Imogen Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Well, less than a week to go until Christmas and some lucky (or is it unlucky? I think lucky, and I'm ever so jealous!!) eglu owners have already experianced a fall of snow. I'm extremely tempted to put some tinsel around the top of the eglu run or maybe so ivy because I want the girlies to feel festive but I've resisted! Today, I was decorating the Christmas tree and putting angel lights up in rooms and strings of dried oranges above the Aga and attaching mistletoe to doors etc etc etc and the chicks found it fantastic!!! At the sight of one of the Christmas trees (which you can see from the garden through a window in the sitting room), Gerty and Flo ran the length of the garden and stood in awe at the window, clucking constantly! They stood for quite a length of time - I don't think they had seen anything like it before! They are becoming more and more confident - my mum came downstairs this morning to find Gerty standing in the kitchen after leaping through the back door!! Probably trying to spot an appropriate place to put her little chicken stocking up.... Have any of your girls got into the Christmas mood yet? Or had an amusing experiance with the decorations/Christmas trees? And is anyone getting their girls anything for Christmas? I'm sure my two while be thrilled with the sprouts left over from Christmas dinner, and I've seen some of the other posts about appropriate chicken gifts (plus, we've donated some money to that Oxfam thing where they send a bunch of chickens over to Africa). So, any chicken related Christmas stories (or how your chicks reacted to snow) would be great (and I don't want to hear about any chickens on the dinner table! ) Merry Christmas!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 Hi Ice Skating Princess, Glad to see you're into the festive spirit! My girls had snow a few weeks ago and didn't know quite what to make of it. Jenny must have thought someone had stolen the grass by the way she stood staring at the white stuff that used to be green ! They didn't like getting their little starfish feet cold when they walked in it either. There are a couple of postings about the snow last month in the Eglu section as well as this one (see the sticky called Queries about the hens and eglus in the snow and cold - http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=219) and they point out that the Eglu door and eggport hatch freeze shut when it snows or there is a heavy frost so beware out there and cover the hatch so you can get those eggs out in the morning! As for Christmas, I've run out of money ! I was going to buy the girls a grain feeder which didn't make so much mess but I'm afraid they will have to wait until the New Year. They will get a whole tin of sweetcorn on Christmas Day but they won't touch sprouts (rather like my children in that respect!) unfortunately. Have a very merry Christmas, Eglu owners and chickens !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 fianlly christmas is here, i have got some pet chickens for christmas. i cannot wait i have got them today 'christmas eve' for i cannot pick them up on christmas day for obvious reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 Congratulations! - welcome to the chicken owners forum! Have a lovely day tomorrow with your new chickens. Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 Hi ChickenGeorge! Glad your hens have arrived. Thanks for your e-mail, by the way. I'd forgotten all about Roots! Excellent name!! Hope it all goes well for you and keep posting on the forum to let us know what names you've chosen for your feathery ladies! All the best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 my un-named isa brown pullets, was awoken by snow on there first morning. just coming into lay and being their first day at home i had not expected any eggs, but right on cue my girls cames in and left me a christmas present each. it was magical. they had settled so well, today i decided to let them out of their run into the garden. they loved it, they were not too much of a problem to handle back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 What a smashing Christmas present! Eggs!! Did you have them for breakfast then? Glad it's all going well so far and l love your chicken avatar! I'm jealous that you've got snow though - we haven't (yet - fingers crossed!!) Have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 my girls enjoyed scratching in the snow today; inside and outside their cage. the hid under the bushes at first but then they became more confident and left fantastic footprints in the snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 What a brilliant christmas present eggs as well as snow who could ask for more good luck with your new hens chickengeorge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 Hi Jack, I hope you've taken some photos of your girls in the snow! We might not see anymore of the white stuff for a while!! If you do take any pictures, don't forget to post some in the gallery - we'd all love to see them. What a great Christmas! You'll remember this one ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 yep, i only got them yesturday (christmas eve) for a present; as i couldn't collect them on christmads day. already as i have said they ar so confident even to: come out of the cage, be handled and lay eggs. they have only just come into lay as they are pullets. this mornings eggs could have been their first. this christmas really has been magical Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 i haven't taken any photos but the promise of tomorrow hangs in the air, as indeed the snow should. i will post them as soon as i take them. p.s. any name ideas will be welcome. one of my chickens have five fingers on her comb so marigold seems to an ideal name so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 That's smashing! Being a hen owner is something a bit different, isn't it. They're more exciting than rabbits and guinea pigs anyway!! In no time, you'll be cuddling them and that's lovely. Try to get them used to being handled and that will make lots of things much easier for you - especially catching them if you have to! Sounds like they're pretty settled already so you're doing a great job on your first couple of days! It's great that they're laying already so you don't have the anxious wait for the first egg in the nest like some Eglu owners have. I hope you're going to enjoy eating the eggs too - they're so much better than shop bought ones! Good luck and enjoy your girls. Marigold is a BRILLIANT name!! Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 my hens are the most exciting pets i have ever had. i have already cuddled one (marigold). the other hen seems a bit shy but i'm sure she wioll get used to me and my mum and dad who has just christened her 'buttercup' our last name is Butterworth so it seems to fit as it has been my nick name for a while. this is not certain as yet but it will probably stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 Hi Jack Marigold and Buttercup sound like really good names, I named my girls after the chicken run film and they seem to suit their characters perfectly Ginger being the braver of the 2, and I can just imagine Babs saying I don't like gravy. My husband has even started calling me Mrs Tweedy Ha! Ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 them names are not fianl, i was also thinking about naming my hens after the chicken run crew. but i promised my mum to name it after my late grandma (i never met her) 'margeret' so 'maggie' and 'peggy' sprang to mind but i have named one marigold after the glove on its head (comb) my mum seems to like the names though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 Marigold and Buttercup sound really lovely names for your girls. The one with the rubber glove on her head reminds me of the penguin in Wallace and Gromit's The Wrong Trousers! Hope she's better behaved than HE was ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 I think they're great names - will wait to see some photos as well. I think the one we DIDN'T bring home was perhaps an Isa Brown, we are very tempted to go back and get her! Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 marigold ansd buttercup it is! eggs for breakfast after buttercup came in with another blinder! i'll try get some photos on my digital camera and post thn for you! i have just seen the yellowest yolk ever, let you know how they taste later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Hello Jack How brilliant - eggs on Christmas day What a wonderful present We had two eggs from our newer girls but the older two took a day off yesterday. I took the children aged 6,4, and 3 out to look for eggs. I lifted my 3 year old niece to look in the nest and there was a beautiful white egg from Mrs. White. She was so excited!. The other Eglu had the deep brown egg from Lottie. Keep enjoying your Christmas present Jack. Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Hi Jack, The yolks are REALLY yellow, aren't they! You don't get that in the shops, do you! They taste out of this world too . Lovely names - perfect! Good choices, especially Marigold for the one with the rubber glove on her head . Keep enjoying your girls and I hope we get some of your snow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 the girls had another day playing in the snow. - yes, the eggs were the best i have ever tasted. handled both of my hens today; the confident marigold seemed settled but Buttercup and bit fidgety. some pictures are currently uploading onto the club gallery now! hope your eggs tasted as good as they sound Kate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Hi Jack, Your girls are doing really nicely - eggs and cuddles, that's great. Buttercup will get more confident if you keep on picking her up every day. Jennifer used to be really nervous and difficult to catch but she's a real sweetie now and you can cuddle her for as long as you want. Clarissa, my , never had a choice as my youngest son, Ollie, decided she was HIS hen and carries her round the garden tucked up under his arm. She is so tame, you wouldn't belive it! We're having scrambled from my girls for tea tonight. I've got a lovely big bowl of eggs saved up all week so we can really have a Boxing Day feast. It'll be bright yellow too! Yummy! Our home produced eggs are the best eggs I've ever tasted - nothing comes anywhere close to them. Glad to hear that you are enjoying your eggs too! Boiled, scrambled, poached or fried??? Take care, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickengeorge Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Glad to hear that you are enjoying your eggs too! Boiled, scrambled, poached or fried??? Take care, this morning i had a boiled egg with soldiers, the yolk was runny and yellowy gold, they tasted so good! hope you enjoy your scrambled eggs Kate,! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 26, 2004 Share Posted December 26, 2004 Oh Jack! I LOVE boiled eggs and soldiers! My mouth is watering!! I'm going to have to go and do our scrambled eggs before I short circuit the computer keyboard!!! My 2 boys like a dippy egg too - yummy! I'm looking forward to seeing the photos of your girls in the gallery. Hope you manage to upload them OK. I had an awful job but got there in the end. Mine are on page 4 of the gallery I think in an album called Kate's Girls. Cheerio ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
