WarrensWorld Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Apologies we're sure this has been posted before, but why did you choose chickens. We did because Super Market, free range fresh eggs weren't fresh. So we bought our 4 Warrens, just for eggs. Now we find that what excellent animal companions they are. As a toddler I remember my maternal Grand father keeping chickens in the back yard, I was never frightened of them at all. it's just taken me a long time to get back to chooks, Thanks for reading.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 ex bats. D To give them a happy retirement, no other reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Saw some chickens on holiday in Wales (us, not the chickens ) and the idea just wouldn't go away . No regrets nearly 2 years later . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 I was jumping on the Good Life bandwagon I did have chickens as a child though I can't imagine life without the chooks now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 (edited) I don't know exactly when or why I first wanted chickens.. but I've wanted a few hens in the garden since childhood.. for one reason or another I never got the chance but took the bull by the horns last year and amist plenty of disapproval bought my first 4 girls.. now have 13! Choose them for a mixture of producing heathly eggs and as pets.. now believe they are one of the best pets to have Edited June 15, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mags Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 I looked after my friend's chickens when I was house sitting about 5years ago and loved it . Saw eglu web site about 3 years ago but waited until we moved house to get my girls Now planning on adding more to my flock ( i am an addict ! ) Just bought a temp coop for introductions and will use as broody pen afterwards Hope to get new chickens within next couple of weeks Mags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 As a child I used to stay on a farm in the holidays and they fascinated me Then when my mum passed away I decided to get them to give myself something else to focus on. Better than pills anyday and the best pets I have ever had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 My grandmother kept chickens and geese. Quite a big flock from memory, around 20 birds I say. The chickens were for eggs, the geese for the table. Never once did I consider keeping chooks myself, well not until 2005, when OH muted the idea and kept showing me pictures of the Omlet Eglu and saying what fun it would be. Didn't see it at the time, but humoured her and splashed out for a . To say it was a life transforming moment is not to understate it . I've loved every minute of it . Like many on the forum, we've had the odd disaster, but we learned something each time. I'm now totally hooked, OH would say besotted, and happily spend hours on 'chicken duties'. We now have a big WIR, and next week should see the hatching of our first chicks , thereby starting a new capture in this most addictive of hobbies. I think my grandmother would be quite proud . Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 My grandmother kept chickens and geese. Quite a big flock from memory, around 20 birds I say. The chickens were for eggs, the geese for the table. Never once did I consider keeping chooks myself, well not until 2005, when OH muted the idea and kept showing me pictures of the Omlet Eglu and saying what fun it would be. Didn't see it at the time, but humoured her and splashed out for a . To say it was a life transforming moment is not to understate it . I've loved every minute of it . Like many on the forum, we've had the odd disaster, but we learned something each time. I'm now totally hooked, OH would say besotted, and happily spend hours on 'chicken duties'. We now have a big WIR, and next week should see the hatching of our first chicks , thereby starting a new capture in this most addictive of hobbies. I think my grandmother would be quite proud . Andrew Yaaaaaa there speaks a true devotee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted June 15, 2009 Author Share Posted June 15, 2009 Thank you all, it's glad to know we are not alone. Chooks forever... and 'Jack Russeklls......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 My husband found the Eglu website and suggested chickens to me one lunchtime - by the end of lunch I had ordered a and two chickens!! Chickens are like dogs but I get eggs!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 We saw a cockeral at Jimmy's farm and fell in love with him (though we cannot have one because too noisy!), we didn't think we would be able to have chickens because of our postage stamp garden, but we've plenty of room for our eglu. They are the best pet we've had and are a joy to watch. We were surprised at how friendly they are we thought they would peck us! We couldn't ever imagine being without them. We got them to be our pets and for their lovely fresh eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Because I could! Omlet and the Eglu makes it so easy, I'd never considered chickens until I came across the Omlet website and then suddenly it all seemed possible. I might have dithered a bit longer but as I got an Eglu voucher as a housewarming present, the decision was made! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 I love all animals and would have a mini farm here is space permitted! OH works with thousands of chickens every day and tends to bring his work home with him he woke me up early one morning with a surprise......chocolates? =no! flowers? = no! ......... 