annie hall Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hello All, I've been having a look at the forum since I got my login yesterday and thought I would introduce myself. I first saw the eglu last summer, there was a bit about it in the sunday paper and my sister rang me on holiday to tell me about it, she was that excited. Naturally I wanted one immediately, esp as we were about to move house to a property with a big garden (big by my standards anyway coming from a stone yard at the back of a northern terrace!). Naturally I got the paper and showed it to himself who immediately proclaimed 'Chickens?!, and look at the price!' anyway to cut a long story short the eglu is being delivered on friday 20th May and I am in bits with the excitement of it all, himself is also exicited but more dubious about the whole farago than myself. I have been in touch with a breeder and hopefully we will go to collect our chooks the next day. In the mean time I am contenting myself with reading the forum and getting my vicarious chicken thrills that way. I look forward to letting you all know when the eglu/chooks arrive and will definately post pics. Thanks also for all the brilliant advice I've read on this forum so far, its been a big help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hello Annie and welcome to the forum. It's so exciting, isn't it. Good job you've got the forum to get your chicken fix until the big day dawns!! You'll be so confident and sure of what you're doing after reading about all our successes, mistakes and worries that you'll be a chicken expert!! That's the great thing about the forum - wish it had been going when my girls arrived though - would have saved me getting a few of the white hairs!! Good luck when the Eglu and hens get together - keep us posted, won't you and looking forward to photos in the gallery! What breed of hen are you going for, by the way?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie hall Posted May 12, 2005 Author Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hi Kate We are probably getting a warren and a black rock or black speckled depending on what we like when we see them etc. The breeder also sells pure breeds as well as hybrids but I think the hybrids are probably the best bet for us at the moment. We were a bit concerned at first about how our cats would cope, indeed if they might harm the chooks, but having observed their behaviour around other birds in the garden I don't think we have much to worry about. Basically, they'll stop out if theres only blue tits about but if a wood pidgeon lands on the lawn they come bolting back through the cat flap like bats out of hell. Im sure they will get used to the chooks eventually though. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hi Annie Hall and welcome This is where the northerners get nosy Having spotted reference to northern concrete yard and seeing as you are outside the delivery area and collecting your hens yourself - do you live in the northeast? There aren't many omleteers up here so we are delighted to find new converts - plan is to take over the world actually - hens for every household sort of thing.. I'm in Jesmond, Newcastle. Let me know if you are local and would like details of stockists for hen food etc. Your choice of hens looks sensible. I think the modern hybrids are a good beginners hen - healthy, reliable layers and nice temperment. I like having 2 that I can tell apart from a distance and it helps that they lay slightly different brown shades of egg so I can tell who is pulling their weight and earning their corn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Welcome to the forum Annie, and hope all goes well when you get your chooks I am sure the cats will be fine with the chickens ........... Keep posting and let us all know how you get on and which breeds you go for..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie hall Posted May 12, 2005 Author Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hi Motherhen, I live in Sheffield, the breeder we are getting the chooks from is in Barnsley, just north of sheffield. They're reccommended by Omlet so hopefully we'll get some good chooks, thanks for the offer though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hi annie We used to live in Totley and kept hens and ducks in our garden backing onto the old Totley College playing fields. There are some pictures of one of the broods I hatched there in the photoalbum. Do they still have that incredible fish and chip shop in Dore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 We are probably getting a warren and a black rock or black speckled Hi Annie .... the hybrids are certainly good layers . I have an adopted flock .. of about 30 Warrens, a few Welsommers, 3 Sussex Stars and a Black Rock ... all new news to the rest of the forum now . Anyway ... the Sussex tend to go broody, the Blackrock lay lovely choc coloured eggs, like the Pepperpots from Omlet (generally speaking) and the Welsommers and Warrens are egg machines. . Generally larger and paler brown eggs. Today ... I collected around 30 eggs ... one in the paddock was laid as I walked in , so I saved this from pecking beaks. . I initially had a Ginger and Pepper, now have a Ginger and Amberstar, and its nice to have 2 very different hens at home, and also nice to have the different shell colour of the eggs. Good luck ... and welcome to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 anyone from the north-west?!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Katie .. if you look at the "Memberlist" ... where it is filled in, you will get a picture of where most of us are. I am in Macclesfield, Cheshire, and have family in Lancashire, so you are only one hour tops from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 It's a shame that not everyone fills that bit in because I like to know where everyone's from too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Hi there Annie Hall. I'm in Garforth, near Leeds so in between you and Mother hen. I used an Omlet recommended breeder in Silsden and he was great, very helpful and friendly, didn't look at me weird when I asked for specific breeds not just "brown en's" as one more local breeder said he stocked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Yes, I always note the location too. Welcome Annie, only one week to go, how exciting! I've learnt so much on this forum & you'll be off to a great start. Looking forward to hearing more, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 wooooo!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Hi Annie I'm near Olney, almost east midlands, north bucks etc!! Welcome. Look at my posts before the girls came, I was beside myself. Bedtime reading was the big book of hens!! Anyway think it's almost a month and they are lovely, whatever you have they will be a joy and himself will fall hook line and sinker as Mikey now really loves them!! They follow him and he gets a telling off if we haven't paid much attention to them. I am mum, so I get a very teenage response , sort of "wotever" like little britain, oh whats her name, yeah but no but, only saw it last night!! Get some grapes they are a hit! What colour have you chosen? Bx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
