Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[SnowWhite]

Having taken delivery of our superb run from Tony at Aviaries4u (who I can not recommend highly enough!) and the Eglu arriving next week, I've started to look at sourcing the hens themselves. The whole process from deciding to get some hens to now has been rather long and drawn out for us, mainly because we've needed to do a fair bit of work in the garden and the long lead times involved with the Eglu etc..

 

So now I'm finally days away from getting my very own hens I'm starting to reconsider my motivation for doing so. At first I just wanted them as pets but now it is more about having my own fresh eggs and learning everything I can to provide the ultimate happy hens and passing this knowledge and experience on to others. I love animals and have a passionate interest in animal welfare.

 

I'm intrigued to find out what motivated you to get your hens in the first place and whether that has changed over the days, months and years?

[stoice]

My first thought was to give some ex-batts a happy retirement. They have such great characters and are a joy to have. Having never kept chooks before I joined this forum while waiting months on the waiting list. I gained lots of knowledge and felt relatively confident with you guys 'holding my hand' to also keep some 'normal' birds for their eggs too.

 

They soon take over your life - are you dreaming of them yet?

[VicW]

For me, definitely fresh eggs! I have come to enjoy them as pets as well though...

[likeastar--x]

saw a program last year around this time with hugh from river cottage, cant remember what the program was called but it was about the plight of battery hens, and we decided to get chickens, though its taken a year to get all the things we need and now theyve all settled down!

[bokbokbok]

My first thought in the process was for the poo for the compost heap. Is that sad?

 

Once I started getting the eggs, they became pretty important to me too though.

[VicW]

My first thought in the process was for the poo for the compost heap. Is that sad?

 

 

Not at all .. was definitely second reason on my list!

[bokbokbok]

Phew!

[SnowWhite]

They soon take over your life - are you dreaming of them yet?

 

Yep...I dream of nothing else at the moment!

[chooklady]

Mine was definately the thought of fresh eggs and the chooks eating up any veg that has gone past it's best etc.

 

The mix of droppings and Hemcore from the poo tray goes to my neighbour for her allotment and I get some allotment goodies in return, can't be bad. Other eggs I sell to neighbours for a £1 for half dozen, not often though as there aren't usually going spare.

 

They are interesting creatures and I love their funny little habits but I don't think I would be devastated if something happened to one of them. That might sound harsh but it wouldn't be like losing your dog/cat would it.

[bokbokbok]

but I don't think I would be devastated if something happened to one of them

 

I know there will be howls of protest at that one from those who are very attached to their girls but, although I would never knowingly do anything to upset mine or bring any harm to them, and would go out of my way to make sure they are happy in their run, if one woke up dead in the morning I wouldn't go into mourning either.

 

Perhaps that is because we have 7 - if we only had 2 and were much more close to them then it might be a different story.

[Redwing]

If I am being completely honest I would have to say.........

 

I was jumping on the bandwagon of new trendy things for young professionals!!

 

BUT!

 

The whole experience has been absolutely fantasic and I am really glad I took the plunge!

[Eggstatic!]

I got mine for the eggs originally but after only a few hours i realised how attached i had already become, and after a few months i am totally devoted and the eggs are now a bonus not the main reason!

[Patricia7455]

When I get my hens, I will be getting them for the eggs and for the pleasure of looking after the hens. I will be looking for things that are individual about them. I'm not sure if I will get very attached to them - possibly I will! My family think I have gone mad. "Ooops, word censored!"ody complained when I told them I would be letting them have some of the eggs, though - think I will make them pay for the eggs, serve them right.

[alih]

Comedy and Good life aspirations!

[Charlie_uk]

Well my cousins who live in australia all have choocks in their backyard, and we've always loved helping collect the eggs while we were out there, but never thought we could have them at home (the old rumour that you couldnt keep chickens in your garden)

My Mum is a bit of an animal lover and id read an article about Eglu in a newspaper, so me and my Dad bought the Eglu and 2 hens for her birthday! But they're definatly not just a pressie for her, we all love them!!

[mostin]

I decided I wanted them at 6 years old, but was told no way! by my parents. In fact I wanted to own every animal that I could reasonably home and apart from a cat and the odd goldfish was always told no.

