Category Archives: Poultry Chat

This is the general poultry blog and discussion area

Cockerel Aggression

Posted on 27th February 2014 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






We have never counted, but we must have upwards of 40+ cockerels which most of the time live in relative harmony. Yes, we do have fights. It’s how we manage them when they occur and also how we manage the … Continue reading →

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Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud

Posted on 30th December 2013 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud – If you are old enough to remember Flanders & Swann, you will recognise the title of this blog. For those who don’t know who the hell we are talking about (and for those who do), … Continue reading →

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Managing New Birds

Posted on 23rd November 2013 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






New arrivals need to be managed carefully and with some thought. The best time to introduce new birds to an existing flock is bedtime, when it’s dark preferably. When all the birds in the coop wake up in the morning, … Continue reading →

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What’s in a Name?

Posted on 23rd May 2013 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






Many of us name our hens, or least the notable individuals. The names are very often chosen at random or might reflect the habits/characteristics of each bird. At Sleepy Hollow it’s definitely a mixture of the two. It’s also a … Continue reading →

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Old Cockerels & Roosters

Posted on 7th February 2013 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






Protecting birds in distress is something most of us do as a matter of course. A bird only has to show signs of illness or some other vulnerability and the other birds of the flock home in and attack the … Continue reading →

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Weasel Amongst Hens

Posted on 23rd November 2012 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






Putting the hens to bed during the winter months is quite a job, one minute you’re cleaning and filling drinkers, the next you’re having trouble seeing in the dimmming light, the days are so short and we’re not even into … Continue reading →

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Alfresco Broodies

Posted on 19th August 2012 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






This warm dry summer has been a godsend for raising chicks, even in late July/early August we discovered two girls who thought hatching and raising chicks alfresco was the way to go. The ample clutch illustrated above is Bonnie’s one … Continue reading →

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Geese Aquarobics

Posted on 2nd August 2012 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






Last December we lost one of our Embden geese ‘Biscuit’ to a tumour. We first noticed a very large lump under her right wing. We got the vet to call and see her, the diagnosis was not good, probably some … Continue reading →

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Pump for Joy

Posted on 29th July 2012 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






As many of you hen keepers will know, each flock has one or two individuals who turn out to be real characters. I regularly use Poultry Shield to combat red mite. One morning I started to use the spray gun … Continue reading →

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The Grim Reaper

Posted on 20th April 2012 by japanesebantamsandhybrids






Why is it that spring is always (here at least) the time for a clean out of stock. Birds suddenly die on you, just as the weather starts to improve, hitherto stalwarts of the flock peg it! Lost two more … Continue reading →

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