Valerieholt wrote:Lol, I don't throw it away, I throw it out for the birds too, up till last week we had neighbours with cats, so a feeding table wasn't a good idea, however they have moved and the new ones don't seem to have any animals so now I can get the feeding table, my grandkids will love it also, and I've never thought of owning chickens, I suppose that option is there now too. Happy new year to you. X
I have Warren hens sometimes know as Asa Browns.
They are nice dumpty brown hens that get a lot tamer than some of the fancier looking breeds.
Mine will sit on my knee and eat out of my hands, especially over ripe bananas.
Not only will they eat waste parrot food, but potato and other veg peelings.
They get layers pellets and oystershell grit too.
Stale bred soaked in warm water is a favorite too.
Not onion, leeks or garlic as it taints the eggs.
I buy them at 20 weeks point of lay and then they live out their full lifespan with me and enjoy their retirement when they are too old to lay.
Warrens lay about 300 eggs a year depending on climate as they go off lay when the weather is cold and when moulting and are less prone to going broody than a lot of breeds..
We do not keep a cockeral as we have near neighbours and I don't think they would appreciate the dawn chorus at 4am in the Summer.
You have to keep them secure at night from predators and might need a roofed enclosure if you have hawks about.