 

Now I'm 31 and have my own house and money I can finally have them, along with all the other waifs and strays I adopt (OH included ). They have given me all the joy I always knew they would, and what's really funny is that my parents really enjoy coming over to visit them! The eggs are an added bonus. I just love their funny characters and the way they walk and their fluffy knickers

[clongmoor]

My husband had his heart set on keeping chickens as part of his push for self-sufficiency (a wind turbine on the roof is his next dream!). When I saw the purple eglu though I just have to have one and now that they are here - our girls are part of the family. My two young children love them as they do all animals and I think it is great that they can collect the eggs and eat them fresh. We are all veggie and it is great to teach them about respect for animals. Having been on the BHWT website I am really tempted to adopt some ex-bats too - they don't deserve that life - keeping chooks has definitely become an addiction - one that we are passing on to everyone who meets them!

 

 

Claire and family

Rosie and Priscilla

plus Bob the cat and 6 sleeping torts

[Jules.]

I got mine on a whim for last year's birthday present

[Milly]

I always wanted to keep hens - I don't know why. I got them for the eggs (and so that I would know that they were truly free range, it's hard to be sure otherwise).

 

But I have found them much more interesting than I expected and I enjoy watching them. I would be very upset if anything happened to them, although not quite so much as if something happened to the cats who are much closer as they have shared the house with us for many years.

 

Milly

[Sandychick]

I used to live on a narrowboat next to field with chickens in it! That started me off - the chickens were cute and the eggs were fab. Then I got all sensible and bought a house. The garden was a jungle and after clearing it found there was an area in the middle that I just didn't know what to do with. Nothing much would grow there as it it all shaded by trees, the ground is a mass of roots.....then it struck me that it was perfect for chickens!

 

I got them as pets that would double up as little feathered recycle units with poo for my veg. The eggs wern't the main reason but I couldn't be without them now. I can't imagine my garden without the chickens now. I am planning a walk in run and 3 more chickens in a couple of years time.

[ruth1]

I've wanted chickens and or ducks for years- dont know why, especially when i've been scared of birds since i was a child. something has always happened to make me not do it. Until this year when i decided that was it, found this website by browsing and booked into a hen party ( i never do anything without heaps of research) came back from that wanting a cube, eglu and masses of hens.

Best thing i've ever done their fab, i've got over my bird fear ,that was hard when they first arrived, and although only two are laying so the egg dreams hasnt fully been realised my aspirations of the good life have started with this litttle step.

Edited October 22, 2008 by Guest

[sandyhas3chucks]

My first thought was to give some ex-batts a happy retirement. They have such great characters and are a joy to have. Having never kept chooks before I joined this forum while waiting months on the waiting list. I gained lots of knowledge and felt relatively confident with you guys 'holding my hand' to also keep some 'normal' birds for their eggs too.

 

They soon take over your life - are you dreaming of them yet?

ditto!

[BeckyBoo]

We got them because really really really I would like to live on a small holding and be self sufficient. Realistically I live in suburban North Surrey with all it's urban sprawl and high prices so that's not likely to happen for a very very long time if ever. StbxOH and I had talked about keeping hens for years on and off then someone at work, who is the least likely person EVER to have hens, showed me photos of her two and her Eglu that she bought for her OH's birthday. And Fathers day was coming up, and I couldn't think of anything else to buy him, then an uncle left me some money so.......one cube and five hens later.....!! Then we took in 4 that someone couldn't keep any more, then four ex-batts, of course the next step was hatching under a broody, then ANOTHER hatch under the same broody and here we are - 8 laying hens (if they can be bothered now it's winter ) two big growed up boys (who are going soon) one 6 month old cheepy chick from the first hatch, one broody grumpy old bag and her 4 new little 4 week olds (which sadly include at least one more boy )

 

Best thing I EVER did!

 

Mrs B

[quickcluck]

I got mine purely for pets! But the eggies are an excellent bonus

 

I really wanted ex batts but after looking into it, thought i'd better start off with 'healthy' hens until i've got more experience.... I started off wanting 2 in an eglu and got 6 in a cube!

 

Now I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my girls, my family secretly think i'm nuts but they really are great and i'd recomend them to anyone......

 

I never knew how social they were going to be.. a constant source of amusement!

[chickencam]

We had hens when I was a child and I have always loved eggs, we had been talking about it for years. We have an allotment but only a small garden then we saw an article about the Eglu in a newspaper then we had a win on the premium bonds of £500 and the rest as they say is history.

 

I have never regretted getting them for a moment. Eggs, manure and a laugh a minute what more could we ask?