4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[newbi]

Hi, I've separated from my husband and he's left me with his 2 chickens & Eglu (he's moved into an apartment). I didn't have much to do with the chicken's whilst we were married and I'm now finding it quite difficult to keep them.

 

Can anyone give me any advice on how to get motivated about looking after them and some good advice on how best to maintain them? i.e. how often should I be feeding them (worried I'm feeding them too much), how often should I clean the Eglu? Is it ok if they've not been out of the Eglu all day (now that it's dark in the morning and evenings there's not as much opportunity to let them out)?

 

I really want to try my best with them as my son loves them - I've never been much of an animal person but everyone seems to love chickens!!

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Thanks

[Egluntyne]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry you find yourself in this situation.

 

Basic management:

 

Fill their feeders with layers pellets every day so that they can help themselves ad lib.

(If you have rats in the area, it is a good idea to bring the food in at night).

 

Make sure they have clean drinking water every day.

 

Collect the eggs every day.

 

Tidy the nest box ( ie poo pick and discard) every day.

 

Empty the poo tray twice a week.

 

Give the Eglu a mini clean weekly ( I use a watering can for rinsing) and a major scrub out around every month to six weeks. With just 2 chickens, every six weeks should be enough.

 

If they free range, remember to have them back in the run before dark. A handful of sweetcorn will lure them in.

 

You can give them extras such as cooked pasta, rice, potatoes, tomatos, etc. Never give raw potatoes or their peelings, or avocado ( as if!) as they contain a toxin which ican be lethtal to birds.

 

Best of luck. You will soon get fond of them.

[greenfreek]

Spend a couple of hours outside with them with a warm coat on and a handful of treats. you'll soon be smitten. they'll have you laughing at their antics in not time.

 

Best of luck. xx

[TAJ]

Whereabouts are you? You might find someone on here lives close and is happy to come and advise/help you.

 

Good luck.

 

Tracy

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm sorry to hear that too . Egluntyne's given all the advice you need so I'll just add a couple of thoughts. I think if you spend some time with your chickens you'll find them therapeutic and entertaining and I'm sure you'll become very fond of them . Have you handled them yet? You could try giving them a stroke once they're sleepy in the eglu or even taking them out for a cuddle. Take treats (like mixed corn if your husband had some) out to them in the same container each day and they'll soon come running to you at the sight of it . If you sit in the garden with treats in your hand, they'll probably jump on your knees. Give them cooked spaghetti if you want a laugh - they're hilarious when they eat it .

 

You can't overfeed them on pellets - they'll just eat what they need. You can overfeed treats though which may result in fat hens who won't lay so well .

 

(I used to empty the poo tray once a week when I had 3 . I'm obviously a bit slovenly .)

[CluckyBucks]

Hello, sorry to hear about your situation

 

(hugs)

 

Im sure that you will grow to love them eventually once you see their individual personalities, and as Egluntyne pointed out, thats basically the list of all that needs to be done.

 

Try to handle your hens daily so they become tame if they arent already.

 

Best of luck

 

xx xx

[C&T]

Is it ok if they've not been out of the Eglu all day (now that it's dark in the morning and evenings there's not as much opportunity to let them out)?

 

Hi,

 

Ours are in the run all day, 5 days a week now the clocks have gone back. (We have 2 chickens in a non-extended run). They are fine - although may try to guilt trip you by acting as though they should be outside free ranging all the time!

 

Only thing with being in the run, is I try to give them plenty of greens - cabbages, spinach or whatever is reduced in the supermarket - just to supplement their diet.

 

Hope everything works out for you.

[Olly]

You are probably feeling pretty demotivated for all sorts of reasons at the moment, however I must say that I find chickens a great stress-reliever!

 

Some good advice above, all I would add is - don't worry about them too much.

 

I had three in an Eglu and only emptied the poo-tray once a week, too. My girls are stuck in their run all day now, and only get out to free-range at weekends. If I'm away at a weekend, they don't get a proper clean out at all, just what I can manage on a weekday before work which is usually emptying the poo tray, and chucking a bit of clean aubiose in the nesting box. They will survive, and to be honest I think we owners probably worry more about cleaning than chickens do, they're not too fastidious. Clean water and enough food are the main things.

 

I do hope that you will grow to love the hens as you get to know them better, I don't know how old your son is but maybe he could be persuaded to do some of the feeding and watering.

 

Do ask if you have any problems or questions, you'll get lots of advice on here.

[Space Chick]

I would echo what others have said.

 

Spend some time in the garden with them on the weekends with your son and if you enjoy them together I think it won't be long before you are attached to them.

 

Good luck

[Chicken Shirl]

Just to say sorry you find yourself in this situation. I for one have been there and I'm sure that many on the forum have been to. Everything has been said about what to do with your lovely chooks. Relax and enjoy them with your son. They will soon be eating out of your hand and will be your best friends. Good Luck {hugs} If you need us you know where we are.

