How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[Kittycat]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm currently chicken-less, but after having spent the best part of 2 days reading everything I can find about keeping chickens in your garden, am completely sold on the idea - and on the apparent ease and practicality of the Eglu. I just think it will be absolutely brilliant for my 2 kids (5 and 7yrs) - and we have a willing and very greedy labrador who, I know, would relish the job of keeping the garden free of chicken poop!

 

All I have to do now is convince my husband and (surprisingly) the only possible objection he has raised so far is the fact that we may upset the neighbours with raucous chicken noise all day. I have assured him (from my vast 2 day theoretical knowledge) that it is only cockerels that kick up a fuss and that chickens will offer nothing more than soothing clucking noises. Am I right?!

 

Also, we live just outside Exeter, in Devon, and so beyond the Omlet chicken delivery range. Are there any Devonian omleteers out there and, if so, any good suggestions as to where I can pick up some healthy chickens. I'm planning on getting 2 or 3.

 

Finally, last question (for now!), some of the wooden ark-style coops I have looked at seem to sugget that chickens prefer to 'go up' to roost. Clearly, this isn't possible in an Eglu - does this really affect the happiness of the birds?

 

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice

 

(A very eggcited) Kittycat x

[chelsea]

oooh, Im not far from you!

 

You must go to the Devon Traditional breed centre at Crediton - its fantastic! They have the most gorgeous hens (they are not cheap - but worth every penny)

 

Moon Ridge farm is also just outside of Exeter (I've never been there) but have heard people that have.

[chelsea]

forgot to say about noise,

 

My lot can be noisy (I wont lie) but its not cockerel cock-a-doodle-dooing, its a bok bok bok - usually at a bird in the garden or a cat. We live with neighbours and no one has complained in 3 years. They are no more noisy than your usual garden noises - lawn mowers, cars, dogs barking, children playing. I think I worry too much about the noise to be honest.

 

Go for it!

[Kittycat]

Hi Chelsea

 

Thanks for the advice. I had found the webiste for Moon Ridge and it looks like a good set up, so I will probably try there. I will go and have a look at Crediton too - although I have assured hubby that chickens only cost about £15 each!

 

As far as the noise goes, I assume they make none at night time so I guess there's really not much that a neighbour could complain about in any event? We get on pretty well with the neighbours, but I'd like to keep it that way. Also, you seem to have a bit more of a 'flock' - hopefully, 3 would not make quite as much noise?

 

How did your dog react to sharing outdoor space with chickens?

 

Kittycat

[chelsea]

The DTBC also have a website, they have a coffee shop and farm shop too - so you could make an afternoon of it with the children, they have lots of chickens, ducks in pens to wander around, so even if you dont buy from there it is definitely worth a look.

 

You are right about 3 and less noise, we started off with 2 hens and had no noise whatsoever. When we expanded the noise started as they all "egg" each other on but maybe its just my chickens as not everyone on here has noisy chooks. They dont make any noise at night and I close my cube/eglu door at night and open it in the morning.

 

My dog was absolutely fine with the chooks, we did a slow gradual introduction on the lead and as the hens got bigger the dog took no notice, actually now she has become a very good protector in the garden and I can leave her in the garden watching the hens whilst I hoover or something indoors. (of course not all dogs may be like mine!)

 

Im so excited to have another local member, we have Lisa on here who is not far from you and there is Half Dozen who lives in East Devon. So we are growing!

[Kittycat]

Thanks. I'm planning on speaking to some of the neighbours to see if they might be willing to help out (in return for free eggs of course) as and when we have holidays. If I get some positive feedback, it will be full steam ahead!

 

I'll let you know how it goes...

[braden01]

Hi there! Noise is definitely not an issue as it's mostly a very gentle background noise and our two were generally so quiet you wouldn't have heard them at all. Our 5 and 7 yr old daughter loved our chickens and we can't wait to get some new arrivals. We also found no shortage of volunteers to chicken-sit whilst we've been on hols as it's exciting for other kids and they got eggs plus a nice pressie / few quid if we were away for a week or two. Since the fox ran off with our girls yesterday, my neighbour has told me she's already missing hearing the odd clucking sound as it reminded her of when she lived in the country: she's hoping we get more too. As soon as the sun goes down, they'll go to bed and you won't hear a peep!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Kittycat .