3 little chicks on my lawn! And our love for chickens just grew from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 I read a book where these people had chickens and it suddenly dawned on me that I needed chickens! Mum didn't need much convincing and we are now happy owners of three gorgeous girlies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saracook31 Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 Saw someone keeping three chooks in there garden one day, seemed a nice idea. Next thing I've bought my large coop off ebay & had three of my own! That quickly doubled! They were so fascinating to watch & the fresh eggs were a bonus! It really is true when they say they taste different! Unfortunately, these 6 were killed by mr fox. However.. I couldn't live without, so have built a really big secure run & now have another 9 chooks! Each has its own sweet personality! I could watch them for hours! And we're now getting enough eggs to eat and to sell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 My grandad kept chickens for eggs and meat and it's something that seemed pretty normal to me. It was always a dream to keep some poultry but I never thought about keeping them in an urban garden until I heard a radio interview with Omlet describing these plastic chicken houses and how you could set them up in most sizes of gardens. After several months of saving my pennies I ordered my purple cube and 6 lovely chookies. I've never looked back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I love all animals and would have a mini farm here is space permitted! OH works with thousands of chickens every day and tends to bring his work home with him he woke me up early one morning with a surprise......chocolates? =no! flowers? = no! ......... 3 little chicks on my lawn! And our love for chickens just grew from there. That present is I also love all animals and hope to get a big enough garden we can have sheep, geese, etc. I heard about the bhwt and just knew i had to rescue some girls, my mum, brother in law and best friend all went and rescued some so we ended up homing about 20. I couldn't believe how much i loved these little bald creatures and my love for chickens just grew from there although ex-batts will always have an extra special place in my heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Had chickens as a child and so they stirred memories and smiles. Interested in animal behaviour and chickens, as domesticated flock animals, show a very simplified set of rules. Had read a lot of journalism about the passion. Fell in love with pictures of daft-looking chickens: fluffy balls of wool, no neck feathers, funny feet. Had moved house and suddenly had the perfect garden for them - loved the idea of looking out of the window. Wanted my little girl to understand where her food is coming from...... And now? Eventually, I would like a little bit of land and the chance to rescue ex-batts. I am so much in love with the whole process of having chickens, even being on the forum and having the licence to be a chicken bore, looking after them when they are poorly or playing with them when they are well. It was the best decision of my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigopurple Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 We always had cats when I lived at home so I do like to have pets in the house. We recently had a load of building work and the guinea pigs had to go and live with my mom and dad. However while they were there my dad fell in love with them and we realised that they have a better life there. They never really got used to the hustle and bustle of my two children. Also cos my downstairs is very open plan now there was nowhere to put them withouth them being in the kitchen. I did consider putting them outside in a hutch but they have lived inside for all their lives (3 years old) and I just am not sure they could cope with a winter and it seems a bit cruel. Anyway all of this left us with a pet vacancy....Dh allergic to cats and I dont think a dog would suit our lifestyle and we did not want anything that would live indoors. And then I stumbled across BHWT and it went from there. I love them!! They are easier than the guinea pigs, I have only had them two weeks and they come up to me and they eat out of your hand and I can bring them running from the other end of the garden with a tap of the treat pot!!! Love it!!!! I walked down the garden at the weekend with the three of them fussing around my feet and thought this is really lovely I think its going to be much harder in Winter but I think as long as I am prepared and organised it should be OK. I have found parts of it stressful, the pecking order mainly and I was hoping to free range them much more than I have but DS who is 2 and not much taller than them finds them a bit "cary". Overall though I think they are amazing and would love to have more but we are sticking with three for the time being and seeing how we get on through the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wooky Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I'd always loved the chickens my parents had but thought it wasn't practical for me to keep any as I'm right in the middle of a city, although we do have outdoor space. Vague thoughts of converting one of the outside sheds was brushed aside when I saw the eglu as it's just perfect. We've only had our chooks just over a month and I'm amazed how sociable and chatty they are, they really are fantastic pets and the eggs are an added bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooties Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 A few yrs ago I saw an advert in the local paper, and it tugged at my heartstrings... Hens looking for a home Can you give a home to some ex-battery chickens? These hens have never felt the grass under their feet or the sun on their backs And it all went from there..... took a few yrs and the discovery of the omlet website, but now have 2 ex-batts (originally 3 but one sadly died) and already can't help wanting more chooks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 We kept hens when I was a child and I pretty much lived on eggs in the summer. I missed the freshness of the eggs when I left home and OH was quite keen to get them. It took us a long time but when we heard about the Eglu we thought that we could get one of those into our small but overcrowded garden. We then won £500 on the premium bonds and the rest is history. We are now looking at getting some more to follow on from the original ones as they retire from egg laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer+simon Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 it all started with hugh chicken run, then we watched another programme on telly about the poor little things,,,, then i saw some at the garden centre and that was it. iwanted chickens.... we researched it all and they were definatly for us.... seemed to take years for the eglu to arive and now it seems like we havehad them forever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I was given 3 for a birthday present ( expensive as have bought 2 eglus since) - it was only when I got them that I realised I'd always wanted them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
