Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: Casey76 on February 08, 2011, 06:30

Title: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: Casey76 on February 08, 2011, 06:30

I spent hours on Sunday carefully constructing a covered run with inches of beautiful dry flax and hemp bedding for my new Sabelpoot (well at least until I can get the permanent pens up)

I got home last night, in the pitch dark as I had a late meeting.  I went to close up the main coop and there he is... all snuggled up with the girls!  So much for quarantine  :ohmy: :tongue2:

At least I know that all show birds have to be vaccinated, so it's not too much of a worry, but still...

Little b*gger had forced open the "gate" I made myself for easy access to the pen... oh, and the 3ins of flax bedding... spread over about 10sq m of the pen  :mad:  doesn't he realise I'm doing all of this to protect his foot feathers???

Consequently I was out ther this morning at 6:30 strapping eveything together with cabel ties... hopefully that'll keep him in - at least until the weekend when I can build a more permanent run for him!

Title: Re: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: min200 on February 08, 2011, 08:07

You do know he will be back in with the girls once you get home again dont you!

He will find a way!  :lol: :lol:

Title: Re: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: Casey76 on February 08, 2011, 08:17

I have a feeling the girls will be helping to find a way out, knowing my hooligans!

Title: Re: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: joyfull on February 08, 2011, 10:08

over hear the show birds don't have to be vaccinated (which means a quarantine period after each show).
As Min said now he has found the ladies there will be no stopping him - perhaps he should be called Houdini  ;)

Title: Re: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: Casey76 on February 08, 2011, 10:46

Sorry, yes, for newcomers... I live in France, and the rules are slightly different than the UK for showing.

All birds have to be vaccinated against Newcastles Disease, and the vaccine is uaully available as a combination with infectious bronchitis.  This is a spray on vaccine and is usually given at the end of summer/autumn at least  4 weeks before the first show, so the birds have immunity but are no longer a risk for shedding live virus.

We don't normally vaccinate against MG.

In the UK, I would always adivise having at least a two week quarantine for any new birds brought into your flock... I had planned this, but unforutnately my new boy decided otherwise!  He is now separated again, and I hope to keep him that way for a while.

Title: Re: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: jinty1911 on February 08, 2011, 19:12

Maybe he just likes a little cuddle?  :tongue2:  :tongue2:

Title: Re: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: New shoot on February 09, 2011, 08:38

He will be most indignant now then and swearing at you when you get home tonight  :lol:

Title: Re: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: Casey76 on February 09, 2011, 08:54

He certainly did swear at me last night, as he hasn't quite figured out how to use the ramp to get back to the sleeping quarters, and I had to *shock horror* pick him up *shick horror*

He squealed like a little girl at first, then decided he quite liked having cuddles and settled down again :)

Title: Re: Blimmin escape artists!
Post by: New shoot on February 09, 2011, 18:09

That's because he realised the girls were in bed and he could let his softer side show  :lol:  You try it again when they are around  :lol:  :lol:  :lol: