blog

Organic Poultry Feed

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:25:23 +0100

About two months ago I changed my poultry feed to an organic feed. Farmgate are the company that make it, the hens did not notice the change of feed and it has not effected their laying or their fertility! All Good! :)
Info of the feed click "HERE"

Chickens Can't Drink Ice

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:58:45 +0100

There is a cold spell of weather coming according the experts which means the water will more than likely be frozen for most of the day!

Be sure that you birds have access to liquid water at all times during the day!

Also be aware that the freezing weather may cause frost bite to the combs of your chickens, particulary the large combs of roosters, which is not a good thing if you intend to show the bird this spring.
I suggest some vaseline on the combs to prevent this.

2012

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:51:13 +0100

Hope everyone had a great christmas, and a great 2011. Thankfully the weather was not as bad as winter 2010 which made keeping the chickens happy alot easier, no ice/snow and plenty of grass available.

The highlight for me in 2011 was when two of my Silver Dutch hens getting first and second in their class in the ISPF National Show in February and also a young Silver Dutch taking Reserve Show Champion at the Clonakilty Ag. Show. For me it was the year of the Silver Dutch!!

My preparation for the 2012 breeding season begun in 2011 when I selected the best quality birds I had available and kept them in preperation for this year, while selling my substandard birds that I would not need for this although still alright to breed from.

The breeds that I will definately be breeding in 2012 are:
-Buff Orpington,
-Golden Brahma,
-Silver Dutch,
-White Frizzle Bantam,
-Buff Wyandotte Bantam.
I may also breed some of the other breeds I keep in small numbers, such as my Blue Orps, Gold Dutch, Sablepoots, White Silkie and Lavender Orpington.

Hope everyone has a great 2012, and happy hatching to all!!

Breeding Season Finished

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:57:42 +0100

Breeding season is finished here for the Winter.
Most birds going through molt at the moment and egg laying is at a minimum.
No more eggs will be incubated, and the last hatch was by a silkie bantam last week who hatched 5/5 Buff Orpingtons!
I have alot of Silver Dutch, Buff Orpington, Golden Brahma and Buff Wyandotte growers at the moment and will be keeping the best for breeding and showing in 2012 and will advertise the surplus for sale in March/April.
I started breeding the bantams late this year and the 2011 hatched are only starting to lay now.

I have cut down on the amout of different breeds I keep in order to concentrate on improving my current breeds, especially the Silver Dutch and Buff Wyandotte Bantams. For the first time in 2 years I have runs with no chickens in them but the growers will be moving in as they get bigger and grass becomes scarce.

Feeding Chickens

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:24:04 +0100

What do I feed the chickens is one of the first questions that I get asked by a beginner getting chickens.
Even if your not new to the hobby you may still wonder; can I feed kitchen scraps? Does it matter what I feed my layers?
My answer is that it does matter what you feed your chickens.
I suggest that you buy the chicken feed that is formulated for the age/purpose of your chickens. There are specific feed for chicks, growing chickens, egg layers and meat birds. Each type of food has varying amounts of certain nutrients that your chickens nees for that age. For example, chick starter is high in protein, and egg layer feed is high in calcium for strong egg shells.

Keeping Chickens Wont Make Money!!

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:21:21 +0100

ill-informed reporters and journalists are always stating that the reason for the huge growth in keeping a few chickens in the backyard is due to the recession and the chance to save money on the weekly shoping bill.
I'l tell you now that you will not make lots of money, you may come close to covering costs...but thats it.

People should keep chickens because it is an interesting and relaxing hobby, in which you can escape for the hectic world for a while and get back to nature, and the delicious free-range eggs with the bright yellow yolks are a bonus!

It's simply a better way of life.

Broodys.....

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:21:58 +0100

Yet again all the hens seem to be going broody!
Within the last week and a half I have had 6 hens go broody: 1 Brahma, 2 X breed, 1 Orpington, 1 Barnevelder and 1 d'Uccle.
The problem now is to find enough eggs to go under them all as I already have 6 hens with chicks that are not laying!

Tallow Monthly Sale

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:48:50 +0100

Yesterday was the Tallow monthly bring and buy sale, this sale only started last year and is doing really well. It is one of the few sales that have more buyers attend than sellers!
I brought 7 birds with me, 3 hens and 4 cocks, and they all sold!
I arrived just before 10am and was sold out by 11.15am, and could then get home early and enjoy the sunny weather.

Midleton and Clonakilty Show.

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:49:55 +0100

I attended the Midleton show last week, the first time a poultry section was there.
I brought 3 birds, 1 gold Brahma hen, 1 silver Dutch and 1 buff Wyandotte bantam.
I was pleased with how the birds did, getting second with the silver Dutch and a third with the buff Wyandotte bantam.

Today, the 12th of June, I attended the Clonakilty show, again I only brought 3 birds, a gold Brahma hen, silver Dutch hen and a buff Wyandotte hen. These three are different hens to the ones I brought to Midleton show the week before, and was the first time for these birds to be in a show.
Unfortunately I only got highly commended for my gold Brahma and buff Wyandotte but my silver Dutch did exceedingly well, not only winning first in the true bantam section but also taking Reserve Champion of the show.

Broodys

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:50:57 +0100

With the warm weather in the last few weeks, a lot of the hens have decided to go broody. I have eggs under Buff Orps, Brahmas, Silkies, and cross bred hens. Well over 50 eggs under them all together, so because of this I wont have much hatching eggs for sale in the next few months.
With all the broodys it also limits the amount of hens I can enter in the shows that are coming up in the next few months.