Jump to content
kayehope

still considering... convince me!

Recommended Posts

this is my very first post so please bear with me........

no chickens at the min and my friends think i`m mad for wanting them!

i`m only thinking of getting 2 or 3 max, enough to supply eggs for a family of 3-5 people and 3-4 hedgehogs (who llike eggs)!

 

anyway, i only have a small garden and they will mainly be kept in a run. i`ve tried to look at info but i`ve gotten so confused with it all.

 

firstly... is their a breed which is quieter? a better layer? friendlier?

 

then apart from set up what care.... need food and water... daily?

grit daily?

anything else for them to peck at?

need cleaning out...how often?

do they need worming?

do i have to dust them? seen this on tv and no idea what its for!

will i be able to pick them up and cope with them if i never had them before and a little nervous?

do i have to get a vet to clip their wings and how often does it need doing?

 

the eggs.... keep in fridge or on the side?

unlike the supermarket they are not date stamped so how long will they keep?

can u still eat the deformed shaped and soft shelled eggs?

 

diesease`s... if i miss her having an illness will it make the kids and i poorly eating the eggs?

 

the run...on grass or patio?

 

if on grass dont they did underneath side cills or something dig under to get it?

 

do they only poo in the nest area or all over run area? concerned there about cleaning and hygiene.

 

am really interested, just want to be sure.

sorry for all the questions and probably typing errors! lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi, I've had my chooks for over a month now and not regreted it for a minute, though it did take me a few years to take the plunge ! :)

 

 

this is my very first post so please bear with me........

no chickens at the min and my friends think i`m mad for wanting them!

i`m only thinking of getting 2 or 3 max, enough to supply eggs for a family of 3-5 people and 3-4 hedgehogs (who llike eggs)!

 

anyway, i only have a small garden and they will mainly be kept in a run. i`ve tried to look at info but i`ve gotten so confused with it all.

 

firstly... is their a breed which is quieter? a better layer? friendlier?

 

From what I've read on here, noise is down to the individual chicken rather than breed. I'm lucky, mine are a quiet lot, they only make a noise when they see me, and then Margo 'talks' for England ! she won't shut up ! :lol:

 

then apart from set up what care.... need food and water... daily?

grit daily?

 

I give new food and water daily, though you can get containers that will hold several days worth, grit is in a pot attached to the run mesh, only needds topping up occasionally.

 

anything else for them to peck at?

 

some people hang up cabbage or peckablocks to keep them amused, I haven't felt the need yet.

 

need cleaning out...how often?

 

I do a 'poo pick' of their coop and run every day ( wooden coop ) takes about 5 mins tops, I think an eglu would be the same. A more thorough weekly clean would take maybe 15 mins. Some only clean once a week.

 

 

do they need worming?

 

The breeder I got mine from said they'd been wormed and that most people wouldn't even think to worm them again :o most people on here seem to worm about twice a year.

 

 

do i have to dust them? seen this on tv and no idea what its for!

 

Maybe you saw them being dusted with mite powder ? you'd only do this if you thought they had mites.

 

will i be able to pick them up and cope with them if i never had them before and a little nervous?

 

I'd never held a chicken before in my life ! now pick them up several times a day - usually to turf them out the kitchen ! :lol: it's easy.

 

do i have to get a vet to clip their wings and how often does it need doing?

 

I think you can clip their wings yourself ( or the breeder may do it for you ) I haven't bothered with mine as they show no signs of getting over the fence.

 

 

 

the eggs.... keep in fridge or on the side?

 

I have mine on the side in an excellent eggskelter ( you'll find it if you do a search ! )

 

unlike the supermarket they are not date stamped so how long will they keep?

 

weeks - but mine aren't around that long ! :lol:

 

 

can u still eat the deformed shaped and soft shelled eggs?

 

don't think so , wouldn't fancy it anyway ! :vom:

 

diesease`s... if i miss her having an illness will it make the kids and i poorly eating the eggs?

 

Not sure they'd suffer from anything that would affect the eggs you'd eat - more likely they'd stop laying if poorly ?

 

the run...on grass or patio?

