Part 0800.0005

[Chortle Chook]

I've been posting on Omlet for just over a year now and was looking back at my old entries.

I was going to have runner ducks, but got chickens

I then said there was no way I could ever have more than 5 chickens - I now have 9

and that there was no way I could ever have a Poland - but then Dotty my chamois Poland arrived and now I'm trying to get a silver laced one

 

I was also very keen to keep my cottage style garden just as it was. It has since had to have a total re-design but is still, at the moment, something of a mud bath with the chickens very happily raking away at slate, pebbles, roots, dead leaves etc. etc. and I still love them The garden before was very pretty, but to my eye, rather lifeless. Now there is a chicken wherever I look and, interestingly, there are a lot of little sparrows too and blue tits that I didn't have before.

 

OH said that the arrival of the first chickens was like 'D' landings and spelt his ultimate defeat but he has just gone off to get the chooks a whole coconut which they love - and might stop by the local plant nursery . . . 'just too look at their chickens'

 

There's no saving some people

[memphisto]

I totally agree with you!

 

My experience was we were going to get bantams, ended up with 3 hybrids.

 

Then we went 'just for a look' at the garden centre where we bought the first 3 ones from....we accidentally bought 2 more then we agreed 5 was enough, no more.

 

I then saw an ad taking pre-orders (sound so crude!) for buff Sussex for 2012. Somehow and I'm not sure how, I booked 2

 

So, definitely agreed no more than 7... definite this time.

 

I'm not sure how it happened but OH started talking Silkies......which got me thinking.....which ended up with much talking and deliberation but the idea was s"Ooops, word censored!"ped, however in my 'research' we both found we liked the Barred Rocks...I had to google them in the locality and it just so happens I found a place with them at POL.

 

Off we went with the intention of getting 2 barred rocks and only barred rocks! Until I fell in love with a little white star.....well I did try to persuade OH into getting 3, for even numbers sake of course but he said no, so I came away with a barred rock and a white star.

 

I had an e-mail today from the lady I booked my buffs through asking if I would be interested in Buff Orpingtons as well.....how can I say no?

 

Well, OH has ordered a 20 bird coop today, so it would be a shame not to fill it up.........

[Space Chick]

Yep, started with 4 now have 24 and OH had to persuade me at first

 

All I would say, is the more chickens you have, the more work they become and the more expensive they become.

 

I reckon my lot cost me easily £100 a month, and it seems every spare minute I have I am cleaning runs, washing drinkers, doing health checks etc etc. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change it, but life was a whole lot easier with 4

[coco]

Me too. Started with three just over two years ago, I have have 24. I only have 8 lf girls the rest are bantams of varous shapes and sizes. Definately gets dearer though, I have just spent 40.00 pound on woodchip for the run as it looks like a mudbath, wouldn't be without the girls though.

[chestnutmare]

As for expense it's definitely a consideration. The equipment is shockingly expensive... housing, WIRs... But there are a lot of other hobbies out there which cost a lot more (*whispers*: horses). Maybe if I didn't have the other animals I would feel less guilty about expanding my flock... oh yes, of course there'd be a second shed to remove and a second Eglu and WIR to purchase, I mustn't forget that!

I'm very glad I have them though. I've spent a couple of hours concentrating this afternoon, looking for research on the interenet for my course. My head was actually starting to ache so I just made a cuppa and went out to the garden for 10mins to feel the fresh air on my skin and to watch my girls (and give them apple).

[memphisto]

I've just been up to get de-louse powder.....

 

There is a big advert for a smallholding which is letting it's POL pullets and their Bantams go, all for either FREE or for up to £10!!

 

I was nearly hyperventilating!

 

I am on a mission tonight!

 

I agree with the cost and time issue, when I had three, it took me maybe 20 minutes to clean out and replenish. It took me 45 minutes today to clean out everything.

 

When we had 3, we spend £45 on everything we needed, grit, feed, spice, tonic etc, yesterday I spent £45 in one hit on bedding, feed, scaly leg, anti peck, diatom etc, then another £45 on Omlet in the evening!

 

We just bought a 20 bird coop today for £275, that in addition to the little coop we bough 2 weeks ago at £75, 2 more runs £65 plus the initial outlay of £200 for the original coop and £65 for their runs, so it's been a pricey hobby but I love it

[Chortle Chook]

You are right - the cost goes up but I do love getting chicky things (almost as much as getting chickies) no matter whether it is food, treats, dishes, egg cups, books or T towels with chooks on. Each order for chook food on Omlet ends up getting a little extra something added in

I used to like shoes and clothes but there is no point being smart for cleaning out my chooks so I reckon I'm saving money

[Redwing]

I started with one Eglu and three hybrids just 3 years ago, I couldnt even begin to add up what my lot have cost me.....

 

I've just spent £1200 on a shed for show chickens to live in for the few days on the lead up to a show

 

(dont tell my hubby)

 

To be fair it did include a proper base

 

To be fair I did work an extra month before I was made redundant to pay for the shed and my car

 

To be fair I still cant really justify it even to myself

 

But its a very nice shed

 

[Cheeky Chooky]

[redcharlie43]

Do you think I can convince my OH that bantams are not really chickens and don't count towards my 4 total chickens limit? Think I could easily smuggle 4 in without OH noticing until spring!!! Think I am ill and have the morehens virus

[memphisto]

Morehens is a chronic disease......or so I've heard

[redcharlie43]

Not so bad when I think how much I spent on make up, handbags and shoes..... Now just spend on chippings, feed and wellies... not so bad if you think about it like that Don't need a new pair of heels to muck out the coop

[memphisto]

I'm a tomboy, I've never done the heels, dresses, lipsticks etc. I did a degree in construction, so my equivalent is steel toe caps and high viz vests!

 

My justification is I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't go clubbing it, I don't buy lots of clothes, my car passed her MOT without problems, so no expense there and ultimately, it makes me happy and my son really benefits from them too.

[Kazzy73]

I use to make cards and spent a fortune on diecutting machines,cartridges for them,card pretty paper,glitter,glue etc etc and its all now packed away doing nothing because I found the joy of keeping Chooks,the only probplem is I sit there looking at crafting stuff thinking could of bought a WIR instead of die cutting machine,pack of pretty paper is the same price as a bluebelle,all the pretty ribbon would of bought a couple of sacks of feed etc etc Dont ya just love ya girls

[Chortle Chook]

I'm a tomboy, I've never done the heels, dresses, lipsticks etc. I did a degree in construction, so my equivalent is steel toe caps and high viz vests!

 

My justification is I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't go clubbing it, I don't buy lots of clothes, my car passed her MOT without problems, so no expense there and ultimately, it makes me happy and my son really benefits from them too.

memphisto just seen this. Made me laugh . . . you're not such a tom boy that you haven't called your car a 'she' My car is called 'Rosey' and no, she is not pink (yet).