Mel (& Paul) Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Hurrah Hurrah Hurrah We have just ordered a reconditioned reg eglu I am hoping for a full set by next year..... (according to Penny at Omlet we are having a red chicken ) We want to get four chooks that lay different colour eggs - eg, blue and white - what do you guys thinK? And the next lot will have their own eglu and run, but be completely free range with the others in our garden, do you think we will have problems when they are free ranging? Do we need a Berlin Wall type construction? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Brilliant news Mel Only my experience, and I feel quite guilty syaing this knowing what a tough time some people have had with the hen pecking, but when I added my 2 newbies and 2nd eglu a month ago it was easy. We kept Eglu runs next to each other so they could see each other, but not touch, and for the first week the babies were confined to their Eglu & run, and had to watch the others free-ranging. I was over-protective of Zola who was quite unwell very early on, so I deliberately seperated them, and was careful about that for the first week-10 days, after that they free-ranged together, and we got a bit of pecking, but nothing too bad, but in the garden the babies could always escape. They did on occasions end up huddling together under bushes etc, but with the original trio they seemed to be very much out of sight, out of mind. It's taken me a month to really get them integrated, but with 2 eglu's I always had the luxury of time and safe space for them but now during the day I have both eglu runs facing each other, and the 2 doors are secured open with a wooden panel resting on the top, all secured with a shower curtain so that during the day they have free access to both eglus and both nesting boxes (necessary now that 4 are laying), and it's worked brilliantly. Eggs, sounds a great idea to go for the different colours, and I think Lesley has an interesting selection of colours from her flock. We tried that idea, got Phil for the blue eggs, and since that dratted bird has never yet laid a single egg, despite having her since May we opted to go back to all brown, regular laying hybrids. But I love the idea of different coloured eggs, and think that maybe I've just been unlucky there. I'm seriuosly tempted to add to my flock again next year... and maybe get a Jasmine then , & a white egg laying hybrid- any ideas anyone? Good luck with it though Mel. When does the Eglu arrive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 I am so egg-cited!! We are actually going to pick it up - but it will have to be the end of October when I get my new company car (an estate rather than a sporty hatch now we are a three dog / 4 (soon to be chicken family! I think if we were giong to have it delivered we'd have to wait even more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Congratulations Mel KateA has covered all the 'introduction' bits very well. Sheila has six chickens and two eglus as well so it's a growing trend We have five different coloured eggs from ours. There is a photo in the Egg part of the Gallery. Five eggs in the 'four egg' box. We have White - Whitestar Blue - Cream Legbar Tinted - Bluebell Mid brown - Whitestar Mid brown - Pepperpot Dark brown - Speckledy SarhJo said Meadowsweet are introducing a new hybrid that will apparently lay blue eggs so it may be worth waiting for that as it will cost less than the Pure Breed, Cream Legbar. They (or someone else?) did introduce one before but it didn't do well - it was a bit sickly and an inconsistent layer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 Ooh, that sounds good. I shall go onto the Meadowseet website to see what's around. Now we have to think of names Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Congratulations Mel! Not that I'm jealous or anything of course ! How exciting!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 I know Funny thing was it was Paul's idea (very soon after he said we needed to stop spending so much ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieW Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 now during the day I have both eglu runs facing each other, and the 2 doors are secured open with a wooden panel resting on the top, all secured with a shower curtain Hi Kate I like the idea of two eglus run to run. Any chance you could post a photo of it. Does it make it difficult getting food/water etc into the runs? I also like the idea of your potato growing tyres. Do you acutally grow the potatoes inside the tyres themselves or just fill the container made by the tyres with compost? Maybe another photo ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Very jealous Mel. I really want another one and more girls but not at the moment My 2 lay white eggs they are pure breed white leghorns and they lay about 6/7 eggs each a week lilttle laying machines but they may stop in the winter as they are pure breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Great News Mel! Am excited with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Annie, I'll try to sort some photos, but it'll probably have to be at the weekend now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 So very, very, very jealous. great news all the same. Hubby is getting sick and tired of me harping on about another Eglu and refuses to buy another one (he bought me my red Eglu). Says we just do not have enough garden space So now I want to move to somewhere with a larger garden and that is going to cost thousands and thousands of pounds, the Eglu will only cost £380 plus the price of the chickens, (and he thinks is is good at maths). Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 I like your thinking Ali Stick with it girl!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 (edited) Mel, that is fantastic news! Absolutely delighted for you...was it something I said I'm sure the freeranging will be fine once they are all used to seeing each other from the adjacent eglu runs for a while. When the time comes, you could let the newbies freerange first, around the others in their run, so that the garden becomes their terriority too. As long as they can all hide & find space while its early days. I'm besotted with my whitestar & have superb white eggs. It'll be worth finding a good supplier, I would have loved a bluebelle too, if they'd been available. Presumably you'll be getting the new 4 together on the same day, to avoid any extra conflict? It'll be great, best wishes. Edited October 11, 2005 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Mel Pearl, who I mentioned in my reply to your PM does 'blue-egg hens', try giving her a ring Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 Hi Clare and Lesley Yup, we'll be getting four on the same day - hopefully blue and white egg layers - we'll have to wait and see! Thanks for all the tips on the newbies guys Watch this space!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 I WANT A NEW EGLU!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 Sorry You can share mine if you want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Hi Clare and Lesley quote]You called me Lesley! OK, she's the intelligent one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Author Share Posted October 14, 2005 Sorry Can I use the time of day that I post as an excuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Nurse Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 So what are you going to christen the new 4 then Mel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Author Share Posted October 14, 2005 Lots of ideas - had thought of the famous five - but a couple of problems 1. There are only going to be 4 2. The forum filters out the shortened version of Richard 3. My brother is called Julian. So then I thought I would go for women with big bottoms who create great food (see what I did?!?!) So we are thinking of Nigella Clarissa Jennifer and then we have a choice of Fanny (Craddock) Elizabeth (David) or Mrs Beaton - other suggestions greatfully received! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Nurse Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 (edited) Tee Hee! Fanny obviously has the most comedy value (going as I do for the lowest common denominator...) Sad that the two greats (David, E and Grigson, J) had fairly ordinary first names... Edited October 14, 2005 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 14, 2005 Author Share Posted October 14, 2005 Yes, I thought Fanny had a certain tee-hee quality (how old am I?!?!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