 

 

Either, as long as you have a good layer of chippings or similar down for them to scratch in

 

if on grass dont they did underneath side cills or something dig under to get it?

 

Mine haven't dug any holes in their run, but you need to make sure nothing can dig n from outside - must be fox proof, so slabs around the run are a good idea

 

do they only poo in the nest area or all over run area? concerned there about cleaning and hygiene.

 

Everywhere ! but it doesn't take much to pick it up each day

 

am really interested, just want to be sure.

sorry for all the questions and probably typing errors! lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Kaye,

 

Wow......Lots of questions…… but I’ll have a go.

 

3 chickens is a good number rather than 2.

 

Garden size - There are many people on the forum with small gardens who will advise you I’m sure. If you have space to add a converter to an eglu run, it will give the chickens much more room if they are kept in the run.

 

Chickens - Mine are friendly and lay well - I have hybrids bought from Omlet (check their website to see if they deliver in your area). Gingernut Ranger (sometimes called Meadowsweet Ranger) and Miss Pepperpot (sometimes called Bovans Nera). As well as hybrid hens, you can get pure breed hens or even bantams.

 

Daily care = food and water (plus collect eggs)

Weekly = clean droppings tray, move eglu if needed (unless on permanent site), change nesting box material.

Monthly = pressure wash the eglu and clean roosting bars.

A pot of grit is good additon. Things to peck at if they are confined to the run, hanging vegetables etc. Log to jump on etc....

 

Worming – I do this routinely every 3-4 months. Or use Verm-X (see Omlet shop) in their feed as a preventative measure.

 

Don’t have to dust them (unless you find a specific problem). If they do not free range, they will need a bucket of dry earth to dust bathe in (this keeps their feathers clean).

 

You will easily get the hang of picking them up. I don’t tend to pick mine up much now, they just like clucking round me and getting stroked.

 

Wing clipping is easy to do yourself – I have - There is an Omlet guide on how to do it.

 

Eggs – I personally keep them on the kitchen counter but you can also put them in a fridge. Use within 28 days from date of lay. Eggs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes (and colours depending on which breed you go for).

 

Diseases? – if you go for a hybrid hen ask if it has been vacinated. Omlet hens have. Pure breed hens may not have.

 

The run – grass or patio – up to you and your garden useage.

 

They will poo wherever they roam. Easy to deal with if you have something like Auboise or Hemcore (which are brand names of horse bedding) which soak up poos on the run floor. Change it monthly.

 

Chickens are a delightful, easy to keep, family pet. Hope this helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I picked my chooks up today and have been really surprised at just how easy they are to handle. Breeder helped me clip the wings on all my girls myself and I must admit it is very straightforward (but then I do do my cat's claws so am used to it) :D I have been in and out of the run this evening and they were fine with me. We put them from their carry box to the Cube and I was surprised that their was no fighting or struggling at all - they just let me pick them up and put them in :D

 

I was surprised at the amount of droppings in the run and the house today - but having said that it didn't take me long to go around and poo pick, so not a problem :D

 

They are wonderful and so funny. Go for it, you will regret that you didn't do it sooner :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots of good advice above, I would just say that they're the easiest pet I have ever had. They really don't need more than 5 minutes a day, and maybe half-an hour at the weekend, a bit longer if you do a full clean. Obviously most of us spend much more time than that with them, because they are so addictive!

 

I was actually scared of touching mine at first, but you do get used to it and it's easier than you think. You don't need to handle them that much, the breeder will probably clip their wings for you.

 

Chickens can get ill for no obvious reason, but I have yet to hear of anyone being made ill by eating an egg from them - as meezers said, they're more likely to stop laying if they are poorly.

 

You won't see many posts on here from people saying they regret getting chickens!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome to the forum.

 

Have a good read round all the sections, in particular all the stickies at the top of each section.

 

 

The answers to most if not all of your questions will be there.

 

Hens are lovely companions and really bring your garden to life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chickens are great, you will not regret having them :wink:

 

I can recommend ISA brown, I have one and it is the most inquisitive and friendly chicken ever. Talks when I go to the garden and follows me everywhere.