 

I have three chickens and although they can occasionally squark loudly (usually on the arrival of an egg) they really don't make any noise at all the rest of the day. They take themselves off to bed as soon as the light starts to go and make no noise at all from then on .

 

Good luck choosing your girlies - make sure we get to see some photos!

[cherryblossom]

We have two who make little noises, and sometimes when they lay an egg they make a bit of a noise which sets off our neighbours dog, but their dog is far noisier than them.

 

That had been the main thing hubbie was worried about too, the noise had not bothered him at all, the digging up the lawn is another thing.

[quickcluck]

Hi there,

 

I have 6 lovely girls who live under my neighbours bedroom window!!! So you can guess, there's no noise problems here

[chickenanne]

There's no noise at night, but ours are loud when someone is around during the day, as they yell at you to let them out of the run to play. It depends on how tolerant your neighbours are, I guess, and ultimately on the chickens - some jsut are noisier than others!

[sparkysmum]

Hi Kittycat, I think it's only responsible to point out that not all hens are quiet and indeed some chicken keepers have had to rehome their ladies because of neighbour problems. Although I have absolutely no issues with my hens & my neighbours tell me they enjoy them, I think it's best to consult with neighbours first. I have told the story on the forum before of my friend who is woken up at all hours by chicken keeping neighbours who show her no consideration at all Indeed she has such a miserable time I never make reference to my hens at all

[Hen Watch]

Hi Kittycat,

 

My girls are quiet 99% of the time and generally very good girls. But I have to say the first time you hear an "alarm call" it can take you by surprise and you will wonder if you have bought cockerals by mistake.

 

Have you seen Bluekarin's post....?

 

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=38710

 

Mine ocassionally"alarm call" to say there is an intruder in the garden (ie. a duck or once it was the window cleaner on a ladder next door). Or get cross if there is a nestbox queue. But not very oftern.

 

In winter they are less noisy - having windows and doors shut helps of course, as does the fact that chickens body clock's work with the sun. Sleeping chicken = quiet chicken. So at dusk they are in bed (can be as early as 4pm in mid winter or as late as 10pm in high summer) and at sun rise they wake. So in summer, out of consideration to my neighbours, I lock my chickens inside their eglu and don't let them out until 7am so then I don't have to worry about any 4am alarm calls.

[Kittycat]

Thanks for all the great advice - it's nice to be forewarned and forearmed...

[Chook n Boo Mum]

We live in an area surrounded on two sides by fields and only 2 neighbours in the rest of our small terrace of cottages. My nearest neighbour was really quite "antsy" when I first suggested chooks, and was quite adamant that they would be noisy (remembers chooks & cockerels from his childhood) - but he has a reputation for getting on his high horse about anything out of the ordinary which is not his idea .I did loads of research (lots on here ) and got written "blessing" from the farmer who had got a "no livestock" stipulation put in our deeds ) and spoke to the other neighbours before I finally got my original 3. They have been mostly quiet except when the furthest neighbour's cats decide to visit, than all hell breaks loose! As soon as the cat gets the message, they are quiet again & only chunter happily to themselves. The misgog neighbour has also been outside digging worms for them in our veg patch when we are out & always takes responsibility for the feeding & bedtime routine according to his wife!

 

He was a bit off, but much less than usual when I announced my intention to get 4 ex-batts - I felt it only fair to tell him , but they are no noisier than the other three - yet!......the 4 Orpingtons who I adopted last week however are a very different kettle of fish!

 

They are really quite noisy & I can't understand why their previous owners didn't get complaints given that they lived in a very built up area. I think their is going to have to stay well away from the neighbour's side. This of course may change once they are allowed to free range out of their pen, I think they holler for attention & to be allowed out with the others in the big garden - not yet though ladies, after one of them pecked my Snowdrop & made her bleed!

 

I think what I'm trying to say is the chooks are all different, go & see them at the DTBC & talk to other owners (as you are now!!), but as a rule most chooks aren't too noisy & certainly no noisier than the traffic out the front of my house nor my 3 Labs - nor the neighbour's children who insist on screaming a lot in their games . I asked Mrs NextDoor if they were disturbed by our chooks & she said they didn't hear them - mind you she says she doesn't hear me screaming at the children - she's either deaf or lying as the walls between our houses are single brick thick, and I can hear her !!

 

Good luck with your choices, they are wonderful additions to the garden & family, I just wish we'd got them before

 

Sha x