Should free range poultry be housed at night? Welfare question.
- Thread starter Lincoln75
- Start date
Courier
Member
- Location
- M62 - M1 - M18 triangle
If he has under 50 layers it’s probably nobody else’s business
www.thepoultrysite.com
BFREPA urges UK smallholders and hobby poultry keepers to follow bird flu lockdown rules
www.thepoultrysite.com
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I was more concerned that the poultry wouldn't be able to get sufficient cover through the winter months and will probably die of hyperthermia.If he has under 50 layers it’s probably his own business
BFREPA urges UK smallholders and hobby poultry keepers to follow bird flu lockdown rules
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
Where do they lay eggs?
No idea , he doesn't seem to give f**k.
Not if the guns are any good
.Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Not at all sure you aren't taking the mick! Die of cold - Jees they got feathers and down. Anyway needn't worry your self young man. Up until a few years ago we had a 'wild' gang of bantums that all originated from a single cockrel and hen bird. Be about 30 or so - numbers varied all the time depending on success or not of fox. Had a coop but preferred to roost in all weathers in a couple of apple trees and an old conifer. All year round come cold or snow. Seemed quite happy. Some laid in the coop some laid elsewhere and hence why a supply of chicks all the time. Quite fun to watch. Foxes finally caught up with them a year or two ago and cleared them out. Now have a couple of banties left and a few hens in a coop and run.
Feral poultry do seem to manage bad weather surprisingly well. We have Guinea fowl knocking about and they seem to like perching in an exposed apple tree !
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Our Guinea fowl shunned the hut and always roosted in a big oak tree in the stack yard. Probably more natural.
Brings back memories of the days of free roaming poultry and sometimes sows and piglets round the yard. The pig would go off during the day with her piglets getting acorns but they always came back at night. How did we manage? sh!t everywhere. Nobody died though.
Brings back memories of the days of free roaming poultry and sometimes sows and piglets round the yard. The pig would go off during the day with her piglets getting acorns but they always came back at night. How did we manage? sh!t everywhere. Nobody died though.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
My poultry (old native breed) preferred the natural life until forced inside by foxes and neighbour's dogs. My Highland ponies have access to an open fronted field shelter 24/7 but generally prefer to sleep outside except in driving rain combined with sub-zero temperatures. (They are not bothered by the cold if dry). And I am in the Scottish Highlands. I think it's because they instinctively prefer to have 360 degree vision against predators and are accustomed to the conditions. Animals can adjust to temperature but less so to violently changing temperatures. I have often wondered why more native cattle aren't wintered out as Highland cattle are up here.
Wasn't aware that chickens had "down"
- Location
- Lincolnshire
The smell of Christmas, or at least the run up to it, used to be the smell of a tray of burning meths singeing the down off the turkeys once they had been plucked. Pluck the turkey, then hold it over the burning meths and move it around to singe the down off. Usually somebody stood on the edge of the tray at some point and sent burning meths all over the back kitchen floor.Wasn't aware that chickens had "down"
I'll never forget that smell.
I think there's one or two on this forum who drink meth's .
.- Location
- Lincolnshire
Our town chemist took to drinking the meths in the back of the shop many years ago. Didn't end well.I think there's one or two on this forum who drink meth's .
I don’t think anyone with forget the Christmas my dad tried to burn the feathers off the turkey with diesely rag. #ambitious but rubbish
Dont know about England but I was welfare inspector for hens in NI. No regulations for this but he’ll need flock number and most do lock up at night. Also legally have to have somewhere to lock up when bird flu is about. Back yard flicks are pretty unregulated though as no way of knowing about them bar passing by and seeing them
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Devon cider had the same effect. We let a cottage to an old man who ran donkeys on the beach, he was a cider addict. Not uncommon back then and easily spotted by the red faces and enlarged noses! You could get drunk on a couple of pints. "Tangle foot!" they called it!
