 AM
Yes ~ The niece tells me that hanging out washing on a Sunday will get you a visit from the neighbourhood policeman and a fine, as will any number of other very minor infringements of what seem to be extraordinarily complicated byelaws.
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 11:10:03 AM
I recall something about lawnmower restrictions too..........
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 05, 2008, 11:16:41 AM
All that said she steadfastly refuses to return to live in the UK but I suppose after almost twenty years she is used to their way of life. When she does visit she finds the UK a "filthy place". She delights me by speaking a sort of fractured English whilst retaining her Dorset accent. There must be a lot of Dorset sounding Swiss as she has spent much of her time there teaching English to pre-school children.
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: The Moan Ranger on July 05, 2008, 11:23:43 AM
Buy some Geese too - they can be the chickens minders.
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 11:25:15 AM
He could get a donkey too  cloud9: .And some goats.

ON second thoughts, praps not
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: The Moan Ranger on July 05, 2008, 11:26:55 AM
He can borrow my shotgun?
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 11:28:13 AM
 scared2:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Berek on July 05, 2008, 11:55:17 AM
I intend to call my chickens Marks and Spencer.. speaking of which hurry over to my M&S thread in the restaurant
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 11:57:32 AM
But they are boys' names  rubschin:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Berek on July 05, 2008, 12:00:09 PM
But they are boys' names  rubschin:

doesnt matter to me, they wont know that like
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 12:00:55 PM
 doh:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 05, 2008, 12:02:28 PM
Kosher Hens?  whistle:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Berek on July 05, 2008, 12:04:05 PM
Kosher Hens?  whistle:

I'll need to get an Imam to bless them  whistle:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 05, 2008, 12:05:41 PM
Kosher Hens?  whistle:

I'll need to get an Imam to bless them  whistle:

That's Halal  Banghead


For Kosher you need a Rabbi but the original Mr Marks and Mr Spencer were Jewish which was why I asked. censored:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Berek on July 05, 2008, 12:10:26 PM
I was joking, with reference to this years Apprentice, in which the candidates asked a muslim to bless a chicken  whistle:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 05, 2008, 12:12:30 PM
There are only three of us here. Nick doesn't have a TV and I never watch one.  evil:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on July 05, 2008, 12:32:52 PM
He could get a donkey too  cloud9: .And some goats.

ON second thoughts, praps not

George Melly on goats:

"There is something very un-English about goats. It's not only that there aren't many of them, it's their pagan eyes, either milky-blue or honey-yellow, with their elongated pupils, and their extraordinary smell, and the way their skeletons are so functional, so in evidence, with the flesh draped on the bones like heavy material."


Curiously ~ I had just read that when I read your post.
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on July 05, 2008, 01:25:32 PM
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/genetic_scientists_develop_sheep (http://www.theonion.com/content/video/genetic_scientists_develop_sheep)
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Berek on July 17, 2008, 08:04:25 AM
I may have to rethink this one. I just discovered that Kay Burley also keeps chickens.
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on August 28, 2008, 08:29:02 AM
Well? What about these chickens then?
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Barman on August 28, 2008, 08:30:21 AM
Well? What about these chickens then?
(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freesmileys.org%2Fsmileys%2Fsick013.gif&hash=3f8993be8e232d1047d6ebabef314b9b37baaa5f) (http://www.freesmileys.org)
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on August 28, 2008, 08:31:08 AM
Berek Jr, in the kitchen, with the baseball bat?
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Barman on August 28, 2008, 08:33:21 AM
Berek Jr, in the kitchen, with the baseball bat?
Berek... in the garden... axe....
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Nick on August 28, 2008, 08:34:12 AM
Wonder what he did with the giblets  rubschin:
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Darwins Selection on August 28, 2008, 08:36:48 AM
I bet that Berek O'Bummer in the States is kind to chickens as well.
Title: Re: Berek chicken farming
Post by: Snoopy on August 28, 2008, 10:58:08 AM
Wonder what he did with the giblets  rubschin:

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