4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Egg Lou]

This is going to sound very sad .. but had my first chicken cuddle today!

 

Went to see the farm today where I'm going to get my chooks as wanted to see breeds get advice etc..

 

They had several hybrids.. Can't remember all the correct breeds as was far too excited!! think..Amber Star, ISA Warren/Ranger, Suffolk/sussex Black Tail? , Pied & Copper Maran.. all lovely girls and so friendly!

 

Was shown how to handle and had a go myself managing to have a lovely cuddle with a Red Black Tail girl ..suffolk I think .. I can see why they are so additive!

 

We went to get an idea of what we should choose in 3 weeks, but didn't realise how impossible it is to decide I can see me ending up with a big flock one day!

 

Of course now having been I can hardly wait to get my girls and keep going through the photos we took while there (to help decide) like an excited school girl..

 

Having waited 10 years to get some I guess 3 weeks should go quickly but wish I could have brought them home today

Edited May 21, 2008 by Guest

[moomin]

Not sad at all!

 

Chicken cuddles are lovely!! I sat this afternoon with Skye (my cochin) on my lap and she nearly went to sleep, I think she would have sat there for hours!! Yesterday while I was holding her she purred!

 

Bobbie my Barnevelder, on the other hand, is going to need a bit more work!! She will let me stroke her when she is roosting but during the day she runs away, a proper little madam

 

Good luck with getting your girls, three weeks will go past really quickly!

 

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

[Duckmomma]

it's not sad at all, if you have been wanting them for ten years it's not surprising you are excited now.

I am sitting here right now with one of my geese on my lap

he actually came over and tapped my leg to get me to pick him up, he keeps giving me lovely little goosey kisses and chuckling to me.

You are going to love it when you get your chickens

But the anticipation is all part of the fun so enjoy it

[Cooks]

what a great way to spend this afternoon! chicken cuddles are the best!

[WitchHazel]

Went to see the farm today where I'm going to get my chooks as wanted to see breeds get advice etc..

 

Just being nosey...where are you gtting your chooks from?

[lisaroo2]

Chook cuddles when they're sleepy. Heaven! Even manage to get a stroke off Daisy!

[Egg Lou]

Just being nosey...where are you gtting your chooks from?

 

Hi Hazel..The Agriculture College at Merrist Wood Guildford.. they have a small farm there and sell the usual hydrids plus breed a few themselves.. throughly recommend them as small but Luke who runs the farm was really helpful and very relaxed place! The chooks were so friendly I had one sat on my foot for about 30 mins! Kept in a stable and free range .. had about 50 odd birds so not huge amounts.

Let me know if you want details/directions etc..

 

Thanks everyone else for letting me know I'm not that sad after all!! Just can't wait but unfortunatly got a bit attached to one already that will probably be gone when I go back

 

Lou

[Egg Lou]

Lucky me! the farm have agreed to "reserve" the hen that kept popping up in our photos! so pleased as sure she was saying "me me me"

 

Just hope he manages to find the correct girl as has promised to put a leg ring on so he knows not to sell her

 

Does anyone know if it will cause a major problem so have girls 2/3 weeks apart in age.. as his new batch gets delivered this week so she will be older.. think she is about 17/18 weeks?

 

I have photos at home (work now) so could try and post for an opinion.. no special breed as Amber Star.. but I think shes fab!

[surferdog]

Hi Lou, sounds like you were meant for each other! Please do post photos

[Egg Lou]

Thank you!.. so nice for someone to understand the excitment as everyone here thinks I am barking mad! (or clucking mad??)

 

I think all reason goes out the window when you get involved with these girls

 

It was just strange that nearly all the photos taken by two different people and of 50+ chickens showed her!

 

I'll post a photo later .. if I can work out how!

[Egg Lou]

As promised.. photos of the little hen that I liked but didn't realise quite how many photos she had managed to get into.. here are the best three.. she was in 9 in total, even ones of other breeds have her tail or head in!

 

She obviously is a little poser and wanted to be remembered its worked as I rang back and reserved her this morning.

 

 

 

 

[Snowy]

She looks gorgeous and was obviously meant to be yours! They do have a reputation for being friendly girls and superb layers!

[BeckyBoo]

She's lovely, have you thought of a name for her yet? And I didn't know that Merrist Wood sold hens? I get my feed and bedding from Rokers which is opposite and never even thought to visit there

Still, now all you've got to do is decide on the other three......

 

Mrs Bertie

[Valkyrie]

She's really pretty, lucky you having a cuddle. I was a bit gobsmacked earlier today - OH suggested adding to our flock next year! I will hold him to that - ohhhh yesssssssss!

[Egg Lou]

Thank you ... I think she's lovely but know most of you have beautiful pure breds and she's not on that level!

 

Not sure on names as was going for a theme but think she is crying out to be a "freckles" or "smudge"

 

Yes ..still got three others to choose when I go back to get her, well me, OH and DD all choosing one each!

[moomin]

Thank you ... I think she's lovely but know most of you have beautiful pure breds and she's not on that level!

 

I started off with 2 purebreeds but I love hybrids just as much and they are meant to be friendlier, I think she is a beautiful girl I hope he's reserved the right one for you!

[Egg Lou]

Thank you Ros.. I hope he has too! I think if if he's got it wrong when I go back I'll be so upset as so set on her now

 

They were so friendly I was quite surprised.. as you can see she stayed close where ever we were looking!

[moomin]

She's a little darling

 

Good luck!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

We can all understand your enthusiasm and excitement, EggLou . We're all the same .

 

That little hen looks so sweet - I'm glad you managed to "reserve" her .

 

Re your question about getting hens of different ages, I don't think it matters a bit. One of my girls is 2 weeks older than the other two. You'd never know. I'm pretty sure you can mix hens of all ages - it's the introduction of a new hen that can be fraught, nothing to do with their ages.

[Egg Lou]

Thanks ANH

 

I am hoping it will be ok, as all kept together at the farm and the new batch arrives this week, so by the time I go back they should all be getting along ok.. I'm just going to try and keep sizes as similar as poss.

 

Its so nice to be able to get opinions as my family (except DD as also excited!) and work have really had enough of me harping on!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Just wait till your husband calls you a cow (a Chicken Obsessed Woman ). It took 9 months for my OH to come up with that one so I can't be that bad .

[Egg Lou]

 

He'll love that one!

[cluckbok]

She's lovely, not only pure breeds are pretty, they all lovely. I think the name Freckles is particulary cute. You were meant to have her. I wish I would have had more confidence when choosing ours cause the breeder more or less choose for us! but thankfully 2 of ours are friendly one very friendly (can't keep her out of the conservatory!!) and the other is a bit shy, runs off, only stroked her once. I'm hoping she'll come round. When we choose ours I'd never handled a hen before but now I wouldn't think twice, and to think I used to be scared of them!!

[surferdog]

Lou, she's lovely. You were meant to be! Just don't let the family get involved in choosing names as well as chickens - I've ended up with Quicksilver the Surfer chicken cos we thought DS2 at Uni should be involved as well. (Luckily it's easily shortened to Sylvie.)