TillySue Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Hi I hae joined as I am looking for a bit of courage before I embark on my chicken adventure. I have always wanted a couple and we are finally moving to a house with a chicken friendly garden. I don't know anyone with chickens and everyone I know says that they are smelly and will attract rats (like the pied pipper I assume) and foxes and that this will be most unsuitable for my 2 year old. I can not believe that this is at all true but could do with some reassurance please? Thanks Desperately wanting chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Hi TillySue and welcome to the forum. Are there any Omlet courses near you? I think seeing/smelling them for yourself in someones back garden is the best thing. My 4 chickens do not smell unless I put my nose really close in their housing. I have known one very very hot day 2 years ago when they wiffed a bit for a day but only when I got close up and not anything the neighbours would notice. A good cleaning routine and loads of "tricks of the trade" like Auboise bedding, mean hardly any smell. Rats are attracted by food....... not chickens. Do your neighbours leave cooked kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s in their compost bins, or fallen rotting apples, or leaving food out for the badgers.... this will all attract rats. You ensure that the chicken feed isn't spilt all over the floor and bring the feeders in at night. Yes, some folk on here do have problems with rats due to their neighbourhood or the location they live but then you deal with that with poisins or traps. I have never had a problem. Foxes can be a worry. An eglu run should keep them safe and if you know you have a fox problem in your area you will want to only let your chickens free range when you are around. Chickens make great pets for children. My 3 children love them. My nephew was 1 when my chooks arrived, he hated them at first, now 2 years on he chases then round the garden. My only advice is don't let young children get down to eyelevel with a chook, but apart from that no worries. My chickens live behind a moveable fence and don't have the run of the whole garden so my kids never step in anything. But even if they did, chickens eat a cereal based diet and what goes in comes out so it's really no bother at all. I have to say chickens are the best (and easiest) pets I have ever had and really worth considering not just for eggs but because they are so funny...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TillySue Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 Thanks a great help now for which colour eglu to have Hi TillySue and welcome to the forum. Are there any Omlet courses near you? I think seeing/smelling them for yourself in someones back garden is the best thing. My 4 chickens do not smell unless I put my nose really close in their housing. I have known one very very hot day 2 years ago when they wiffed a bit for a day but only when I got close up and not anything the neighbours would notice. A good cleaning routine and loads of "tricks of the trade" like Auboise bedding, mean hardly any smell. Rats are attracted by food....... not chickens. Do your neighbours leave cooked kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s in their compost bins, or fallen rotting apples, or leaving food out for the badgers.... this will all attract rats. You ensure that the chicken feed isn't spilt all over the floor and bring the feeders in at night. Yes, some folk on here do have problems with rats due to their neighbourhood or the location they live but then you deal with that with poisins or traps. I have never had a problem. Foxes can be a worry. An eglu run should keep them safe and if you know you have a fox problem in your area you will want to only let your chickens free range when you are around. Chickens make great pets for children. My 3 children love them. My nephew was 1 when my chooks arrived, he hated them at first, now 2 years on he chases then round the garden. My only advice is don't let young children get down to eyelevel with a chook, but apart from that no worries. My chickens live behind a moveable fence and don't have the run of the whole garden so my kids never step in anything. But even if they did, chickens eat a cereal based diet and what goes in comes out so it's really no bother at all. I have to say chickens are the best (and easiest) pets I have ever had and really worth considering not just for eggs but because they are so funny...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Welcome aboard Tillysue. They will only be a smelly as you let them. A bit of basic hygeine is all that is required. Your only decisions are what coulour Eglu, as you say, and how many hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TillySue Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 I was thinking 2 to start with but have been reading forums all day and many suggest 3. What would you recommend? Welcome aboard Tillysue. They will only be a smelly as you let them. A bit of basic hygeine is all that is required. Your only decisions are what coulour Eglu, as you say, and how many hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Hello TillySue, I would recommend 3 to start with, just in case the worst happens. I lost one of my girls on Monday and was glad the other 2 have each other. A hen on her own can get very lonely, they need company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I would agree....minimum of three, for the reasons that Chicvic states, and because it makes a nice little social group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Welcome to the forum, TillySue . I agree with what the others have said - go for it . I have 3 and they are such a happy little trio it's lovely to watch . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 We've never had a problem with our hens smelling. Aubiose has been a brilliant winter run flooring as they're on the concrete base now till the spring. Welcome to the forum TillySue. You'll find everyone very helpful here ....they were to us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 (edited) I have three children, ED is 5 in March, my middle son is 3 in July and my youngest son is 7 months old. Chickens are terrific pets for them. My eldest two paly in the garden with the hens, and my two year old will tell them off if there are no eggs They *help* (term used in its losest form) with the cleaning, refreshing the bedding and collecting the eggs and seem to be genuinely fond of them. As for rats, they wont attract rats any more than rabbits, or guinea pigs really and as long as you follow common sense and keep food in a sealed solid container, clean up any spills etc they should not become a problem. Go on, get some Edited February 4, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
