Snoxy Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 My girls arrive on Tuesday but I am getting a little anxious about the combination of chooks I've ordered. I've been reading various posts for the last few days in the hope of gathering more knowledge of chickens. I read last night about a hen that pecked another hen (Gingernut Ranger) so badly it died Just wondering what your advice would be...I have ordered 2 Miss Pepperpot and 1 Gingernut Ranger from Omlet. I've been told it's likely that one of the Miss Pepperpots would be more likely to come out on top in the pecking order. Do you think I should change my order to 1 Miss Pepperpot and 2 Gingernut Rangers? Hope you can help me Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 From what I've read it isn't breed specific just down to the individual chickens personalities. I've got a mixture of both and so far they get on fine, They all have there own characters like people. I've got both Pepperpots and Gingernuts that are confident, friendly hens and some that are very timid and jumpy. I suppose there is no guarantee that any of them won't turn into a bully. One of our gingernut rangers currently seem to be in charge but it is early days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Tx for taking time to reply...very helpful...I did think it would be down to individual chooks and personality but thought I'd ask anyway I notice one of your chooks is called Fifi...think that is what my little girl will call her one Very best wishes... Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henny penny Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hi We had a problem with our chickens but I have also come to the conclusion that it is down to personalities. My Pepperpot was timid and scared most of the time and never let us handle her where as the Gingernuts are far more friendly and willing to be handled. So you just cann't tell. The weather was also bad at the time and the Pepperpot had just come in to lay so who knows.This is/was an unsual event. We have not been put off so please don't be, alot of other people have had no problems! good luck and enjoy!(':roll:') Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 I will enjoy...just getting nervous I guess For every negative post there are far more positive ones...I just like to to my research Thank you. Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Everyone gets nervous, I wouldn't worry, they'll be fab whichever you get. W've got a right old mixture, loads of different breed and they all rub along together. Not long to go now then, how exciting!! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henny penny Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 To be truthful i was really anxious before they arrived- Would I like them as much as people said? would `i find they were too much bother? They are great and very entertaining- even my teenage daughter who says she hates chickens has been known to put them back in their run when she thought we had forgotten to one day! my husband finds them relaxing. He works from home and often can be found with coffee in hand watching them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Last minute jitters are normal. My OH bought ours but about 2 weeks before they arrived, he found all sorts of reasons to cancel the order. You'll fall in love with them when they arrive My toddler son named Fifi - his favourite tv programme is Fifi and the Flowertots. He'll be embarrassed to admit it in a few years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) My daughter always says Fifipot instead of Fifi Edited April 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) Must admit...as soon as I saw my friends pink Eglu and 2 chooks I thought WOW...then my second thought was what about all the poo We don't have an immaculate garden and lots of flower borders...but just envisaged my children wearing wellies everytime they step into garden It took me 4 weeks to finally decide to make the call even though my husband said place the order asap I just know it'll be Mum who clears up the mess Was also getting a little worried about foxes but lady at Omlet suggested I get all the males in the house (4 ) to urinate around the perimeter every now and then I will let them freerange every day but only when I am at home. I wasn't intending to be in the garden with them all the time but some people say they only let them freerange when they are watching over them I just wouldn't get anything else done I thought about letting them out when I get home after morning school run (9.15 ish)...let them freerange and then put them back in run while I pop out for an hour to do the afternoon school run...then let them out to freerange again until bedtime?? Heavens I sound like a complete 'worryguts' Lou Edited April 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Was also getting a llittle worried about foxes but lady at Omlet suggested I get all the males in the house (4 ) to urinate around the perimeter every now and then Hey how old do the males have to be - I am potty training my 3 year old son at the moment Having said that the chooks won't get here until after our holiday in 3 weeks or so time, hoping he might have moved onto toilets by then. If not - great way to empty a potty - not sure DH will fancy going out in the cold to piddle around the run! I do hope a mix of breeds get on okay: Snoxy my current idea is to get the following (still not a definate) all hybrids: Maran Coucou Maran Cuivre Bovans Amber (or Silver) Bovans Goldline Blackrock (if available) Coral Reef I would love to add a Bluebelle in as well but I think DH would kill me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 After advice from the forum I feed them bokashi bran to deal with the poos. It reduces the smell and makes it easier to clean up. I also got a cheap gun for the hose that allows me to blast the mess from the patio and any 'parcels' that are too wet to clean up with a trowel Your little girl is bound to love them. I find that they are a great distraction for my toddler when he is in a grumpy mood and I just need five mins of