Complete novice needing advice

[Words]

I am moving house in October and inheriting two hens. The owners say they would be happier with a couple of other pals, and am happy to accommodate that if need be,

They have a very large fenced enclosure and a separate dark shaded area under trees with coop, presumably for night time? Do I move them from one to the other at night? ( how? Will they potter over themselves?)

What food, bedding, other supplies do I need?

How often does everything need cleaning, and what would their routine be?

When do they stop laying in the winter?

Understand about rats and foxes , and have seen something about mites?

What other advice can you offer?

I realise I need to ask current owners about their peccadilloes ( sorry) but I also would like as much info as possible from other experienced keepers.

Any and all advice gratefully received.

She's also a grey speckled hen, unlike her sister who is copper coloured with a fine red comb.

I'm finding the water very difficult. I am not very dexterous and find filling the chicken water feeders very problematic as hard to get base back on then slop it all out from house to run. I've been bringing it in as it freezes solid in this weather at night.

@FictionalCharacter
@StrongTea
@ScottBakula

I wish i could give you some more practical advice @Words but other than wrapping the water feeder in insulation like bubble wrap or thick card and standing them on rubber matting of some sort I can't think of anything. Hopefully someone else will have some words of wisdom.

They won't lay at this time of year , they need around 12 hours of daylight to lay, so they have a bit of a break at this time of year.

Someone is though!

Am now well into the ladies' routine, and have even mastered the fiendish water dispenser which I found really difficult to start with. I had another egg this morning

They adore a corn and nut mix I've bought from the ag supply store so I give them some of that in the afternoon, along with the permitted vegetables, and layers pellets in the morning.

I'm allowing them to free range in the garden as they did with their previous owners. It's hen proof.

Getting fonder and fonder of them. Enid will bustle up several flights of steps and tap on my French windows if the afternoon treat is late.

They are giving a glimmer of joy at a dark time for me.

@FictionalCharacter
@StrongTea
@ScottBakula

Sorry to tag you but this is rather an obscure topic!

@Words , please keep tagging me I love living with chickens through you. I wish I could have my own.

I am glad you sorted out the water dispenser issue, hopefully it is warm enough now for it not to freeze.

Isn't corn high in sugar? Is that ok for them ?

If its not to identifying can you show us some photos.

Is there a chicken Olympics? You could enter Enid 😁

Corn is like chicken sweeties , it's not good to have too much as it causes them to lay down fat and be more prone to heart attacks.
Layers pellets are formulated to give them all they need to be healthy. Anything else should be in moderation , particularly if they are free range as they can help themselves to fresh herbage , insects , frogs etc.

@ScottBakula @Lollygaggle

Lolly - are they getting too fat do you think?

They look good but I only give a bit of corn in winter just before bed to warm them up. They get the occasional bit of bruised strawberry/tomato but the vast majority of what they eat is pellets and what they scratch up whilst roaming.

@Lollygaggle i could do with borrowing yours to eat all the slugs I get in the spring !
Lol at chicken sweeties 😁.

@Words great photo , who is the Olympic wannabe?

Enid

Which one is she ?

Enid is the copper coloured one. Agatha is now following her sister up the stairs!

Oooh the race is on ! 😂

Anyone care to guess the breeds? I've been looking online and think Enid might be a Rhode Island Red and Agatha a Maran. ( French - ooh la La! )

They are both laying now.

They come running when I call and follow me at my heels around the garden . Cupboard love obviously but it's very sweet.

Totally smitten. My farming ancestors are probably revolving in their graves at such sentimentally!

@ScottBakula
@Lollygaggle
@FictionalCharacter

The grey one is a Speckledy. The brown one is probably an ISA Brown / ISA Warren or one of the many very similar brown commercial hybrid breeds. Some are distinguishable - the Goldline has a distinctive white tail and there are various Blacktails - but unless you have the info from the breeder it’s very hard to tell which commercial ginger you have!

Pretty sure she isn’t a RIR, too pale, almost certainly she’s a modern hybrid.

Thank you!

They are both laying now. One lot of eggs is darker than another? So maybe speckledy? ( clueless)

My vast knowledge of chicken breeds tells me that . . . . .

. . .

. . .

One is a brownish breed and the other is a speckly breed 🤣🤣🤣
That is about as far as my knowledge gets me !

Oooh both laying , do their eggs taste different from each other ?