Poultry Central - The New Zealand Poultry & Chicken Forum

The weather has been terrible down here (kind of expect that, Invercargill ) so I didn't want to risk it dying in the first few days. I think it is supposed to clear up so would it be safe to put them down with the others so they can all see each other, but not be able to access each other? Oh yes ...

Hi Jenourno - congratulations on your chick, and it doesn't sound like you're doing too badly for a newbie chick-mum! Unfortunately even the sweetest of hens can turn savage when they have babies to protect - they're just following their instincts to try and do the best for their babies, so while it...

Hi Kate and welcome to the forum - sounds like you've got a lovely little flock there!

Hi Muffin, and welcome to the forum. We are still only getting a few eggs, and most of the chickens haven't re-started laying again, so it may be that you just need to give them a little bit more time. What breed are your hens? Do they have nice bright red combs yet, or are they still a bit paler pi...

Something we all have to deal with at some point as chicken-keepers...

https://thisnzlife.co.nz/how-to-humanel ... echniques/

Thanks Marina - good to confirm what I suspected. I thought they would have been listed on Rare Breeds if anyone knew they were still around.... That's a shame if they were here but have (all but) disappeared.

Just wondering if anyone knows of these breeds - Toulouse or Embden Geese - being available in NZ? They're not listed on the rare breeds directory, but someone on another forum is asking about those breeds and has some evidence that they were at least once in the country. I know nothing about geese,...

I hope your chook is feeling a bit less sorry for herself today - I think you're right that it could be like shock. What did you end up doing? If you are going to put her back with the flock I'd be tempted to spray the wound with some of the blue antiseptic type spray - chickens like to peck at red ...

Oh right - I get it now - thanks for clearing that up! I'll go and finish the survey now....

Hi Thomas - I just started to do your survey, but I'm a bit confused by question 6 - what do you want in the boxes? Are you looking for the number of individuals of those breeds that we own, just a yes or no, or to specify which of the breeds listed we have owned...? It would be great to get some gu...

Oh wow - that is a weird one. I've sometimes had that thought about some of ours when they have a lie down, but it seems to be more in the warm weather when they do that (just relaxing in the sun, I think!) but never with any associated balance problems. I have no idea what could be going on, but I ...

Oh wow - they are crazy-looking things!!

Hi Naomi, if you know what kind of breeds you are thinking about you could check the Rare Breeds directory, which includes heritage chook breeders and their location. Hopefully if you put out a few feelers with local breeders they might know someone who has exactly what you are looking for. m If you...

Awww - what a great photo. Zip looks like (s)he fits right in with the crowd!

We had a few ducklings hatch in the horrible December heat and got a decent hatch rate (10 out of 12 eggs hatched, if I remember right).However, Mrs duck did choose a nest right in the depths of a huge fig bush so had lots of protection from the direct sun, but we were still having 30 degree days re...