ValerieR Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Hi all I am considering getting a couple of chickens .. have been thinking about it for a while and hubby is fine with it - but he says it is "pointless" as "all you get is eggs" and they are no use as pets as they have "no personality"! I have told him he is wrong.. but I don't really know! From browsing this forum it is clear that people become very attached to their girls ... is that because they do have distinct personalities , like cats and dogs? Is any breed more friendly than any other? I would love to hear your views and experiences so I can set hubby straight! Thanks Val Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathrynB Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 We have had our eglu and chickens for just 3 weeks and they definitely have personalities. The Gingernut Ranger (Nugget) is the friendliest of our two, but both pace up and down the run to be let out the minute that they see you, and once let out to free range will follow you round the garden like little dogs! They also peck at the window of the back door to be let in and will come in if we let them. I am allergic to all furry animals and wondered whether chickens would be as cuddly as a cat or dog, but they definitely are. Would thoroughly recommend getting them - best thing we ever did. The eggs are a bonus really! Go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Hi, My hens do have their own personalities, one is quite gentle and follows me around making soft clucking noises and will sit on my knee and enjoys being stroked if I sit down long enough. Another is very inquisitive and will walk into the house to investigate the kitchen. She will sit and 'talk' to one of our cats and has been known to follow him around the garden. One is quite greedy and lazy and loves nothing more than to sprawl out and sunbathe (she looks like some sort of accident victim!) One is an escape artist and another chases one of our cats! They all have their distinctive 'clucks', too, and I can almost tell now which hen it is talking if I close my eyes! Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Val, you go for it, chickens do have personalities. My Stella is docile, wanders around the garden at a slow pace and is the last to leave my side when the others have long gone once treats are all eaten. Henrietta is pretty, bit more flighty, and loves to jump on the eglu so as to be eye level with me. Amber will jump on my back at every opportunity if I crouch down. The most inquisitive of all my chooks. Henny, is top chook and lets the others know it. All follow my round the garden like little dogs. All get under my feet as soon as I get a spade out (as they know digging and worms will follow). They are not stupid either, they will sit by the kitchen door and tap with their beaks for attention. I wouldn't be without them now and still 2 years down the line they are still just as funny to watch as they were when they first arrived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Oh yes, they are all different! Mine have wonderful personalities, Gilda & Gerty are very curious and a little bit naughty, and they are the keenest on having human contact. Flo and Ada both rather timid and anxious, Mary is bossy and grumpy, and Molly is the gentle giant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Aw, thanks for the quick replies everyone! I think I will go for it. It looks like there are a couple of breeds particularly recommended as pets - the ones provided by Omlet with the eglu - but unfortunately I am in Scotland so well outwith the delivery area! My 7 year old son is desperately keen. My 4 cats will just have to put up with it! I love the idea of them following me round the garden as I plant and weed etc ... my cats already do that so I will feel like a real Pied Piper! Thank God the neighbours can't see into my back garden - I'm sure they already think I'm a nutter. If they saw me with that lot in my entourgae they would probably try to have me sectioned! Val Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK69 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Hi Val, where abouts are you in sunny scotland ? and yes chickens do have personality!!! some more than others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Ours have got plenty of personality, we've got Rosie the greedy one, always gets the treats first and catches them in mid air like a dog! really impressive! We've got Matilda the cuddly one, who is easy to pick up and stroke etc and we've got Pecky the follower who will just copy what the others do! and you can't pick her up as she runs off, she literally is a chicken! We love em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 My Maude is the boss, very brave and a good mother hen to the other girls but she also loves to sit on my lap for a cuddle. Fatima is a greedy madame and when you give her a treat, she complains that she wants more!! I think she would eat til she burst if we let her! Lucy is a bossy madame and I think she has her eye on the top chicken job. Eleanore is just a mentalist and does mad dashes round the garden for no reason! I wonder if someone dropped her on her head when she was an egg!? Bea is a total sweetheart, sooooooooooo gentle! Martha and Pru are like naughty teenagers and very noisy! They are full of personality and I love them all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Welcome to the forum, Val . Yipee, another Scottish Omleteer . If you're anywhere near Edinburgh, I can recommend a good breeder . And if you do and you're feeling brave, come and join us in an Omlet get together in Edinburgh on Saturday . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Chickens definitely have personalities, I swear you will never laugh at a pet so much! my lot - Ella - big boss chicken, thinks she's a dog, begs for food sat next to the dog, drinks out the dogs bowl. Bok boks back when you talk to her. Eats anything in sight, did live with us in the house for over a month so she's very tame. Coco - Skittish, likes to dig, makes squeaky noises. Star - Daft! runs around the garden like her pants are on fire, likes to stand with her feet in my crocs. Misty - likes to creep up on people, honks like ivor the engine. Acorn - walks like her feet are too big for her, likes to make holes that fill up with water from the hosepipe and then plays in the puddle for ages, very tame - you have to step over her to get past her....she will not move out the way! Willow - sweetest little chicken I've so far met - jumps on your feet for a ride when you are walking, follows me everywhere and thinks she's a parrot - forever jumping on my shoulders & back. Loves cuddles and being touched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Hello Valerie, I have 9 ex-batt little darlings and they each have a different character Even the 3 new girls, who have only been out of their cages for 4 weeks tomorrow, have their own personalities and their own voices. Before I got mine, I was dubious about how much character a hen could have, but wanted to give a good home to some ex-batts anyway. Now I know they really are full of character and make excellent pets - they'll have your OH wrapped around their wingtips in no time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 They have bags of personality! I have to admit that I was dubious too, but within a week I was totally smitten. Mabel, my top hen, ambles around the garden like Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather', occasionally doling out disciplinary pecks. Maude is Mabel's sister and sidekick, much more animated and nosey Doris is the gobby one, yelling her head off if she lays an egg, or a cloud goes over the garden, or she hears...well, anything Belinda is the boldest, and has a real heart for adventure! I have rescued that chicken from various catastrophies Mini is my bottom hen, and an absolute darling. She regularly sits on my shoulder chatting to me while I hang out the washing. She also makes a noise similair to a goose . Maeve is our new baby chick, and she is unbelievably tame and friendly. She likes to nestle against your neck and preen you Get some hens, you'll be hooked inside a week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mags Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I think my nieghbours think am a bit mad LOL Cassie a bit quiet but very pretty Tish very jumpy Tilly out the eglu first thing and very nosy Babs last in bed and a bit bossy -makes her self known mags If your near Fife , your welcome to come and vist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 Hi all I can hardly wait after hearing all that! I am in Polmont which is halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh (near Falkirk) - its about 20 odd miles away from either city. Recommendations for a local breeder would be appreciated! I'll keep all my daft newbie questions for a separate thread. We have already decided on names BTW - (my son's idea) - we are going to name them after my older sisters - Joyce Janice and Sheila. LOL they are going to be horrified - they hate my cats - I'm sure chickens will send them into ORBIT! Val Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Hi Val . I got my girls from George Ogilvie at Ballencrieff Mains Farm near Longniddry. Ballencrieff Mains, Longniddry, East Lothian. EH32 0PJ Tel: 01875 870238 Hope that's the right number, he seems to have a few different businesses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 thanks, ANH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mags Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 i picked up part of my run near Falkirk I got my girls at same place as ANH he has lovely chickens Mags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 They all most certainly have very individual personalities. They take over your life and your hearts and we certainly know where we stand in the pecking order in our house Henrietta is very friendly, she tries to sneak in the house as much as possible and would happily sit on the sofa all day with OH and me. Edwina is quite hyper and a little skittish but also very affectionate, she is very talkative and she is our top girl. Martha is our fatty, but she still does everything at 100 miles an hour, she loves dustbathing and digging for worms. Florence is our cheeky monkey, she even managed to get under the fence next door once and i was absolutely frantic and she was eating next doors plants and had no idea what all the fuss was about when we finally tracked her down. She is quite independent and will happily go off on her own without the others, but she also loves a cuddle and will come running if you call her!! See....all very different and all fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
