Roselady Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Hello all This is my first post (been plucking up the courage) but I ve been reading and enjoying the forum for the last month. We (hubby and me) are new to chook keeping and have had our girls for a month now - wow we were completely unprepared for how much they'd get under our skin, we love them! We have 4 pekins and an araucana, aged between 8 weeks and 11 or 12 wks. Doesn't time disappear when you re outside with them? At the moment they re doing their funny little bedtime shrill peeping. Fab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Welcome to the forum I have had my girls now for just over a year and still as besotted as I was a year ago.... Ups and downs but mostly ups and an absolute joy. Looking at the age of your girls you still have the pleasure of your first eggs.Don't forget to let us know and share the Whoopee!!..There is nothing like it .I still get great pleasure every day an egg is laid. I am in the process of plotting just a couple more.We have 3 at the moment and I am sure with a little planning I could squeeze a couple more in The OH though being the one with common sense needs more persuading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Welcome to the forum . They are lovely little creatures to have in your garden, aren't they . I still love watching them, 4 years on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaspersmum Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Welcome! Yes they're brilliant time wasters aren't they - I spent 20 mins watching mine snoozing this afternoon; that must be good for reducing stress surely? So not technically not time wasting at all then! Happy chook keeping and keep us posted with the first egg news x PS. I have major Pekin envy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted June 23, 2012 Author Share Posted June 23, 2012 Thank you v much both and I will let you know, although I'm thinking they may not lay till next year now? Will probably be posting alot of questions! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted June 23, 2012 Author Share Posted June 23, 2012 Jaspersmum, I find we both find it very relaxing, great stress buster, especially watching them shimmying in their dust bath hehe. Pekin envy ha I like that. The araucana is v gentle and the little fluff balls so feisty but friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Thank you v much both and I will let you know, although I'm thinking they may not lay till next year now? Next year ..I don't think so ! If you stroke them and they squat they are nearly ready . They should be point of lay at about 20 - 25 weeks or so that's not that long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Love the title of this thread! They really are wonderful, we started off with 4... Now have 14 (ahem...) Each girl has her own personality, they're all equally wonderful and we're utterly in love with them all OH, for all his sighing, tutting and chunnering about having too many, is completely soppy over each one too! Theres just something about the way they hurtle own to see us when we go out to the run, totally melts the coldest of hearts Be wary tho... Chook keeping is the most addictive thing ever.. We started off with a , then got a on ebay, then picked up a last weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaspersmum Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Jaspersmum, I find we both find it very relaxing, great stress buster, especially watching them shimmying in their dust bath hehe. Pekin envy ha I like that. The araucana is v gentle and the little fluff balls so feisty but friendly. We shall definitely need pics of the little ladies once you've made enough posts to add photos - I have a very soft spot for Pekins but have never actually owned any. At the moment I'd be slightly afraid that our grand old lady Matilda might sit on them and squash them - she's very gentle but clearly has ambitions to reach turkey sized proportions and isn't always careful where she parks her bottom! Looking forward to egg related news - ours had all laid first ones by about 20 weeks I think so not long now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Welcome to the forum ! Like you, I wasn't fully prepared for how much I'd love my little feathery blighters and how much time I'd spend with them, and four years on I still love 'em and watching them never gets old. Look out in the summer sales for a large umbrella, warm waterproof clothing and a large coffee mug, 'cos you'll still be out there with them in winter ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanT Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Hi, Firstly welcome to the forum! We have had our 5 hens about 2 months now and absolutely love them. The real fun starts when they start laying eggs and there is a queue for the nest and extra loud cooing, not to mention the lovely eggs. Several already with double yolks! We have also discovered a little bowl of porridge before bedtime is something they really love, and it gets them running from anywhere in the garden - an easy way to get them back in the run, makes me laugh every time. I have no plans today apart from a leisurely clean of their eglu and run, pottering about in the garden and sitting about watching their antics! Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share Posted June 24, 2012 Thanks everyone, love this forum! Have spent another lovely day in the garden with them. I must try the porridge! Bit concerned about Bossy Bren as she not been herself today. Been very puffed up all day and quiet tomo no better I will take her to vet. Found an avian vet and had their poops tested last week, so know its not worms or cocci. The more time you spend the more you notice their traits and yes I ve noticed they do all have different characters! They are still skittish do not easy to pick up but they follow us everywhere and where ever you sit they settle to skrit, sunbath or preen. Got in a pickle cleaning their eglu today (been outside full time for a week) I did it all. Are you meant to dismantle it everytime?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share Posted June 24, 2012 And yes I can see it being addictive. We ve been in our house for 6 mths and already I'm planning the garden to include more, to the bemusement of DH hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanT Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 You'll get into a routine with the cleaning, after a few weeks you'll not even think about it. I dismantle it all every week, each to their own though. You'll probably find they will be less flighty when they come into lay, ours certainly seem more relaxed and less skittish now. I'm sitting up waiting for them to get into the Eglu so I can shut the door! They are on a late night tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 We dismantle the eglus every week but must admit we don't do it that often with the cube as its not so easy to get to it in the WIR - currently planning an extension for them so the cube and eglus can sit outside the run! Well, we've spent months getting our house into a nice shape, now its the girls' turn! And yes, my OH also thinks I'm barmy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Hello and welcome I've had chickens now for nearly 3 years and I'm still a complete addict. I've been through the first time wows, and the 'must get more' compulsions, and am now starting on the 'special breeds and colours' addiction. The only downer for me is that I can never find enough time to play with my chickens and always seem to be tearing my self away from them and from the windows that look out onto their play area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 Thanks everyone. I'm sure we'll get into our routine quickly. The naughty little things decided they weren't going back in their run this morning - nearly late for work! I've already been googling and trying to learn about the different breeds and colours available. We love it - addictive indeed hehe. I've got another question but suppose I better start a new thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Bob it on here as well as in a new thread, I'm forever doing that! I used to frequently be hurtling into the office just on time before we got the WIR, watching them as they tumble out of the coup making a mad dash for the grub and glug when you open the door was just too lovely to miss! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 It is lovely seeing them tumble out every morning like they ve never been fed. DH has even been having breakfast (something he never used to do) so he can spend time with them in the morning before work Ok, well I mentioned Bossy Bren Pekin was not herself and seemed off colour all weekend and Yesterday morning. Took her to the vet and he examined her and said she was fine. She has recently been subtlety deposed of her position as top chook (by the araucana we ve had for 10days) and I wondered if it had stressed her or if she has lost confidence? Doing alot of anxious peeping, completely opposite to how she was before. Other question is, when do I put the roosting tray back in the Go? They refuse to walk on it never mind roost and sleep in a squashed up little heap Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
