Wolfie Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Actual quotes from people with chickens in our village: "The hens made such a mess of the garden and the toddler walked in their poo". Fairly obvious this one. She "got rid" of the unfortunate creatures. "The Buff Orpingtons don't lay many eggs at all". They were from a show line. "The Marsh Daisies don't lay as many eggs as my Caulder Hybrid". Sadly, a visiting dog killed the hens, the wooden ark was inadequate. "They make such a mess of the garden if they get out, so when you hen-sit for us, please don't let them out". It's what chickens do! So the poor chickens live in utter boredom. As you say, for some people they can say they have hens and it's the novelty factor until the children or childish adults get a reality check. Animals need fresh water and food and care every day, not when one remembers. Me? I have a wonderful hubby and a large WIR with a concrete floor with plenty of aubiose poo picked three times a day, so it's dry, clean, with lights. Cubes so no bad backs. Hens also have mobile grass pens, so they get fresh grass each day. Research, plan! And end up with chickens "thrown out" for bad behaviour from other people Just read the Omlet board and it's all here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 HOW CAN YOU GET BORED????? We had our ExBatts, and from the moment they saw the grass and thought 'This isn't wire- what does it do if i keep digging at it?' Then we too had bald grass. It MUST be team work, otherwise it's a trial to keep it all going well. Our 6 girls had the heaviest moult I can remember - thought a fox had visited, but realised that they were all leaving a trail of assorted feathers behind. I must say though, that these forums do keep you going. Your only a key tap away from other lunatics .. I mean enthusiasts. Sure, it's hard work, and you feel bad when one goes to the vet and gets her working wings - able to lift her away from us, but while there here, they look to us to look after them. We think of the poo life ours had before the rescue, and nothing makes you feel better when they leave you a lovely treat (egg, not poo). Knowing a reliable Chick Vet helps too. They must like the freedom though, as even in downpours they still go out and look for worms. Unlike dogs, hens actually smell quite nice when wet. Watch the Birdy. Hugs, Stacey X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Actual quotes from people with chickens in our village: "The hens made such a mess of the garden and the toddler walked in their poo". Fairly obvious this one. She "got rid" of the unfortunate creatures. Got rid of the chickens or the toddler?????? Stacey X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Currently laying in bed listening to the rain and howling wind thinking I need to get out there to let the girls out!!! The main thing I wasn't prepared for is how much they trash your garden! Cleaning them our does seems chore but once i get started I quite enjoy it. Holidaying is a worry, next door look after them but Ido hate to ask as I feel it is a big responsibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 After 7 months I have a very small trashed back garden , (Decided to concentrate on keeping the front garden as good as poss.) loads of poo every day , (Easy to scoop up once you get going ) The girls being locked up from 4.30 until morning (guilt set in) There is also the "fashion thing" so many articles I have read where it advises to not only grow your own veg but have your own eggs from your chickens as well , Easy to get chickens on a whim and then think at a later date OMG Last but not least we lost poor Florry on Thursday after 6 months and as I have never had a pet in my life let alone lose one I could not believe how upset I was and thought it would be a reason not to replace her (2 more have been ordered for 16th January ) . ...Changed my life and way of thinking for ever but I can understand the above reasons would make some one give up . But not me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Have to add even after all my research I wasnt prepared for the mess. Pictures of the Eglu sitting on a pile of bark chip, with a couple of chooks scratching about looks simply gorgeous. (My Avatar pic is from the first 2 weeks). The reality of the mud and sliding about in the rain is not quite so endearing. My girls are sulking at the moment as I have lifted the Go and the 4m extended run onto the patio and covered a lot of it in shower curtain, so that I can sort out the mud bath they have left. They are not happy they cant get into their free range area. Thats where it starts costing money, you are always looking for ways to improve their habitat (and for you too to make it easier to keep them clean, not so muddy and smelly) The Go run is difficult to get into to poo pick, I usually stir up the ground with a long rake, but will all this rain I am fighting a losing battle! New cube comes today but still need to get the WIR covered in mesh and lay a base for the WIR, (thats going to be fun in this weather) But I have decided it is going to be half block paved and half soil covered in wood chip. I am definitely not enjoying the mud But I Love Chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I gave up due to ill health. I didn't think it was fair to keep chickens that i couldn't look after properly. We also had to move and the new property didn't allow pets. I am still a chicken lover though and if we were ever to move to a property that would allow us to keep chickens then i'd be very tempted. I wouldn't have as many as i did before though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I too did TONNES of research before finally opting for ex-batts last year. I have to say, without the help and support of everyone on the Omlet Forum I would have been even more terrified than I actually was. As others have said, no amount of research can prepare you for the very steep learning curve when your chucks arrive. Apart from the amount of poo, the other shock I have had is the noise - the ex batts seem relatively quiet, but the one little