peace. I open the patio door for a minute so that they all come running then sit him on the other side of the glass to 'chat' to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) Any age male will do I think...I did tell lady at Omlet I will get them all (7, 10, 13 and 47 ) to pee in a jug as didn't want the police round So glad Ellin and I wont have to bop around the perimeter fence Wow...Andrea what a lovely mixture Thanks for the bokashi bran advice...will get some but keep it well away from my husband who may decide to throw it in the pan when creating one of his fab dishes I'm sure my children will love the girls...Ellin loves it when our rabbits freerange...although they both burrowed out of the garden this morning We have a hutch with a run at the bottom but think maybe I will have to order them a Rablu as they will be so jealous when the Eglu arrives...think the run will be bigger too which will make me feel less unkind if I don't freerange them for fear of them escaping for good Edited April 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 YOU'LL LOVE THEM!!! FANTASTIC LITTLE CHARACTERS!!!! Had mine 3 1/2 weeks and I cant believe how great chicken owning is! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 I get mine exactly a month after you on the 8th and my fav number is 8...my enthusiasm is sky high again now after all the wonderful positive replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 got mine on the 8/3 too and their great, can't wait for more nice weather to enjoy them more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 my second thought was what about all the poo It's really not that bad. You will find like most of us on this forum you get a bit fixated on chicken poo and start talking about consistency, quantity, poop picking etc.... In fact the only people that understand me are those on this forum....ahhhhh...... Was also getting a little worried about foxes but lady at Omlet suggested I get all the males in the house (4 ) to urinate around the perimeter every now and then Also human hair stuffed in old socks/tights tied up around the garden. My hairdresser has finally got used to this now. I thought about letting them out when I get home after morning school run (9.15 ish)...let them freerange and then put them back in run while I pop out for an hour to do the afternoon school run...then let them out to freerange again until bedtime?? Snap. But sometimes keep them in till 10am to make sure they've eaten all their breakfast before they start on my garden. Pop them back in their run at least an hour before dusk. Put them away if I go out as well. Heavens I sound like a complete 'worryguts' 'Tis allowed and no question is a silly question on this forum. When they arrive it's like having children all over again. But without the crying at night...... YOU WILL LOVE THEM WHEN THEY ARRIVE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Thank you Katy for answering so many of my questions/worries I cut my childrens hair so instead of vacuuming it up I'll stuff it into all the odd socks I have in a bag under my bed Thank you for not thinking I am a complete worrier too Just counting down the days now til the girls arrive Cheers everyone who took time to reply Can't believe how much I've learned about chickens so far Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitG Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 The Chicky Girls arrived the first weekend in March and we have just had egg no 1 so we are very much still in the learning phase. Thelma and Louise are Bovans Nera, Ellie is a speckledy. They don't seem to have established much of a pecking order yet save in relation to the cats. Outcome very definitely Chicky Girls 1, Cats 0. The grass seems to survive so long as I move the Eglu weekly. I am on safe territory so long as the massacred grass grows back each time which so far, thank goodness, it has done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hello Snoxy and welcome to the forum! I originally started with 2 and 1 My was the top of the pecking order, so don't worry about the bullying! All chickens have different personalities! You will love keeping chickens, best thing I have ever done! Any concerns, you will always find good advice on here! All the best when your new girls arrive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Hey Christian...great name...my youngest son is called Christian Tx for the welcome You started with same chooks we are waiting for then...seems like personality plays the biggest part as to how chooks gel Just counting down the days til our girls arrive...think they are fab for children...I loved collecting eggs when my grandad had chooks...one of my fondest memories Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Hi Yes, it really is up to the individual chook as to who is top chook. I have a Bluebelle, Miss Pepperpot, 2 speckaldys and an Amber Star. The Amber Star and one speckaldy are new comers to my flock and have settled in very well indeed. The Bluebelle has always been top chook, but not by pecking or any aggresiveness. She just seems to give a look and stars the others out. She is always first into everything and all the others follow. She is also the tiniest! My Miss Pepperpot has always been the timid one, until the other 2 came along and now she is more assertive but in a friendly way. Please don't worry about Miss Pepperpot's - mine's lovely with a lovely nature. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 When I got the call to say we could pick ours up in a weeks time I completely panicked, went into panic overdrive and kept wondering if I should cancel them, then the first night we had them i panicked more staying up til 2am checking outside the back door for foxes (i expected them to be lining up at the back gate)!!! Now I have got used to them and they have got used to me and a tiny part of me wishes I had got perhaps 6 or 7 instead of just three....trust me once you've got them and you all settle in to routine you'll be chciken obseesed and wonder what worried you in the first place xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...