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

[Joojoo]

the number of rehoming requests that have popped up on here during the past few days?

 

I sincerely hope that these are not the start of many to come after people rushed into hen keeping after the HFW programmes without thinking

[Olly]

hmm, same thing has crossed my mind. I know a few of us were concerned about it back then when forum traffic suddenly increased dramatically. Not much any of us can do about it though. It is a shame when people don't research a subject before going into it ... it's not like buying a new gadget or taking up a new hobby and then deciding it's not for you, there are living creatures involved.

 

Maybe we should be glad to see the rehoming requests. It's the ones that DON'T ask for a home for their chooks that we should be worried about.

[Joojoo]

Maybe we should be glad to see the rehoming requests. It's the ones that DON'T ask for a home for their chooks that we should be worried about.

 

You are probably right Olly. It just made me feel so sad to see 3 requests in the first half of the chicken forum alone.

 

Unfortunately, people don't research enough. We've got 3 degus which were rescued after someone had neglected them very badly. The one had lost half her tail due to someone trying to pick her up by it (for those of you who don't know - degus can shed their tails when trapped much like a lizard). Her coat was so poor and she was very lucky not to have developed diabetes from her poor diet. 16 months on she is very healthy and happy. To raise the profile of small animals needing to be rehomed she even featured on the RSPCA's christmas cards.

 

Again, with the hens - I think the one that upset me more than anything were the ex bats. It's bad enough when someone has to rehome animals due to moving away or some such, but when they have already been through so much to not check what you are getting into is just plain wrong.

 

Sorry rant over.

[Janty]

I do know what you mean but in one case the lady had had her hens for 10 months and it was the neighbours who were being totally unreasonable. I spoke to her earlier on the phone and my Mum-in-law is going to give her girls a pampered re-homing at her house.

[Joojoo]

I wasn't having a go at anyone in particular, just that it makes me sad when there are more and more appearing on here, but specifically when they just don't suit the persons lifestyle just months after getting them. Those are situations that could have been avoided had research been done. There seem to have been more than ever in the past few days.

 

As for the lady that your MIL is getting hers from, I feel very sorry for her that she has neighbours who are so unreasonable they are giving her no choice but to rehome her pets Good on your MIL for taking them.

[Janty]

No, I didn't think that you were having a go. I was just letting people know that in at least one case, there was a genuine reason and that the owner is very upset at having to re-home her girls.

[Joojoo]

Thanks Janty. I'm sure she is very upset - I know I would be. At least they are going to a good home where they will be loved.

[Helen&Lee]

I do think we are going to see many more requests, simply because there are many more people having chooks.

 

I did speak to a woman near me though who people have taken their chooks to because they didn't want them any more for years, so it isn't necessarily a new problem.

 

It's the lack of research that's the problem - the instant 'want it now' culture our society has nowadays, they've obviously never met Prudence.

 

As someone has said, at least they are asking on a forum full of kind hearted people, me thinks a few of us will be taking on some 'chickens of fate'

[jomaxsmith]

To be fair, I don't think anyone really knows just how much poo a chicken produces, how noisy they sometimes are or just how destructive they can be to a carefully nurtured garden until they get them home. All the pretty pics of hens living happily in a suburban garden don't help to convey the change of lifestyle hens will cause.

 

I'm not saying it is justifiable getting rid of a pet for those reasons but it is something it's hard to plan for.

 

Jo

[Janty]

To be fair, I don't think anyone really knows just how much poo a chicken produces, how noisy they sometimes are or just how destructive they can be to a carefully nurtured garden until they get them home.

Jo

 

Or just how many veggies they can pinch from the veggie garden!

 

[frenchtoast]

To be fair, I don't think anyone really knows just how much poo a chicken produces, how noisy they sometimes are or just how destructive they can be to a carefully nurtured garden until they get them home. All the pretty pics of hens living happily in a suburban garden don't help to convey the change of lifestyle hens will cause.

 

I'm not saying it is justifiable getting rid of a pet for those reasons but it is something it's hard to plan for.

 

Jo

That's so true. I love our girls and feel like we've had them for ages but I didn't realise how much poo they produce!! It gets on the bottom of laundry basket, shoes obviously and will find its way indoors!

My garden isn't pristine anyway but it sure is looking scruffy now despite my chooks great gardening skills! They don't realise they're vandals. I watched them strip an ice plant/sedum bare in less than a minute then bite the heads off fushias. The bark chippings are scattered everywhere but I just see 3 very busy, contented chickens with their lovely fluffy bottoms up in the air! I hope it doesn't wear off me when winter comes!

