egglicious Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Or with a young toddler... just wondering because I currently have a 21 month old and we are looking to be preggers again hopefully in the next year. Baby chickens will be arriving beginning of august... just wondering what that experience will look like (and hoping to put my morehens into remission at least for a while).. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Apart from not being able to lift heavy Eglu Cubes, the main risk is toxoplasmosis which some hens like many pets) can have, so you'd need to avoid handling the poo and wear gloves when doing morning henny activities. Or when gardening in case cats have pooed there at some point) In reality, if you have owned cats or dogs, you've probably had it anyway but it's not worth the risk. As for the toddler, just make sure they keep their hands clean and nothing untowards should end up in their mouths! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum-2-olly Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Or with a young toddler... just wondering because I currently have a 21 month old and we are looking to be preggers again hopefully in the next year. Baby chickens will be arriving beginning of august... just wondering what that experience will look like (and hoping to put my morehens into remission at least for a while).. congrats on your lil brood!! it sounds like we are in the same situation hun. my little boy just turned 2 and we are hoping for a baby in the next year! yey! i have kept everything from fish and horses to hamsters and rabbits etc and these are by far the nicest and easiest pets to look after and so enjoyable! we spend every afternoon with the hens and they all let my little boy pick them up (he is v good with them tho granted) i would say they would be a lovely addition to your growing flock!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 29, 2011 Author Share Posted June 29, 2011 Thank you so much ladies. As you can probably tell from some of posts I have the tendency to get a little... neurotic at times . I tend to worry about the future a little too much. The thing is, before I had my son I confess I was a little bit irresponsible and liked to sleep in, stay up late, be lazy all day... ahh, those were the days!! Of course now there is no way in heck I am gonna sleep past 7am. Life has changed, and so now I want to bring chickens into it . I just want to be sure I'm up for the responsibility because it is a commitment and I want to be a good chicken mommy. I also wanted to add yet another chick to my flock (I read somewhere that every flock had to have a silkie and then couldn't get it out of my mind!) but I think I need to slow down!! Hahahaha - at least that's what my husband said to me yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum-2-olly Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 ahh bless ya! again same advice as before really, make sure ur lil one washes his/her hands STRAIGHT after touching them but get him/her involved in their care, my little boy olly loves helping get their feed ready and filling their water up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThinkingChickens Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 If I had known chickens were this easy to care for, I would have gotten them a long time ago. With help from your hubby with cleaning you shouldn't have too many worries. My son is almost five now, so not so little, but chickens are much easier than I expected. They are actually quite calming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 30, 2011 Author Share Posted June 30, 2011 If I had known chickens were this easy to care for, I would have gotten them a long time ago. With help from your hubby with cleaning you shouldn't have too many worries. My son is almost five now, so not so little, but chickens are much easier than I expected. They are actually quite calming! See that's the thing.. my LSH has told me that he will have absolutely nothing to do with the care of the chickens. Now, before you crucify him please know that he is crazy busy with work and totally wants me to be happy (hence the $1400 cube) but he just can't handle any more responsibility. I am cool with that and I still think I can handle it as I will most likely have full time help with a newborn and then a nanny a few times a week after that. Plus my sweet son will be old enough to help by then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Thank you so much ladies. and gentlemen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 See that's the thing.. my LSH has told me that he will have absolutely nothing to do with the care of the chickens. Now, before you crucify him please know that he is crazy busy with work and totally wants me to be happy (hence the $1400 cube) but he just can't handle any more responsibility. I am cool with that and I still think I can handle it as I will most likely have full time help with a newborn and then a nanny a few times a week after that. Plus my sweet son will be old enough to help by then! Oooh lots of help - you lucky thing! I'm sure you will be fine with chickens then as it doesn't take that much time to clean and feed them. So long as you don't get any mobility problems when you are pregnant like I did (trapped nerve thing). That could happen to anyone though! Don't let me put you off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Pregnant - was fine looking after the chooks most of the time. The last month was a bit of a challenge physically, but chooks are fairly low maintenance on the whole. Once little one arrived, it was a bit more tricky to find the time - but then by then your OH will be besotted by the chooks and happy to help for the first few weeks (they all say we are having nothing to do with chooks, and within a very sort period of time are hooked!). By 6 weeks in and things are settling, and the chooks are fine again, and part of the day to day routine. I would say go for it - they are great fun, and great fun for you and your toddler! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 In terms of OH - My ex OH has a bird phobia which I only found out after I got the chooks. He had left by then It really amuses me when he goes into the garden when he comes to get the boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickanne Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Just stay calm! Enjoy bonding with your chickens and don't expect OH to do anything at first. Just make sure he is aware of routines by explaining what you have been doing very competantly without his help, thank you. Get them accustomed to being handled or herded with easily identifiable treat bowls. My man was dead against chicks and I have now had them just on a year and he got to the accepting them as "mostly harmless" stage. Three weeks ago I ended up in hospital after an accident and he had to assume the role of chicken daddy. I have since returned home in a back brace and positively glow with satisfaction when he now announces he's let them out before he goes to work, even tho' I could do it myself a bit later on. He uses the grape lure to great effect even tho he won't pick them up. Once he sees what pleasure you and the children get from them he'll begin to soften. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 30, 2011 Author Share Posted June 30, 2011 Thank you so much ladies. and gentlemen! Oops! Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 30, 2011 Author Share Posted June 30, 2011 Thanks again everyone. My last pregnancy I was a big (let me emphasize "big") baby. I was pretty mobile but I think I could have done a lot more if I had just gotten off my lazy butt. Of course all that luxury changed real quick when baby came! It didn't help any when I gained 50+ pounds and then had an 11 pound baby!!! Will not be repeating that again (too much ice-cream)... So, as of now I am getting in shape and ready for a healthier pregnancy. Some fresh eggs should help!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
