yttocs Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 hi Im thinking of starting to have a couple of chickens. I work shifts and the wife is of work due to just having a baby, and she has most of her time taken up by the baby, with it being this time of year would it still be fair to have chickens as i dont think i'd see them as when i go to work its dark and the same when i return home, so to give them a run out in the garden wouldnt really happen untill the weekend, and i wouldnt be able to collect the eggs untill i returned home from work. Can some one send me some ideas Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I suppose it depends how keen your OH is to get chickens . If you undertake to do the cleaning, it wouldn't be very time-consuming for her to let them out during the day and collect the eggs. If she's not that keen (which would be understandable if she has a new baby!) I'd maybe wait till the Spring . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yttocs Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 they would be in the run alday as id leave the door open for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 That would probably be OK then. Lots of Omleteers leave their hens in the Omlet run while they're at work all day. It would be good if they could get some freeranging time at weekends but at this time of year lots of Omleteers' hens don't get out much . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I think you could easily get them now as they're by far the easiest pet I've ever had. That said it sounds like you'd be in the same boat as the rest of us this time of year, you'd hardly ever see them which is half the fun when you first get them. Plus if you get pure breeds they'll hardly be laying and any hybrids at point of lay are likely to take a little longer to get going. It's hard but I'd be inclined to wait until February or March if you can bear to, mainly because then you can be out there with them and get to know them. But whatever you decide, you get to come on here any old time, except that we're quite demanding and we like pictures. Particularly of babies and chickens! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I got mine in November and work full time. I had a few days off to begin with and its hard not seeing them. The eggs are fine just pick them up when you get home. You have the weekends to clean them and make friends. Mine took no time at all. If your wife doesn't have time to do anything don't worry they will look after themselves but a lovely pet for when your little one gets older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yttocs Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 Im wanting to start even more now, just waiting to get a second hand cube as there a little cheaper,as I dont fancy getting a wooden coop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I go out to work at 7.30am don't get back till 5.00pm officially so mine are in the run all day so I only get to see them a the weekend so at the moment they only get an hour or so on a Saturday but they get from about 11am till dark on Sundays to FR. I've started to put a cabbage or pumpkin in the run for them in the week so aleast they get something to play with and eat other than pelletts as for the eggs mine get collected when I let them out if they have laid if not I collect them when I get in at night that applies summer or winter this week for example 3 morning there as been eggs before 7:30 the rest of the week there hasn't as for keeping chucks all i can say is I only regret is that I didn't start keeping them sooner time wise looking after them only take 15-20 mins a day on average bit longer on big clean days. but don't expect to get much work done when you are at home they are great time wasters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
