clucking mad Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 i'm new to chickens and am just clearing a bit of garden for them to free range, i understand that they like weeds and stuff to peck at. there are also a few nettles, are they ok with these or should i remove them before they arrive? in the eglu omlet says that you can keep uup to 4 chickens, or 5 bantums. what are bantums, i assume that they are smaller, but do they lay smaller eggs or behave differently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Hello and welcome to the forum. They will soon let you know if they like nettles. If they don't they will leave them after a few pecks. Bantams are small hens....you can get bantam versions of some existing pure breeds, or some that there is no large equivalent to...such as Seabrights. If you put 4 normal sized hens into an Eglu then you will definitely need to extend the run, as the standard run won't give them sufficient room, which might lead to bullying problems within the group. Bantams do lay smaller eggs, and they don't scratch the garden up as much as hybrids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Bantams do lay smaller eggs, and they don't scratch the garden up as much as hybrids. come have a word with my white silki bantam shes a vandal. as for the eggs they are fab, great for the kids, and they are alot creamy that a normal egg if we have any left my inlaws soon want them. cant wait for mine to restart laying, at min she is broody sitting on eggs. grt pet as well for smaller kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Clucking Mad said there are also a few nettles, are they ok with these or should i remove them before they arrive? When I got my hens, my locum vet who is a show breeder of hens suggesting hanging nettles upside down in the run for them to peck at if they were going to be left for a while as it gives them something to do. They eat the leaves and any bugs on them. Mine love them! Not quite sure why they had to be hung upside down though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 My girls prefer the non-weeds (ie the plants I want to keep!!). I still have daffodils and tulips in the garden (which according to the list are poisonous for chickens) but they have just left them alone. I also have ivy in the borders (also poisonous) but they just scratch under it for the bugs. The nettles should be hung up so they don't get trampled underfoot and spoiled rather than eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted April 27, 2008 Share Posted April 27, 2008 Mutrix farmers said The nettles should be hung up so they don't get trampled underfoot and spoiled rather than eaten. Thanks for that! Not exactly a scientific reason just one of practicality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...