HarrisonFamily Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Are first chicken are due to arrive with the eglu GO in one month... so far I have read about the noise, the cost, the mess, the destruction in the garden, the fox attacks, the eggs with strange things in... the thing called a lash (I thinks thats what it was called)...really do not want to see those pictures again !!!!! I am guessing as there are so many of you out there with chickens there are advantages.........please let me know....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 You get fit running up and down the garden to make them quiet! You get fresh eggs which are soooooooooo good for you. You relax when you watch them doing such daft things and laughter is good for you. And you get nice cuddles and chats. I've missed out lots - I'm giving the others a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Fresh air from going outside all the time, the satisfaction of getting a chicken to sit on your lap, never having to mow the lawn again. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlegs Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Hi, for me my chickens give me permission to stop and do nothing, without that nagging thought at the back of my mind that I am wasting time, watching them is endlessly entertaining, I think lifestyles now are filled to the brim, constantly moving onto the next task, even downtime is seemingly spent taking on board more information, learning new skills, I had forgotten the pleasure of standing still and that (with their eggs of course) is their gift to me, wouldn't be without them, Regards Theresa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 The children will love them and its so good for them to learn where an egg actually comes from! Keeping chickens is so addictive and i cant explain why, i guess you will understand yoursef really soon ,nothing can compare to the feeling you get when you discover your first egg!! ENJOY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Chicken owner of 6 days here and already addicted with plans of walk in runs, (more chooks but don't tell DH) etc. Lots of poo yes, but fabulous eggs, my boys are learning about caring for pets, its getting me outside (and so helping my depression) and has brought my garden to life. You'll be fine & will soon be smitten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I'm keeping quiet about the squashed plants and daffs I've had to rescue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I'm with chickenlegs....My chooks encourage me to move at a slower pace for a while. They somehow connect me to the sort of reality that gets lost in my habitual manic dash from meeting to meeting...They make the garden (which is really more of a bit of grass with some mud on it, as ours is a newly built house and I've no time to make things lovely) alive and beautiful. They are also incredibly entertaining - and, what's more, they even lay eggs! Who'd have thought it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Not in any particular order: You can't not smile when looking at a chicken The worms in the wormery love chicken poo The compost heap actually does rot down You get a whole new chance to re-landscape the garden, get rid of all those time wasting perennials and have lots of lovely scented roses, lavenders and rosemaries You start chatting to your neighbours as you hand them eggs You can play 'dolls' houses' arranging all the jolly things in your chooks' pen There is always someone to greet you. It is so nice when I call 'Chickies' and up they run from all corners of the garden. I just love having chooks and even my OH, who took 8+ years to be persuaded into letting me have hens, now says they are the best thing we have done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I'm with chickenlegs....My chooks encourage me to move at a slower pace for a while. They somehow connect me to the sort of reality that gets lost in my habitual manic dash from meeting to meeting... Absolutely. I couldnt have put it better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) and whenever you're out gardening, there's always a hen that REALLY wants to know what you're up to. they're friendly they're funny they'll annoy you and make you laugh at the same time you'll end up noticing that they actually all have their own unique personality you'll have conversations with a bird - and get something out of it they will move mountains on a morning to get away from their morning poos ('monster poo') they love routine but love sometimes to be naughty and break that routine - when it suits them it's nice when they jump on you on a warm day and fall asleep on you with their wings out ...until they try to dustbathe on you (! ) they're great for de-stressing you - even after a rotten day of work and they're real pets in the way cats and dogs are once you get to know them, whatever you're eating in the garden, they'll want some of it (and they'll all congregate around your feet and stare at the food) and finally, once you've had a couple for a few months, you get the hang of how they 'work' (and they get the hang of you too), you'll want more of them.. Edited March 11, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I'm with chickenlegs....My chooks encourage me to move at a slower pace for a while. They somehow connect me to the sort of reality that gets lost in my habitual manic dash from meeting to meeting... ditto! My hubby comes out and checks on me as he still can't quite fathom how I manage to sit there with a cup of tea for at least an hour and do nothing but watch the girls - they are my yang in my very ying life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 It's quite amusing watching your OH with them - he'll probably feign disinterest and say he doesn't like them, but go armed into the garden with a spade or fork and make sure each hen gets a fair share of worms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 1.You seam to have more time in the day because you have to get up early to let them out of thier bedroom. No lay ins from now on. 2. Lovely eggs. 3. Brings you closer to nature. 