Helen Posted March 27, 2005 Share Posted March 27, 2005 Hi everyone, I'm Helen and we too took delivery of a wonderful green Eglu and 2 chickens on Good Friday afternoon. We have a Ginger and a Miss pepperpot, who both appear to be settling in well although Ginger does look a little 'tatty' as she seems to be losing some little feathers. They are both still quite young, about 6weeks from laying we were told. We are trying to spend loads of time with them and the children have managed to hold them on their knees a few times. Any words of advice from you experienced chicken keepers? Are ther any golden rules we should be following? Hope to hear from someone soon. Hope you all had a good Easter Sunday Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted March 27, 2005 Share Posted March 27, 2005 Greetings Helen! As you may gather from other postings I'm a newcomer myself - I had my delivered last Wednesday but I have yet to get my chickens. Everyone here on the Omlet forum is terribly friendly and I'm sure all the old pro's will be along shortly ready to welcome you and share their hints and tips on the art of chicken keeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted March 27, 2005 Share Posted March 27, 2005 Hi Helen. It sounds like things are going fine with your girls. The feather loss in your gingernut could be stress from the move or from them sorting out the pecking order, unless the skin looks red and sore it unlikely to be a problem. (I'm still quite a newbie, only had my girls 6 weeks but there's so much information here). Sweetcorn is a useful tool in taming chooks and once they learn you are the provider of treats they are very tame and friendly although some are always happier than others to be picked up. We'd all love you to fill in the questionarre section here and let us get to know you more. Happy chicken keeping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 27, 2005 Share Posted March 27, 2005 Hello and welcome Helen! Happy Easter to you as well . I'm not sure quite how to feel about being an "old pro" ! I think after nearly 10 months of chicken keeping, I'm certainly a lot more experienced than I was!! The best advice I can give you, Helen, is to read through all the topics on the forum. I know it sounds quite a tall order but so many of your questions will be answered because someone is bound to have asked them already! There are "Sticky" topics in all the sections which read rather like a FAQ section where you will find links to relevent topics. Don't forget to visit the questionnaire in this section to satisfy us nosey old pros!! Good luck with your girls - keep handling them and you won't go wrong All the best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted March 27, 2005 Author Share Posted March 27, 2005 (edited) thanks for the welcoming words...is it tinned sweetcorn that you use for the chickens? I've trained a Lab but she would eat anything...I'm not sure what to use on the chucks as they dont seem to be eating much of the layer mash either. I have given them a little marmite on toast and that went down well but then marmite is a little salty? any suggestions Edited March 27, 2005 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted March 27, 2005 Share Posted March 27, 2005 I've used tinned sweetcorn and frozen, defrosted of course and both girls seem not to notice the difference. Mone didn't seem to eat as much as I expected till they started laying, now they vary but mostly seem to eat quite a lot. They also love carrot peelings, which are supposed to be good against parasites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leanne Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 Hi Helen, happy easter and welcome to the forum! your girls will soon settle , and in a few weeks you'll wonder why you never got hens years ago, you'll become as chicken-potty as the rest of us are! getting my girls was one of the best decisions i've ever made, and I know you and your children will get so much pleasure from yours. Like Kate i've had mine for about 9-10 months so we've nearly done a cycle of a year, and learned different things in different seasons, but we are all still learning all the time. My girls love sweetcorn too, I cook frozen corn for them, along with veg peelings. they also love pasta, raisins,seeds, stale bread or cake, but soaked in a little milk first, they love to pick at windfall apples and blackberries (later in the year) and they'll help rid your garden of pests. generally I give these treats in the afternoon, after they've had some layers mash. otherwise they'll not eat the mash as they prefer their treats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted March 28, 2005 Author Share Posted March 28, 2005 Many thanks for all the advice..I will go and try my computer skills to find a picture and buy some frozen sweetcorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 Well done helen but you'll need to try again with that Pepperpot! I got OH to do mine (works in IT - so he does have some uses!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted March 28, 2005 Author Share Posted March 28, 2005 Hi Red, I am getting there slowly. I'm now trying to upload a picture!! Wish me luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 WELCOME to the forum Helen, have fun with your chooks and join in the fun in the nesting box............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted March 28, 2005 Author Share Posted March 28, 2005 Thank you, I am still trying to upload a picture at the moment and am getting a little frustrated to say the least. May have to go outside for a chat with the girls!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 Keep trying Helen! As I say, I got my OH to do mine for me - he made it out of a photo of a playdough person that my godson made at christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 wooooaah! You'll have to resize that one Helen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 It's like a Cher"Ooops, word censored!"le Chicken!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted March 28, 2005 Author Share Posted March 28, 2005 I know I was somewhat alarmed at the effect....am working on it as we speak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 I think you will have to resize this one Helen! Looks like we clashed as it ahs disappeared altogether now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 I think it's a lovely chicken! Glad I missed the supersized one though - must have been a bit scary ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted March 28, 2005 Author Share Posted March 28, 2005 I think thats better.....at least it is smaller than the first attempt. Not brilliant but will do for now. I need a stiff drink after all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted March 28, 2005 Author Share Posted March 28, 2005 Kate it was enormous and knocked everyone off the screen...I could be having bad dreams about it tonight!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 Don't worry, Helen! You're not the first one to do that - and I'm pretty sure you won't be the last !! Glad you managed to get your avatar and chicken emoticon signature sorted out. They look great ! PS - don't have nightmares ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted March 28, 2005 Author Share Posted March 28, 2005 Thanks Kate, I've now got my husband asking if I am going to be on here all night. Have achieved very little today apart from play with the chickens and the computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 Nothing wrong with that Helen! A day well spent in my books ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 28, 2005 Share Posted March 28, 2005 That sounds very familiar doesn't it Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
