Poo help please!

[sim]

Hi all!

 

We're getting a Go on Wednesday and three chooks! I'm really excited! there's just one thing that's troubling me though.

 

We've got the Go with the 2m run but we're getting three girls. We intend to let them free-range (we're both home all day) but my partner says the chooks should stay in their run for about 5 days. Is this true? And if so, is it very urgent for us to get a run extension? I want to get one anyway but I want it from eBay and they don't come up too often. Am I right in thinking the Go extensions are different from the Classic's?

 

Also, what can we expect when the chooks arrive?

 

Thanks for any help or advice you can give me!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum .

 

You don't need to worry about an extension for them just for the 5 days, they'll be absolutely fine. Your partner is right - keeping them in for a few days helps to imprint where "home" is so they know where to go to bed . Some people don't manage 5 days though, so don't worry if you can't either .

 

I don't have a Go but I think the runs are totally different shapes so you will have to get a Go run (if you decide you want one).

 

What can you expect when they arrive? Well, don't expect any housework/cooking/work to be done - you'll be in the garden watching them for hours on end .

[fluffy chick]

 

What can you expect when they arrive? Well, don't expect any housework/cooking/work to be done - you'll be in the garden watching them for hours on end .

 

Yup!

 

Oh and if it's the fist time you've held a chicken - hold their wings beside their bodies! My dad learned that a couple of weeks ago while he was 'helping' He ended up with some nasty gashes while i shouted 'don't let go! don't let go!'

[sim]

Thanks both! No housework's fine by me. Any excuse! I've never held a chicken before, so all advice is welcome on that one! We've been visiting places with free-range chooks recently (Boscobel house has some very friendly ones that we got to stroke). We've got a 17 month old son and he's fascinated by them! He's totally disinterested in dogs and cats and the like, but really loves chooks and ducks. Good job They'll be a first pet for him, quite keen for him to see what it is to care for an animal and where his food comes from. I think hens fit the bill perfectly! He loves a dippy egg, soon he'll be able to pick one of his own!

 

I'm not too fussed about eggs really, but how soon will the girls lay? Will the eggs be a bit funny at first?

[Sam]

Welcome to the forum Depending on the breeds, but the average age is around 20 weeks for them to start laying. Our first eggs were lovely, but they can lay quite irregularly when they start to lay, but ours soon got into a routine and now we are getting 4 a day Hope it all goes well and keep us updated!

[SteveC]

First eggs are likely to be a bit on the small side too!

[fluffy chick]

You may find they go off lay until they settle into their new home too.

[sim]

The girls are coming today! Only 30 mins to three hours to wait

[poppy ben grace]

Hi have they arrived yet? Bet your very excited!

[fluffy chick]

How's it going. We need pics u know!

[sim]

They arrived yesterday! They're lovely and our son adores them. Their names are Bramble, Iggy and Flump. Our son calls them Gone, Gone and Gone though.

 

We had two eggs yesterday! Don't think they were off our girls (the Omlet man gave them to us), I think two f ours are too young to lay yet. But they were the most beautiful little eggs!

 

I'll get pics taken as soon as I can! Can't wait to share our lovely ladies with everyone!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Congratulations . Love the names .

 

Looking forward to seeing the photos .

[sim]

Had two eggs! Wow! The first was delicious

[poppy ben grace]

Had two eggs! Wow! The first was delicious

You never forget your first egg! Welcome to the mad world of chicken keeping!

[ThinkingChickens]

I'm a newbie as well. I have three girls who are 11 weeks and I have a Go. I would tell you to relax, that's my best piece of advice. Chicken keeping is much easier than you would expect. Our girls get free ranging time for about an hour or so a day, sometimes more, sometimes less and they are doing well with no extension. We intend to build a WIR but not until end of summer. If I had known it was going to be this easy to raise chickens I would have done it years ago.