 

Also, I have a small garden too ( http://bandv.hopto.org/gallery/Chickens/DSCF4189 ) and it seems to work fine. I have 3 chickens, but they go out from the run for an hour every day to get some exercise and grass :wink: I would recommend to get 2 girls if you plan to confine them only to the run.

 

I clean the Eglu 1x week (very easy). Top up their food every 2-3 days (usually at the evening when I let them out) since the grub is large and water when needed (aprox. every 3 days, also in the evening). Then in the morning, I get up, open to the chooks and take any eggs. Easy

 

If I may suggest, fence off everything you don't want them to destroy (plants, shrubs, ..) before you get them. The like to scrach and pull things out of flowerpots :wink::D . Here used to be strawberries http://bandv.hopto.org/gallery/Chickens/DSCF4255 :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh - that is sooo cute!

 

I've only had mine a week - so not much to add, except I have mine in a 8x6 shed and an attached 13 x 9 ft run, and it only takes me 5 mins in the morning and 5 mins in the evening to do a quick poo sweep. However, they also poo whilst free ranging the garden - but I just make the kids wear wellies!

 

Could become a problem in the summer with kids runnig round with no shoes on jumping in and out of the pool :shock:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are getting the old Eglu, which is quite small, I would stick to two hens if you haven't got room in your garden to fix a convertor on the end. But three hens are better if you have the room for a convertor. That is perfectly adequate space for hens which have not been used to free-ranging.

 

If it is eggs you want, get hybrids. Fancy birds don't lay anything like as much.

 

Hybrids are bred to be small and neat, and fit well in the Eglu run. Don't get big birds.

 

In a small garden, make a permanent area for the Eglu and run. There are lots of ideas on this forum, but all you have to do at first is to decide where it is going and make sure that it is absolutely level. You can refine it later -- we all do.

 

You will learn everything by trial and error as you go along. At first they just need food, drink, and somewhere to sleep.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are perfect answers to all your questions here already, so I won't repeat it all, but just wanted to agree with what someone else said that they are really easy to keep...

Obviously that doesn't mean they can be neglected, but I've had many pets of many kinds in my life, and I'm still amazed at how easy it is to look after chooks, yet how rewarding they are... Eglus are really easy to clean, with always helps too...

 

Good luck with the decision making.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How about going to a hen party course? - you can see an eglu working and handle the hens - I am sure that would give you confidence that they are easy to handle.

 

I am very happy I got my hens - just took me 2 yrs to decide and have not had any negative issues with them.

 

Tracy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We've had our 3 hybrids with an eglu & converter 3 weeks now. They're quiet generally (unless wanting our attention for more mealworm treats :wink: and that's not loud). Krasi started laying this week and there's a bit of noise (not much!) then.

 

If you can, go for 3 and a converter. They seem quite happy in this. Not much else to add as it'sa already been said by others....except You'll NEVER regret it :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chickens are great, you will not regret having them :wink:

 

I can recommend ISA brown, I have one and it is the most inquisitive and friendly chicken ever. Talks when I go to the garden and follows me everywhere.

 

Also, I have a small garden too ( http://bandv.hopto.org/gallery/Chickens/DSCF4189 ) and it seems to work fine. I have 3 chickens, but they go out from the run for an hour every day to get some exercise and grass :wink: I would recommend to get 2 girls if you plan to confine them only to the run.

 

I clean the Eglu 1x week (very easy). Top up their food every 2-3 days (usually at the evening when I let them out) since the grub is large and water when needed (aprox. every 3 days, also in the evening). Then in the morning, I get up, open to the chooks and take any eggs. Easy

 

If I may suggest, fence off everything you don't want them to destroy (plants, shrubs, ..) before you get them. The like to scrach and pull things out of flowerpots :wink::D . Here used to be strawberries http://bandv.hopto.org/gallery/Chickens/DSCF4255 :D

 

yeah was just looking at your pictures and noticed your fencing around plants. i would have to do this as i have started to try and grow my own veg too! lol the mesh u put round isnt that high, dont they jump over?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wow! all really good comments!

