Single hen

[JB09]

Hi all,

 

I am about to embark on my chicken journey with my new chickens and eglu arriving on Thursday. Before I do, I thought I would take to opportunity to find out from all you chicken experts out there if anyone has any advice for a novice?! I am really looking forward to their arrival but can't help feeling slightly apprehensive. Did anyone else have this feeling or is it just me?

 

Thanks

 

J

 

[Chickvic]

Hello and welcome to the forum No it's not just you! I ordered my eglu and girls and then worried for a week whether I'd done the right thing. I wish I'd had them years ago! They are funny to watch, don't require much looking after and give you an egg

Oh and when they arrive take some pics and post them up - we'd love to see your chickens and set up. Have they got names yet?

[Hen Watch]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Congrats on getting chickens, hope Thursday comes round soon for you.

 

Blimey, nervous isn't the word...... before I got mine, it was "am I doing the right thing?" constantly swirling round my head for the 6 weeks they were on order. But it was the best thing I ever did. Funniest, easiest to look after pets I've had.

 

No words of advice for a novice....... except enjoy and if there is absolutely anything you need to ask when they arrive, just ask away. We've all been there.

[Redwing]

Hi and welcome, well done for choosing an Eglu, they are fab!

 

I read a lot of the old posts on here for advice but if you get stuck post a thread and someone will always help

 

My only advice at this stage would be not to worry too much, they are very easy pets to look after and will give you lots of laughs and good times

[cluckbok]

Hi ya and welcome!

 

When we got our girls I looked at them and thought oh my goodness what have we done and I was really really worried and scared! But now I wish we had of got them sooner, we've never looked back and we have learnt so much over the past year. We love em, you get really attached and you'll never think of chicken in the same way ever again!

 

You'll be fine, if you need anything there's all of us on here to help!

[JB09]

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for the reassurance! I am really looking forward to them arriving! It is really nice to know there is people to share all my chicken queries with...

 

J

[Aggienator]

My only advice would be to join the Omlet forum, but you've done that already

 

The other thing I did was to look in the visiting section and visit one of the local people who was really supportive and lovely (You know who you are )

 

Enjoy your hens when they arrive, they really are such fun!

 

Edited to add link List of Egluowners here

[ted]

You wont regret it. Normal to be nervous. The basic needs are food drink and safe shelter. Main thing is not to worry. If you see something that you are not sure about pop a post on the forum. You will soon be reassured that most of the stuff that seems wierd to the first time chicken owner is actually part of what is normal... The amount of times I have panicked at poo colour, pecking, lying down, going to bed at funny times, making wierd noises, not eating their pellets (once they have tasted treats usually!!!!) etc etc

Just enjoy them and if you have any questions pop a post... replies are really swift...

Naming them once you have watched them for a bit is one of the first fun bits...

 

Good Luck

 

Cheers

[mags]

day18 for me

 

OH laughts that I get up in moring without offer of coffee to see they girls up in the morning

 

I find them easy to look after and I get great advice from this site

 

Mags

[Sky]

day 12 for me

 

and we are just loving it. Yes, there were doubts before and after they arrived, especially when one dog didn't behave very well but now the girls have fitted into our life perfectly and even the dog has settled down. The only problem is the time I am spending just watching the new members of our family and the time Dave has spent in making their home even better

[Happy chickens!]

Relax - you'll love being a chicken momma - and the girls will know what to do even if you don't! Comfy chair where you can watch them and an understanding family......!

[Gamebird]

Welcome to the forum JB09.

 

No, you are not alone in feeling apprehensive. I remember when I first got my chickens last March I felt excited and worried at the same time.

 

However, everything you need to know about chickens is on this forum. Just ask any question and there will be good advice from a lot of very knowledgeable chicken keepers.

[sti chick]

Have had my 12 chickens since january, and i must be honest...the first week i thought i had made a terrible mistake. "OMG i have brought 12 poohing machines" i told my poor husband, But after the a week they started to respond to me when i called them and they totally won me over. We love our girls now. Being rewarded with 12 eggs most days....what could be better! I still say 12 chickens is a lot of pooh but my veggie garden gets that.

Anyway good luck with your new chickens.

[noyan]

Got my chickens five weeks ago, can not believe we haven't always had them. Amber started laying 13 days ago had one a day since. Have three others no signs of eggs yet. already planning a bigger run so we can have more. Think this chicken thing could be addictive Next door neighbour keeps looking on enviously, his wife says no I think he is working on it though. Best of luck with your new adventure.

[OwenLdn]

Day 35 for us- (we got ours the day after Noyan)

 

So you see there are a lot of beginners here too. As Ted rightly points out- the best piece of advice it to relax- and enjoy having chickens- theres nothing that cant be sorted out with a quick question on here.

 

I bought practically everything there is to buy for chickens- really you just need food, grit, water and a safe house. Everything else can be bought when needed.

 

Its going to be fine! I had a moment in the first week where I thought “ooo eck what have I done?” But the excitement of waiting for the first egg, and getting them feeding from your hand and letting them out for a run around in the garden if you can is brilliant.

 

Good luck!

[3hens2cats]

Hiya

 

Day 29 for us:

 

we are all thoroughly enjoying it and wonder why we waited so long to order our girls .

 

The kids love them and my 4 year old is up first every morning to let them out, check for her breakfast and give her chicken a stroke.

 

They do have such funny little ways and it is amazing how quickly they become part of the family (so much so we have trouble keeping ours out of the kitchen).

 

Enjoy them, and heres to many years of happy, stress free hen keeping.

 

Naomi