[jomeena]

As your worried about them your on your way to being hooked. If your son can help with them im sure they will be good therapy for you both.

Just take one day at a time. Good luck xx

[newbi]

Thank you so much everyone - that was the boost I was needing just to help me on my way.

 

I don't work tomorrow so me and my son who's 3 are planning a morning of cleaning out the Eglu and spending some quality time with the chucks.

 

I'm so glad I joined the forum - it's so helpful. I don't know anyone else who has them so good to know I can asks anything I need on here.

 

I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

Thanks again xxx

[Purplemaniacs]

I hope you and your son enjoy your day with the chucks. Once you get in a routine cleaning out the eglu is easy.

 

When we got our chucks someone suggested feeding them treats from a dish not by hand to prevent them pecking little hands by mistake as they think there is food in the hand. I bought a metal dish which I use for all their treats, I only need to rattle it and they come running, very useful when you need to get them back into their run.

 

My granddaughter was 4 when we got our chucks and using a dish to feed them treats has worked very well.

 

Good luck if you have any more questions just ask, there is always someone on here with the answer.

 

Chrissie

[Dappy Chick]

Sorry to hear about your situation.

 

I bet once you have spent the day with them you will want more

 

I didn't even want chickens I was absolutely terrified of them when my OH got 7. We now have over 40 of all different shapes & sizes and I absolutely adore them. I spend hours with them now and use them as my stress relief. Some of them fly onto my shoulder and sit with me for ages.

 

Loads of people on here are always willing to help - this is a really friendly website.

 

Let us know how your day went

[chick wiggle]

Hi newbi, once again all advice has been given, just wanted to say hello and welcome to the forum and you are not alone with your chickens! As has been said, if you live close to any one of us we would be more than happy to come and help or you would be more than welcome to come and see us

Sandie x

[cluckingmad]

Hi newbi

 

just wanted to offer my support as well, especially given the difficult situation you're in *hugs*. Chickens are very therapeutic, nothing wamrs yuor heart quite like a pair of fluffy bundles hurtling down to see you when you come into the garden and they're free ranging

 

Not sure if I've missed it a post somewhere, but where abouts are you? Sure one of us could pop over and give you a hand if you'd like

[BocBoc]

Stick at it and you'll get there (and I bet it won't take long!) You'll soon settle into a routine and if the eggs aren't rewarding enough, watching your chooks mooching around the garden will certainly make you smile.

 

Good luck with your Eglu and chicken day - let us know how you get on.

 

[Plum]

Good luck with your chicken keeping and it will be a comfort to your little boy. Good idea to visit another forum member or go to a hen party.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

How was your day Newbi? I hope all went well

 

Welcome to the forum from me too, I'm always up for a visit in either direction if you are nearby

 

Sha x

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Hi Newbie and welcome.

Glad you've found the forum helpful. We all started sometime and it's amazing how quickly you pick up things. After 19 months we've found that we know more than the vet at times (their confession ) . It opens up all sorts of conversations as well.

 

Just ask anything you want. There'sd always someone close to hand.

[newbi]

Hi everyone - well my day of bonding with the chucks and cleaning out the Eglu went really well. It was so much easier that I had expected it to be and my son really enjoyed helping out. It was a really good activity for us to do together - it made it much more fun.

 

I think the chucks really enjoyed it as well as I took everyone's advice and bought a little treat bowl - by the end of the day they'd figured out exactly what that was for!!!

 

It's a shame that it's now so dark in the evenings when I get home from work or I'd be going out each night to spend a bit more time with them.

 

My son is spending this weekend with his Dad so I'll be looking for the chucks to keep me company. Hopefully it will be a nice enough weekend and I can sit outside with a cuppa with them.

 

Thanks everyone for your warm welcome and very much needed advice.

 

A few people have asked where I live - I'm in Scotland. I live in Fife - just outside Edinburgh.

xxx

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm really glad to hear you're enjoying your girls . There's something satisfying about cleaning out an eglu, isn't there ? Wish cleaning out my own house gave me the same feeling .

 

You're not a million miles away from me. I'm in south Edinburgh, not too far from that well known landmark, Ikea . There are a couple of Omleteers in Fife, I'm sure .

[sparkysmum]

Hello, I'm sorry I missed the beginning of your thread and sorry too about your situation.Men Don't worry about your chicks, the basic management doesn't take too long & they are quite forgiving I'm sure they will quickly grow on you, I know mine did although in the early days I had a few "oh no what have I done days". We're not too far away if you'd like to get away from it all for an hour or two. Good luck & keep checking in on the forum, it's a motivator in itself. Best wishes, Ax

[Olly]

Glad to hear it went well - and a cuppa with the chooks sounds like the idea way to spend the day at the weekend. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

[Christian]

Hello newbi and welcome to the forum *waves*

 

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better about the hens. Sorry top hear that you are having a difficult time of things at present. Chicken watching is very therapeutic as others have said

 

Any questions, just shout!