Not Horsey - Chickens

SeasonalSituation

SeasonalSituation

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Wasn't sure where to put this, put know you lot are always very helpful.

If it's a problem hope someone can move it for me, please and thank you! :)

Ok here is the story, tiny bit of a strange one though!

Normal day today, wake up and went shopping, came home about half an hour ago and settled down watching tv (catching up on eastenders :D) when there was a knock at the door, my friend had found two tiny chickens (not sure on age, breed etc but if anyone knows I can upload photos so you can help) on the side of the road, just walking about. No idea where they came from etc, or who they belong to, so she picked them up so they wouldn't be squashed.

She couldn't look after them as her OH put his foot down and said no, so she knocked on door and asked us. They'll only be with us for a week while she arranges a home for them. But just wondering what we need to do. Feed, anything like that?

Cookies and a roast chicken dinner for any help :D :D :D :D
 
They eat layers pellets ,or chick crumbs if young,and mixed hen corn. Your local agricultural supplier will stock thesse feeds. in an emergancy feed porridge oats and/or wholemeal bread soaked in water. They drink water,of couse. I find empty margarine tubs are useful for holding food and water but they can knock them over. I'm looking for a couple more hens,I expect you live miles away................
 
First of all, you need to make sure they are safely locked away from predators.

They will need a Layers Pellet or Mash and some grit & water available at all times although they will not eat or drink once they have taken themselves to bed, this should do them until a suitable home can be found.

If they are very small then they will likely be Bantams of some sort. Pics would be nice.
 
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I can't help but 2 of my neighbors let their chickens free rein round the village, the chickens your friend found may have the same sort of set up . The chickens always go back home at the end of the day (mine only have free rein of my garden) :o
 
Horsesforever1 said:
They eat layers pellets ,or chick crumbs if young,and mixed hen corn. Your local agricultural supplier will stock thesse feeds. in an emergancy feed porridge oats and/or wholemeal bread soaked in water. They drink water,of couse. I find empty margarine tubs are useful for holding food and water but they can knock them over. I'm looking for a couple more hens,I expect you live miles away................
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Leeds?

Do you know anything about breeds etc?

One's grey, one yellow hehe. I'll be up tomorrow to get the crumbs or pellets etc. Thanks for the advice.
 
Emma27 said:
First of all, you need to make sure they are safely locked away from predators.

They will need a Layers Pellet or Mash and some grit & water available at all times although they will not eat or drink once they have taken themselves to bed, this should do them until a suitable home can be found.

If they are very small then they will likely be Bantams of some sort. Pics would be nice.
Click to expand...

There safely away in a small glass snake tank at the moment on a table.

I'll get the photos and put them up in a few minutes :)
 
Our chickens like porridge, bread, cabbage leaves as well as of course grass. Pasta, rice, leftovers really. Although my mum is too soppy and cooks them extra!

I have seen a few chickens wandering about the road, sometimes they just escape from they're runs/gardens and go for a wander.

They will probably stand in all the food you give them! Ours do. They knock everything over!
 
How egciting!

As an emergency baby chicks will do well on soaked (in water) rice Krispies

Make sure they have water too

Best bet is to get a large carboard box and line with newspapers and make sure to place it somewhere warm (I take it that these chicks are fairly small)

They would normally be kept warm by mum or heat lamp but if you could put the cardboard box beside a radiator etc

They will be messy - throwing the water around and spreading mashed up Rice Krisbies everywhere but thats part of rearing chicks

Try not to come up on them too quickly as they will take panic and run off the other end of the box

They will need to be kept warm / indoors until they have grown their feathers and lost their down - until then they need minding

fairly simple to do imo

You cold always keep them and when big enough leave them roam in an enclosed yard or pen and you will get lovely free range eggs...
 
Sorry for the bad photos, I'll try and get them on the phone had to do it off webcam.

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And if anyone does want some chickens let me know :)
 
If you are in leeds I may know someone who may take them in (she lives in malton area - not a million miles away from york) but she has just taken on two battery hens so would have to ask first
 
georgiegirl said:
If you are in leeds I may know someone who may take them in (she lives in malton area - not a million miles away from york) but she has just taken on two battery hens so would have to ask first
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It's not a massive rush as friend has a few friends that have them so she's askign around. There ok here for a week or so :)

But thanks :)
 
chick crumbs, and water, thats all they will need. They can bed down on shavings, or newspaper. They look about 10 days old to me. So i would not be too worried about heat lamp for them. and they will be fine in your fish tank for about another month so no desperate rush there
 
Those are quite young chicks, make sure they don't get too cold at night. You can get small bags of chick crumb from agricultural merchants but your pet shop might have some. we use ceramic plates or small cat bowls - don't give too much food or water at a time because as someone said they will trash it.
 
Those are very young chicks and will need heat overnight until they have feathered, up any younger and I would have said 24/7 heat. If you don't have a heat lamp then sitting the box near to a radiator will do for tonight, making sure to keep any drafts off them. They can come off heat altogether at about 4 weeks at this point in the year.

They will need Chick Starter Crumb until they are 6 weeks old, soaked rice krispies will do tonight. Don't give them things like cooked pasta or kitchen waste at that age as they cannot cope with it. It is actually against DEFRA regulations to feed any food products that have passed through a kitchen whether its a commercial kitchen or domestic.

I hope you find a good home for them and that you have 2 pullets and not cockerels!
 
No, but we do have hens! ;)

we have 2 bantam white wyandottes, 1 black rock, 1 bantam anocona, 1 bantam welsummer, and 1 bantam leghorn.

the wyandottes rule the roost, totally, despite being not much bigger than a tennis ball! and poor moaning myrtle the black rock is bottom of the pile despite being the biggest of the lot!
 
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