4. Omlet forum friends. 5. Sharing your passion with friends and family. Yes it does become obsesive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 However bad your day has been they always make you feel better. You wil always have a welcoming committee when you come home. You get to see early morning. You can tell them all your problems and they don't alaways answer back although sometimes they do. they always make you smile. They come in so many different shapes and sizes you have loads to choose from. I definitley wouldn't be without my girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeMeadfan Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Yes to all of the above Just looking out the window at them doing their chickeny things brings a smile to my face Watching them run/fly/flap/waddle their way up the garden at a rate of knots (who says chickens can't fly ) to greet you (I like to think it's not because they want to see if you've brought them anything! ) Listening to them chattering and how they all have different 'voices'. feeling privileged to look after them - they rely on you totally. Being positive about the amount of poo (so good for the garden, though not very decorative to look at ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Poo = fertilizer oooh arrrrrrrrr! And nice veggies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 The worms in the wormery love chicken poo . I didn't know it could go in a wormery - I thought it was too strong for the little wormies ? I was thinking of getting a wormey but decided not to because of that - can I still get one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 The joy of getting to know each of their unique quirks, getting mugged for grapes , feeling life if good when you have a hen sat on your lap when they've chosen to jump up for a cuddle. I agree that in busy life, having a reason to take a step back and relax watching their antics just makes life better. My girls make my life complete, their eggs are a very much appreciated bonus to the best pets ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I didn't know it could go in a wormery - I thought it was too strong for the little wormies ?I was thinking of getting a wormey but decided not to because of that - can I still get one My wormery has really worked well since getting chooks last summer. I used to find that the different layers of the wormery took ages to turn to compost but not so now. The only thing is, I have to make sure I don't put too much Aubiose in there or it gets rather dry. I do add lots of peelings to keep it moist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisonFamily Posted March 11, 2011 Author Share Posted March 11, 2011 Thank you everyone, you have all made me feel better...I was getting a bit scared only reading negative stuff, oh well one month to go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 you'll love having them - you'll never look back. If there's one thing I could also add, it's that they're generally much more intelligent than you'd think - there's more going on up top than you would expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I'd endorse all the above opinions. HarrisonFamily, I made the same mistake when I first got chickens, I scared myself to death reading things on here. What you have to remember is that people tend to post when they have a problem - the hundreds of people happily enjoying their hens with no problems don't bother to post! I gave up reading Chicken Clinic and decided to cross bridges when I came to them, and four years on I have had the occasional problem but nothing I couldn't handle, and there was plenty of good advice on here. For me, chickens bring the garden to life. They have meant that I see the first snowdrops, tree blossom and violets, things I would miss if I didn't have cause to go out in the garden every day of the year; and they keep me grounded. I love the phrase above about 'yang in my yin life', or perhaps it was the other way round, but that sums it up exactly for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Oh gosh there's so many advantages to having chickens. but here's just a few: They lay the best eggs you'll ever have Their poo makes the best compost They're the funniest, most entertaining pets They love to spend time with you as much as you love to spend time with them You can tell them all your problems, and they'll just listen A chicken on your lap is the best hot water bottle money can buy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I have definately seen the last of weekend lie ins.... When i was bought the cube, i had the lecture from my OH about how they will be my birds, my responsibility blah blah blah..... but considering he is ususally terrible at getting up in the mornings... but now he wants to get up and be the one to let them out into to the run - or should that be launch themselves into the run. They are highly entertaining and you can see how different they are in personality, Bunty loves to be around people from day one, when i clean out the cube she always wants to help and try and steal things off me. As said before they are proper pets and they do give you so much enjoyment. Lots of people think i am utterly mad having chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
