Mrs

[Sageandonion]

After a couple of years of shall we, shan't we, a good few months of lurking , reading and posting on here and dragging our 3 kids around to various poultry suppliers on several occasions we finally have hens and we're really pleased

 

We picked them up at lunch time today from a supplier in Surrey and plumped for three hybrids - a Light Sussex, a Black Rock type and a Rhode Island Blacktail. The children had the naming honours - Luna, Peckers and Funky (Chicken), in that order.

 

My fantastic husband had got up early this morning to finish off the run, putting the non-dig skirt in place and making a start with the Omlet netting surround. We had a few bits and pieces to finish off after we got the girls home but put them straight in the hen house for an hour or so to get them used to their new abode. We then opened the pop-hole to let them come down for an explore. After 20 minutes of no-show the kids were bored of waiting, so we opened up the house, took them out and put them in the run - probably against the rule book but they didn't seem too stressed by it. They then had a good poke around, checking out the surroundings and getting used to where the food and water could be found. Of course, not having come down the gangplank from their house to the run, they didn't seem to realise that they could get back into the house by going up it. Eventually Funky Chicken decided to see what was at the top of the ladder, found her new home was there and came down and told Luna. Luna followed and left poor old Peckers wondering where her mates had gone. Finally the penny dropped, up the ramp she went and they were all in bed by 5ish. Clever chooks

 

Will be back later with pics of their 1st day chez nous

Edited January 9, 2011 by Guest

[chestnutmare]

Ooooo, exciting I can't wait to see the pictures and love the names. Congratulations on your girls.

[Mollie333]

Congratulations!

 

Watching this for pics.

[Plum]

Congratulations what a great day you've had

[Sageandonion]

Thank you - it's been a very exciting day.

 

Pics as promised, sorry a bit of an overload!

 

Our set up - they're in there somewhere

 

Getting stuck in to a late lunch:

 

Finding the other essentials:

 

Lovely Luna:

 

Fearless Funky Chicken:

 

And last but not least Peckers:

 

And so to Bed:

 

Where did they go mum?

 

We're up here!... OK, OK I'm coming!

[Plum]

Lovely Luna and friends Set up looks good as well. They are babies how lovely to be able to watch them develop.

[chick wiggle]

Awwww they look lovely girls, your gonna have so many happy hours just watching them. I hope your up to date with your housework cos none will get done this week !

Good looking set up too, well done

[Mollie333]

They're lovely!

[mollyripkim]

Oh they look lovely, and your set up too. I am sure you will have many happy hours with them and some loveless eggs eventually as a bonus

[chestnutmare]

Yay, lovely photos! Their home looks lovely. Do you know how old they are?

[Sageandonion]

Thanks all

 

CNM - they're about 16 weeks.

 

Can't wait to chook watch this week, am itching to go out in the garden again and have a peek in the hen house just to check on them, instead I'm planning the next lot - a couple of Orpington bantams should fit right in hopefully

[chestnutmare]

I really enjoy watching mine... time wasters. Enjoy S&O and please keep posting pics.

[catherinedon]

aw they are gorgeous congratulations

[Kar333]

They are so cute but strangely familiar! I had to register to post this picture of my lovely ladies, taken last August when we had a garden!

Molly is , Pumpkin is and Dave (yes, she is a girl) is

 

and then an update - they are not keen on the snow

 

but you have these to look forward to!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Great photos & lovely girls, Sage and Onion & Kar333 (welcome to the forum, by the way, nice to see another Scottish Omleteer ).

[Kar333]

Thanks for the welcome - will put up some more photos when I have time...although they haven't felt like being photogenic recently with all the white stuff!

[Sageandonion]

Warm welcomes to the forum Kar333 your girls are strikingly similar - just had to go outside to check on my little flock to make sure they hadn't flown the nest already

 

Enjoy the forum, everyone is very friendly

[kfc]

Great photos congratulations on your new arrivals, they're lovely babies, kfc (kimberley, fanny, cornelia) were the same age when we got them home, 20 months later they have been an absolute pleasure, hope your girls give you as much fun! Look forward to reading about their progress! Enjoy and thanks for sharing.

[scarlettohara]

Lovely girls and nice run and coop. Was pleased ( ) someone elses lawn looks as bad as mine

[helen1962]

Hi

 

Lovely pictures! I have a Light Sussex and a Black Rock, Wendy and Belinda respectively. Wendy is probably the size of a small turkey now but Belinda is still slim and fast! She is also an accomplished flyer so I had to put a net roof on the walk in run we built last year. You will definitely have great fun watching them. Mine still like to ride on my shoulder just like they did when they were week old chicks (neither of them have grown up yet!)

[Space Chick]

They are gorgeous

[Chortle Chook]

Very pretty girls and I love the story about the 'shall I, shan't I' climb to the nest up the ramp. Dear Peckers

[Sageandonion]

Thank you everyone for your kind comments . Have been chook watching today - no surprises there - it's rather addictive isn't it!?! Funky Chicken is the least timid of the 3 and I've had a cuddle with her today and she took some corn from my hand. Luna the light Sussex is the most timid and won't let me near her if she can help it. Peckers is trying to be brave but isn't quite there yet. They all got a bit freaked today when some big strange bird flew over the house aka a Chinook helicopter - they went running under the house for cover and stayed there for a while.

 

One thing that concerns me slightly is I've noticed Luna has done a couple of runny yellow poos. Is this normal, or stress related bearing in mind we only got her yesterday or something sinister? She is eating and drinking fine and does not appear unwell but as I've said she is the most nervous of the 3. When we got them yesterday the lady said to worm them again in February.

 

Thank you.

[Plum]

They may be a bit loose at first due to the stress of the move but its normal to do a yellow or 'curry' poo every 10th dropping.

 

When my Omlet chickens arrived they used to run away if any aircraft came over even really high in the sky. Guess they had been raised indoors, didn't take long for them to get over it but they still spot birds really high up or far away aircraft

[Sageandonion]

Many thanks Plum - that's reassuring

 

I must admit I feel vulnerable having chickens - haven't felt like this with any other pets we've had. Despite reading up on them - they are an unknown quantity!