[Janty]

We started off in winter with all the mud and mess so at least it can't get any worse for us. We are having a run built before next winter though. In December, I went skidding on some mud/poo/murky stuff and landed on my hip. It's been very dodgy since.

[TAJ]

Is it the time of the year? After Christmas the top time for animals going to animal shelters for re-housing is just before the sumer holidays. I guess there are some people that are thinking to 'get rid' and if holidays are coming it seems easier than getting them looked after .

 

I do not think it is a chicken only issue.

 

Tracy

[Guest]

I can't speak for anyone else but before we got our girls, I did tons of research on the web and asked loads of questions of experienced chicken keepers before finally making the decision to get the girls.

 

Yes, they're a bit messy but we were prepared for that and deal with it accordingly.

 

IMO, it's disgraceful to rehome an animal because it makes a bit of mess, if you'd done your research properly then you'd have known what to expect.

[Helen&Lee]

 

I do not think it is a chicken only issue.

 

Tracy

 

You are quite right.

 

I think that many people may have rushed into chicken keeping after the Hugh and Jamie programs in January.

Reality, for those who did no research beforehand is beginning to sink in about now.

 

For any animal, the consideration of how they will fit into family life is not to be taken lightly - the same goes with babies actually but we won't go there....

 

Back to topic slightly, I know of a woman who brought 3 silkies from the Three Counties Show at Malvern, the next day she was trying to buy a house for them.

She said to me that she had wanted Silkies for a while and didn't know she'd find them at the show!

I bet she didn't realise that a trio of silkies usually includes a cockerall either.

I was so cross talking to her.

[TAJ]

I agree Poet - I ensure at my hen parties I have not emptied the poo tray for a week, and that the eglu has not been cleaned fully in the last 2-3 weeks. I think it is really important that people can see the true reality of the mess not just the lovely friendly hens, eggs and cakes.

 

I think with any pets we have to be realistic that there are those of us that will do our homework and read everything before we commit and those that don't - I am not saying it is acceptable, but it is the reality for many people.

 

We had a guinea pig when my daughter was 9 years old - at 13 she would now be quite happy if we re-housed it BUT I insist if you make the commitment it is just that - you cannot change your mind later. She probably thinks I'm the most evil mother out as it is her animal and I insist she does the weekly clean out and the daily feeding - whilst I will check it is done it is her job to care for the animal as it is hers. I know too many people that allow kids to have pets and when the children are bored with them the parents just take over the care. Personally I do not agree with this and feel it gives children the message into adulthood that they can discard animals if they want to.

 

Tracy

[Olly]

Absolutely agree, Tracy! Nothing makes me more mad (and I've seen it with lots of friends) when the children have pets and then the parents end up doing all the work ... I know you need to supervise what the children do, and make sure they've done it, but it does give the wrong message.

 

I know there are some genuine requests for rehoming from people whose circumstances have changed - and I think that poor woman's neighbours should be rehomed! - but I was rather saddened to see the one about the ex-bats.

 

Either I'm very slutty or my chickens are very tidy, but I honestly don't find the poo a problem. It probably helps that mine are confined to the run most of the time due to my circumstances, and that I've got a fairly large garden, but I really don't find it too bad.

[frenchtoast]

I agree with Tracy where children and pets are concerned. It's good training for life. It's also good for them to have pets but we hadn't, apart from fostering an old cat for a couple of years, because of the ties and we used to visit family in Scotland every school holiday so it just wasn't practical.

With the chickens, I let them out in the morning but I send 13yr old to check them every so often after school to see what they're up to and to put them to bed checking all the dorrs etc are shut. She does a bit of poo clearing but I'm quite happy for her to do the cuddles and the treats after school while I do the clean up. I enjoy being out pottering and just thinking. It's not so bad in the rain either- just quicker!

I went to see an Eglu and hold chickens and saw the full poo tray and mess so i did think twice. But even with that, the difference to your own garden is substantial!

I bet it's the holidays that is a major factor in rehoming. I certainly thought long and hard before getting the chickens for that reason and sounded out my neighbours who say they are happy to check food and water and keep eggs and in return I water their substantial number of baskets, tubs and veg (which I consider harder work and can take up to 40 minutes!)

I stupidly just missed an eglu run extension on Ebay last night which would make me feel better if they're confined to barracks for a week but perhaps they'll get a bit of time out of the run. They're out now and I can't see or hear them but I hope a fox would be put off by the washing line and door open and other signs of human activity. I check every 15 mins or so and I shut them in when I leave the premises! Haven't seen any for months.