just one more question.... did you all feed your kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s to them if you feed them with the proper food? if so is there anything they cant or shouldnt have?

i`m quite prepared to just by food but if thet can have the s"Ooops, word censored!"s then theres less waste elsewhere!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re the kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s, I do as most advise on here - mine have unlimited access to layers pellets all day. I let them out to free reange no earlier than 2pm, so they have had to eat their pellets if hungry, I then give them their s"Ooops, word censored!"s when I put them back in the run after free ranging. Mine will eat every thing I give them , though they do have their favourites - pasta, soggy bread & meal worms. Most days they will have an assortment of cabbage leaves, apple cores, mashed potato, vege trimmings ( though they prefer them bolied ) and occasionally mixed corn.

They musn't have raw potato ( poisonous ! ) or avocado , obviously chicken would not be a good idea ! :shock: and avoid citrus fruit, there maybe other stuff they shouldn't have, but most s"Ooops, word censored!"s are fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re the kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s, I do as most advise on here - mine have unlimited access to layers pellets all day. I let them out to free reange no earlier than 2pm, so they have had to eat their pellets if hungry, I then give them their s"Ooops, word censored!"s when I put them back in the run after free ranging. Mine will eat every thing I give them , though they do have their favourites - pasta, soggy bread & meal worms. Most days they will have an assortment of cabbage leaves, apple cores, mashed potato, vege trimmings ( though they prefer them bolied ) and occasionally mixed corn.

They musn't have raw potato ( poisonous ! ) or avocado , obviously chicken would not be a good idea ! :shock: and avoid citrus fruit, there maybe other stuff they shouldn't have, but most s"Ooops, word censored!"s are fine.

 

thanks. had to laugh at the chicken comment! lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you still need convincing-i bought an Eglu few weeks ago and dont regret it one bit.They make me laugh with their antics,are very friendly,get on great with my (huge) Bullmastiff,will eat from your hand,mow my grass and lay me delicious eggs! :clap:

 

I move the Eglu around garden every few days so the grass dont get worn out and i can live with a little bit on untidyness purely because of their characters.

You can see where its been,but the grass does recover.

HPIM5963Custom.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

yeah was just looking at your pictures and noticed your fencing around plants. i would have to do this as i have started to try and grow my own veg too! lol the mesh u put round isnt that high, dont they jump over?

 

They don't, surprisingly :wink: I think that saved me loads of money, since the netting was quite cheap from B&Q as opposed to the one from Omlet.

 

They try to sneak around it if it is not properly attached on the sides though.:-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i poo pick the garden, well any i can spot which keeps the garden pretty poo free.It only takes me a couple of mins and strangely enjoyable

 

yes, I find it strangely enjoyable too :shock::oops:

 

My OH and I were just saying tonight how much we enjoy our chooks. The only thing we did wrong was to let them free range all day long right from the get go and now they can't bear to be confined. I would follow the others advise to confine them for a good part of the day and let them range later in the afternoon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Forensica has said Omlet netting is expensive - it is proper stock fencing, so is not just plastic - as it could be used as electric fencing, so has strong metal wires woven in to it and the poles can be moved along to any place in the netting.

 

People might find cheaper solutions, but if you compare the Omlet netting with the same product elsewhere it is actually the cheapest source to get it from - I still think it is a very good buy.

 

Tracy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really good advice from everyone.

The only thing I would add is that if you've a small garden then moving the run every couple of days you'll probably run out of lawn space before the grass can recover, at least in the winter. I think you'd be better with a larger permanent run and use Hemcore/Aubiouse in the run to keep it easy to clean, at least in the winter when the grass isn't really actively growing.

It's amazing how relaxing they are too watch and how easy they are to keep. Although personally not the very easiest pet to have - that'd be my goldfish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I move the Eglu around garden every few days so the grass dont get worn out and i can live with a little bit on untidyness purely because of their characters.

You can see where its been,but the grass does recover.

 

I agree with Stevie, my grass looks the same. I made a choice between a Chelsea Show Garden to just look at and a living garden that I love being in - I chose the latter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...