Cabbages & Kings #2 - Page 7

MargaretR · 27-06-2013, 07:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by DtheP47

Picked up a magazine in the Pals Medical Centre yesterday called Smallholder. It passed a few minutes as I waited to see the Doc. Interesting to read all about Bee keeping, Sheep rearing and Duck plucking. But the thing that got me scratching my head was a readers letter stating/asking " My hens are looking bored should I put some toys in their pen? "

Couple of questions thrown to the forum punsters and funsters.How would you know if a chuck was bored?
What toys would you give em?

Battery hens peck themselves and their 'co-prisoners', often to death. This is a sign of extreme stress due to the monotony of that sort of life. They don't need toys

- just what every living thing needs to thrive - freedom to move, see the sun, and breathe fresh air.

MargaretR · 27-06-2013, 08:05

PS -
When my son bought a cottage up Stanhill, an attached 'smallholding', with chickens was included.

The flock had a free range paddock. There was one hen they nicknamed Ginger (From the film Chicken Run) who liked to wander into the garden area and observe humans. They grew fond of her. She didn't try to escape further afield. When they are happy and well fed they don't desire more.

Less · 27-06-2013, 08:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

just what every living thing needs to thrive - freedom to move, see the sun, and breathe fresh air.

Alternatively they do well at gas mark 5 for about an hour and a half, this of course should not be done until you have absolutely exhausted their use as a productive egg layer.

Hmm, maybe rather than giving it a roasting an old boiler like this would prefer a slow cooker?

cashman · 27-06-2013, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by DtheP47

Picked up a magazine in the Pals Medical Centre yesterday called Smallholder. It passed a few minutes as I waited to see the Doc. Interesting to read all about Bee keeping, Sheep rearing and Duck plucking. But the thing that got me scratching my head was a readers letter stating/asking " My hens are looking bored should I put some toys in their pen? "

I was yon but had left around 9-25, The magazines were crap so i didn't bother wi em.

Never noticed the smallholder un though.

DtheP47 · 27-06-2013, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Battery hens peck themselves and their 'co-prisoners', often to death. This is a sign of extreme stress due to the monotony of that sort of life. They don't need toys

- just what every living thing needs to thrive - freedom to move, see the sun, and breathe fresh air.

Not like you to get the wrong end of the stick Margaret

But I don't think the goodlife small holding types would be rearing battery hens and they did say pen not cages.

DtheP47 · 27-06-2013, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Less

Alternatively they do well at gas mark 5 for about an hour and a half, this of course should not be done until you have absolutely exhausted their use as a productive egg layer.

Hmm, maybe rather than giving it a roasting an old boiler like this would prefer a slow cooker?

No stuffing Wizz ?

DaveinGermany · 27-06-2013, 18:10

To stop the boredom they need something to eggcite them, maybe a chick flic or two, or possibly "true grit".

susie123 · 27-06-2013, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by DtheP47

Not like you to get the wrong end of the stick Margaret

But I don't think the goodlife small holding types would be rearing battery hens and they did say pen not cages.

They may be battery hens that have been released from captivity and given their freedom on a smallholding. It happens a lot.

We had a smallholding in Wiltshire twenty years ago (I still get called Barbara Good or Felicity Kendal by old friends) and at one time we had five goats and up to forty chickens. I don't remember them ever looking bored but they were free range rather than penned up and could roam all over our half an acre.

Toys for chickens - almost as bad as sex toys...

susie123 · 27-06-2013, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

To stop the boredom they need something to eggcite them, maybe a chick flic or two, or possibly "true grit".

Eggcellent Dave! Knew we could rely on you for a few yolks.

DtheP47 · 27-06-2013, 19:30

And no fowl language

DtheP47 · 27-06-2013, 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by susie123

Eggcellent Dave! Knew we could rely on you for a few yolks.

Somebody will be looking in the Hen-cyclopedia eh Susie?

DtheP47 · 05-07-2013, 08:59

Where were we?
Oh yes the noble squaddie never moaning and carrying on regardless. These guys didn’t join up to peel spuds in Catterick or march in ever decreasing circles round Horseguards parade. They joined for the frisson of excitement and to travel to far off foreign places to kill people didn’t they?. There are long periods of inactivity for a soldier and they quite naturally bitch and moan about their lot DinG as per Mr Kiplings prose. They always have done And Yes I'd give em a payrise.