[Helen&Lee]

 

Either I'm very slutty or my chickens are very tidy, but I honestly don't find the poo a problem. It probably helps that mine are confined to the run most of the time due to my circumstances, and that I've got a fairly large garden, but I really don't find it too bad.

 

Phew!!

I was beginning to think it was just me, likewise the smell - I find the garlic powder more offensive.

I thought it it was either me being ignorant or Barney was hoovering up far more poo than I thought

[chickenanne]

Totaly agree with Tracy re: pets and children, and really admire your stance with the guinea-pig!

I think that now so many people by chickens or chicken housing before they've ever even seen a "real live" chicken, never mind seen the damage they can do to flower beds, etc etc. And I do think that as coops aimed at chickens-as-pets-in-the-garden keepers become more popular, more people will fall into that category.

[abwsco]

I'll probably get flamed (but hopefully not banned as I love this forum) as this is the Omlet board but I do think part of the problem is that there has been so much publicity in the papers about how easy chickens are to keep in an Eglu and how little room they need. I know of a least one person who has said "they'll buy an eglu and some chickens and if they don't like them it doesn't matter as eglu's hold their value on ebay"

 

I'd wanted chickens for YEARS and it was only after loads and loads of research that we finally decided that yes we could do it. We knew they would poo and trash the garden. I'm sure I even saw a post asking if you could stop chickens scratching in the soil

[Egluntyne]

I agree that chickens are easy to look after, abwsco.

 

I lurked on this forum and others for 2 year and read every book I could lay my hands about chickens before I started. I simply can't unerstand why others don't do the same.

 

I realised that there would be oodles of poo, a bit of noise from time to time, that there may be problems with mice, rats, foxes, fies...all of that, and I had an understanding about red mite, lice, impacted crops and all the rest of it.

 

I think unfortunately there will be a backlash against Jamie and Hugh as more and more chickens need rehoming or are abandoned.

 

There will be more chickens of fate turning up I fear.

 

Edited because after I reread my post it looked as if I was blaming Omlet, when I meant to say that people should do their homework .

Edited July 15, 2008 by Guest

[Joojoo]

I think the case in point re the ease of chicken keeping in an eglu is the thread that's been running today in the chicken forum re the 2 bluebelles for rehoming. Thank goodness there was a happy outcome.

[Egg Lou]

Although I am still very new I do agree with everything thats been said.. I know I have got my girls in the throw of the HFW & Jamie era...but... I wanted them for over 10 years.. my father kept chickens in his younger days and I reaserched for a very long time before taking the plunge.. I also have had my horses since babies so know what commitment is

 

Since having my girls my OH has been completely converted! my family are all supportive, my teenage Daughter comes home straight after school to let them out rather than seeing friends ( until I get home anyway!)

 

OH planning a bigger run.. he wants more and thinks they are the best pet ever! We have showed so many friends who have also toyed with the idea but when I show them the good bits I also warn about the other side..poo, commitment.. early mornings etc..

 

I love my hens and although I guess you cannot always cater for a change of lifestyle I will never let them go anywhere.. I am sad that people have to give up their birds but like you very angry when they are bought for little more than fashions sake.

 

So although I am new please don't think that all new members are not well prepared and commited to the cause.. some of us are just as chook mad as the rest of you

[Joojoo]

Although I am still very new I do agree with everything thats been said.. I know I have got my girls in the throw of the HFW & Jamie era...but... I wanted them for over 10 years.. my father kept chickens in his younger days and I reaserched for a very long time before taking the plunge.. I also have had my horses since babies so know what commitment is

 

Since having my girls my OH has been completely converted! my family are all supportive, my teenage Daughter comes home straight after school to let them out rather than seeing friends ( until I get home anyway!)

 

OH planning a bigger run.. he wants more and thinks they are the best pet ever! We have showed so many friends who have also toyed with the idea but when I show them the good bits I also warn about the other side..poo, commitment.. early mornings etc..

 

I love my hens and although I guess you cannot always cater for a change of lifestyle I will never let them go anywhere.. I am sad that people have to give up their birds but like you very angry when they are bought for little more than fashions sake.

 

So although I am new please don't think that all new members are not well prepared and commited to the cause.. some of us are just as chook mad as the rest of you

 

Don't worry EggLou, we know that not everyone has gone into it blindly There have been a lot of requests for information on keeping them and what their requirements are and visits to Hen Parties etc and alot of people are just like you where it has been something they have wanted to do for a long time and it just happened that HFWs programmes perhaps spurred them into taking the plunge.

 

The ones that really wind me up are those who just see them as the latest "trendy must have item for the garden". They take so much commitment and live for a considerable time and they deserve so much more than being bought on a whim