sammyantha Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Good morning! I'm new but have actually been lurking for about a month every now and again. I'm new to chicken keeping and today is the day that my Eglu and chooks are arriving. I'm so excited, it's unreal, and everybody at work and my friends and family know it's "chicken day" today - i've received a couple of texts and emails saying "happy chicken day!". I first become interested in keeping hens 10 years ago when I was about 15 and stayed with a friend for a week while my parents went away to sort out some family business. Her family had both chickens and ducks and I was so surprised by how friendly and inquisitive (sp?) they were. They were such funny little characters, you could spend hours watching them. I've not really had the chance to pursue keeping chickens since then, but have been really into animals - I've had 3 rabbits (although I now just have the one, Charcoal, because Ember and Cinder are sadly no longer with us) and I have 4 cats. I was lucky enough to spend some time volunteering for an animal rescue last year, which was fantastic. I mainly worked with the cats, but also had the chance to spend time with the bunnies, dogs and some of their farm animals. Anyhow, that's enough from me, but just wanted to say hi and I hope that I can make a positive contribution to the forum! Sam - arriving today! - arriving today! - Charcoal my house rabbit My kitties - Magrat, Pica, Buster and Wiggler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Welcome to the forum Sam......and yes we all spend hours watching our chooks (when we aren't on here of course!!) Good luck with your new girls....we are awaiting photos already !! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Welcome to the forum Sam Keeping chickens is the greatest, they are so much fun. There is a chickens section further down on the main forum menu, and we'd all love to see photos of your girls when they arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyantha Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 Hi Sha & Debs. Wow, quick replies! I've got my camera at the ready (although need to find some batteries that aren't dead) and it's now beginning to feel very very real and exciting. I'm going to disappear now and get ready because my delivery slot is 11-2 so I want to makse sure I'm prepared and not still wearing my pyjamas! Thanks ever so much for your messages, I was a bit nervous about posting what with being a newbie, so I feel a bit more relaxed now! I'll update you all soon and post some pics! Sam x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Hi, Welcome, and Congratualtions on today!! If you are anything like me, you will be sitting by the window looking out everytime you hear a sound, hoping it will be the Omlet Van! Hope you have nothing else planned for today or the rest of the weekend other than lots of chook watching!!! Have you got names yet?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Just moved you to the Chockens section where you can chat about your new arrivals - and ask any questions you are sure to have! Welcome to the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 HAPPY CHICKEN DAY!! And welcome to the forum xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Welcome to the Forum Oh HAPPY CHICKEN DAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Congratulations - I'm a relative newbie too and have found everyone on the forum fantastically helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 ***CONGRATULATIONS*** Hello and welcome to the world of the Chook!. You'll be glad you did.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 HI Sam Are they there yet!? Just wanted to say hi and hello to another Northampton Omleteer (used to live there). I feel a Nortants meet coming on! Good luck with your ladies and I will check back for the pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 HI Sam I feel a Nortants meet coming on! Ooh yes, we could have a BBQ up the field! Welcome to the forum Sam, are they here yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 HI Sam I feel a Nortants meet coming on! Ooh yes, we could have a BBQ up the field! Welcome to the forum Sam, are they here yet? We could use the baths as massive cool boxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Welcome to the forum, Sam . I take it you're not online telling us all about your eglu and chickens because you're out in the garden watching them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Welcome to the forum, Sam. Have they arrived yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Hi and welcome! They must be here by now, where are the pictures? *impatient toe tapping* BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyantha Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 I'm back! Thanks everyone, it's been a great day. Sorry about the delay, I've just been spending all my time watching the chooks! They arrived about 11am and the guy from Omlet was really nice and gave me lots of tips whilst he was putting together the run. When he brought the girls out I pretty much fell in love instantly, they were gently clucking and were really calm. They're beautiful and so soft. I then spent hours watching them and even introduced my cats (they were pretty intrigued and sat watching them from outside the run and even sat on top of the eglu looking down, the chooks were very non-plussed and ignored them! When my husband got home from work we set up our small portable bunny run just in front of the eglu run so that we could sit on the grass in front with the run door open and they very quickly became quite happy about hopping out and clambering over my legs (I think they were a bit more comfortable with me than my hubby because I'd been watching them for about 5 hours!) We came inside and left them alone for a few hours (which was really hard because I could have stayed there forever!) but figured they could do with some time alone. When it got dark I went out and they had made their way into the eglu and snuggled up together (one was actually sitting on the other two even though there was loads of space!) So, we've called them Ethel, Gertrude (Gerty) and Mavis! Gerty is the Miss Pepperpot and Ethel and Mavis are the gingernut rangers. Gerty is definitely the boss at the moment; she's a bit bigger than the others, a bit more vocal, more confident and she looks like she's closer to laying (big red comb and the omlet man said he thinks she'll start laying very soon). Ethel and Mavis are a little more quiet and don't explore as much as Gerty. They also seem to like laying really close, practically on each other! I'm going to attempt to upload some photos now..... Sorry if I get it wrong, I've not done this before. My hubby has got some really good photos but they're on his laptop and he's using it at the moment, so I'll choose the best over the weekend and upload them. Anyway, it's been such a good day, I'm over the moon. Can't wait until the morning to let them out and see them again! Going to go to bed now. Thanks ever so much for everyone's lovely messages, I'm sure I'll have loads of questions over the next few weeks. Night night! Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 What absolutely lovely girlies they are! Welcome and thanks for the pics (we love 'em)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 What a lovely first day you've had . They look like lovely girls - they're very pretty . (I agree with Mr Omlet, Gerty's comb does look nice and big - just watch out for her crouching then it won't be long .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyantha Posted August 15, 2009 Author Share Posted August 15, 2009 Well, I could hardly contain myself this morning - since about 4 I've been itching to go and see them. I made myself hang on until about 7 because I figured this is the time I'll be letting them out during the week so a bit of consistency might be good for them. I opened the eggport to have a little stroke and they were really calm, a little bit of gently clucking (I love that noise) and then Gerty shuffled out of the way and there was an resting between two of the roosting bars! I felt very, very proud and whipped it out and gave them all a bit of a stroke and opened the Eglu door. I was surprised that they didn't all pile out, I watched them for a while and as I was leaving they were casually wandering out slowly. When H is up we'll spend a few hours with them again - I want to give them as much time as possible particularly over the next few days so that they feel they can trust us. Anyway, I brought the egg inside and weighed it - 45g and took it upstairs to my husband whose first question was "have you washed this, does it have poo on it?" lol Here's a pic of our first egg courtesy of Gerty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Congratulations on your first Once they settle in they will fall out of the eglu as if they've been leaning on the door if they are anything like my 3 originals....after a few days there was no stately exiting thourgh the door, more "BUNDLE...... where's the grub...snaffle ..snaffle...and the glug.....slurp.... slurp..... and the grub...oh hello mum...snaffle...slurp " Judging by the flying leaps the babies used this morning I would say they are adopting the same attitude!! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Congratulations, your girls are beautiful, and to get an egg so soon is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Congratulations on the egg (Tell your OH you're not supposed to wash eggs .) Enjoy your first full day with your girls - plenty of photos now . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Oooh what gorgeous girls - happy belated chicken day and welcome! Lovely pics - we Omleteers do love a few pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Congrats on your new girls Love the names & the pics lol Oh and Congrats on your first Egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