hybrid I acquired about a year ago makes such a din - I don't know if she is a particularly noisey chuck, or whether the noise she makes is typical of hybrids (a pied suffolk)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Nothing could prepare me for the amount of mud And looking at my garden this morning after about six inches of rain last night, I perhaps should've kept ducks instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I have to confess to not having done as much research as I should have before we took on our ex batts back in July 2010. I did read all the info on the BHWT site and don't recall reading much about the health related problems that seem to come with ex batts or about how messy hens can be. I still have a real problem with the mess if I am honest. I spend so much time picking up rapport off the carpets every day and still haven't found a way of keeping it outside. I've had a few times when I've been ready to throw the towel in, mainly as I suffer very badly from anxiety and agora and there have been a few occasions when I've really had to force myself to go and clean them out in the morning. With hindsight I think if I had known how much was involved I would have stuck with just a few hens and the Eglu as I do find it a lot of work cleaning out the Eglu and the Cube all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 What an interesting thread! I think as with all animals unless you are prepared for the hard graft of caring for them it can be a bit of a reality check! Thankfully i have kept horses for many years in the past so understand its not just a fair weather thing! I do think the omlet webstite makes it all seem so simple and easy to keep hens! They dont mention the fact that within days your garden will be trashed! I wouldnt be without my girls but i do find it hard work cleaning 2 cubes every week as well as looking after the family.Thankfully i have a very supportive oh who helps with the girls! I think like others have said in hindsight i should have stuck with just a few girls, but i love them to bits and come the summer time it will be much easier!! Ps, i take my hat off to you Redwing, i think you should have the title, "chicken keeper of the year" !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I'm surprised at the number of people who say their gardens have been trashed. I honestly think it's possible to keep hens and have a garden, you do have to restrict their free-ranging, but I still manage to give my hens some freedom and not have the garden ruined. It would be a deal-breaker for me, as I love my garden. Turtle mats (an Omlet must-have! ) help keep the floors clean, and I change into gardening clogs whenever I go out to the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Our garden is still lovely. We let our ex batts out most days, weather permitting, they usually all go and make a dust bath in a part of the garden where we have a few box shrubs, they don't eat them, they don't trash them either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanTheDiver Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 After having cleaned out my girls at the weekend I said to my OH that when they eventually all go I wouldn't get any more (I don't like this thought as I love my girls). I have arthritis in my joints and I am starting to find it hard to get up and down on my knees easily and this causes problems with cleaning under the cube properly. When I explained to my darling OH why I said I wouldn't get any more, he said that if that is the only reason for giving up the girls (he loves them as much as me but would be if he had to clean them out) then next year he will build or get built a walk in run for them so I don't have to get down so low to clean them out I knew I married him for something! Can't wait now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I'm surprised at the number of people who say their gardens have been trashed. I honestly think it's possible to keep hens and have a garden, you do have to restrict their free-ranging, but I still manage to give my hens some freedom and not have the garden ruined. It would be a deal-breaker for me, as I love my garden. Turtle mats (an Omlet must-have! ) help keep the floors clean, and I change into gardening clogs whenever I go out to the run. Mine was more the case i moved the cube around every week, so they ate the grass and now its struggling to recover. I now have the cube (and classic) in one spot, but with all the rain and walking across the garden twice a day its a total muddy mess! I have my 'shed shoes' for going out in the garden and cheap washable mat which is washed regularly so helps reduce muddy feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uma Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I think I must have very well behaved chickens as my garden is great! In fact I already know I have extremely fussy girls-they have free range for the paddock, garden and raised beds and don't touch any of the veg in the raised beds! This may be because we have a dung heap which keeps them busy but they are amazingly well behaved! Uma x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Ended up with 8 Pekin hens from someone that used to be on here.. Just found them too much work! I've only considered once- but sometimes they do feel like a chore ... It's the weather! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeloo Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I agree with everyone else that people discover they are way more work and mess than expected. I saw someone locally giving away their three on Craigslist last summer. Not even any mention of wanting them to go to a good home! Just, "If you want them, come and get them!" They can generate a lot of poop for such small creatures! Still, I find them less messy and more useful than dogs! Mine haven't torn up any gardens, but there are only two of them, I don't have any small annuals, and they get limited free range time. They love to go under large shrubs and scratch around where they feel safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Hah! When we moved to this vicarage, it was a newbuild on the site of the old vicarage - and the builders had just dumped a bit of topsoil onto the rubble of the old house - so the garden was (and still is) a disaster.... I persuaded OH into letting me get the chooks as a way of cheering up an otherwise impossible garden. It looks miles better when it has my girls scuttling about the place - has brought a waste land to life. Having had 3 years off after the kids grew out of horses, chickens feel quite easy really....the mud isn't an issue & you can at least deal with them quite quickly if the weather is truly foul (no pun intended ). That said, though I started out with the and 3 chooks, and managed last winter fine with that, despite all the snow, I've been spoiled by using the for most of this year, and am finding it a bit of a pain to deal with the again now I've got my ex-batts living in it. But it'll take a lot more than that to persuade me to stop. As long as I'm physically able to, I'll keep going. My kids are convinced I replaced them with the chooks, when they went off to college - and though that may be a bit of an exaggeration, they have definitely given me a new interest and brought me new friends at a point when I might have been rather sad. I thought I was just getting 3 hens to cheer up the garden - but of course, hen keeping is less a hobby than a way of life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 It's a really interesting question and the replies have also been very interesting. We've always had animals; dogs, cats, small furries and ponies so I've always been an outdoor type person who is happy taking care of the animals in the freezing winter just as I am in the summer. There have been times that I have questioned whether I want to carry on and I can really relate to Sandy's post, it is the heartache that comes with it and it always seems to happen together. We got our first girls in August 2008, four ex batts. Things went well initially. We had our first girl pts due to peritonitis just under a year after we got her. Shortly afterwards another of our girls was diagnoised with a tumour. She carried on happily for another 7 months. At the time that her quality of life started to deteriorate and we made the decision to have her pts another of our girls became very poorly very quickly, she went blind, her crop became massive and she was obviously severely dehydrated. Our vet gave her some medication. We had our girl with the tumour pts and the following night our poorly girl died in her sleep We had a few more losses along the way but in January 2011 we ended up having 3 pts, all due to peritonitis. November 2011 and we had one girl pts due to a tumour and 8 days later another pts due to peritonitis. It is the way that it all seems to happen together that I find so incredibly hard. I get so attached to them, I work part-time so spend a lot of time with them and am just left devastated when we lose one, let alone when we have a run of bad luck and all the care by the vets and by us just cannot help them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Only the inability to care for my girls would put me off I still love them to bits I started by re homing 5 back in 2008 that were sadly bought as a fad without re search and quickly unwanted I have had a max no of 13 at any One time they consist of a right old mix of and brahamas pekins silkie frizzle I have never bought a single hen they have all been ones I have taken in some people have never enquired after them on the other hand the mum of my frizzle and pekin regularly emails me for updates I will always be happy to help someone by re homing. Like Ali's girls I havn't been brave enough to take on ex batts I too would be permenantly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 exbatts are so rewarding. I do urge people to rethink. yes there can be heartache but think of the quality of life you would give them, even if it is for just a short time. WHEN i win the lottery i want more land so i can get lots of ex batts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I am a long way off giving up on my chooks - just love having them. However I will put my hand up to having 'given up' on certain breeds. When I started I don't think I'd fully thought through exactly why I wanted chooks and therefore what breeds would answer that want (It wasn't eggs). Consequently I gave my first three to a friend and gave a couple more of a different breed away a bit later. Those I have now I would not part with as at last I have just what I want. I know of at least two forum members who have given up because they were not prepared for the noise that chickens (not cockerels) make and were worried about their neighbours. I also totally agree with others on here who have said that the books don't really prepare you for things like the quantity of poo or for things like cleaning out when it is cold, or going down the garden when it is dark and freezing in the winter mornings. All well worth it, I think, but I can see that it might put some people off if they believed all those pictures of chickens gently pecking at the grass on sunny days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I am currently chickenless. I rehomed my remaining 4 of 17 girls after the others were attacked by my neighbour's dog. I would love to have hens again but until I know how the dog got in and that any new girls would be safe from him then I'm not getting any more. We all miss our girls. Gardening isn't the same any more. I did underestimate the amount of poo and how hard it can be to go out to them on a cold, wet, windy morning/evening but the enjoyment they gave all of us made it all worthwhile. So my chicken dream is on hold for the time being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francesca88 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I would never want to give up my hens, but just lately the poo is getting out of hand. I have a big pile of poo but can only use so much of it for manure... what does everyone else do with it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
