Omlet cube and run

[mcfee2]

So how long will it take me to stop panicking every time the chickens do something different? I'm nine days in and just watched Dandelion having a dust bath... after about ten minutes I started to worry that it wasn't a dust bath at all and she just couldn't stand. At the point I said to her that she had to get up, up she stood and started preening!

 

I guess it's just all very new and I want to get it all perfect for them, but I'm so scared of doing something wrong without realising. Am I the only one or is this normal? Please tell me I'm not alone!

[Chortle Chook]

It is quite normal They are funny beings and do lots of odd things. I think most of us have gone through that stage. I remember when I first saw a hen dust bathing I ran out with screams to OH that one of the hens had broken her wing And I've not even started on the poo inspection. . .

[mcfee2]

That's a relief!

 

It doesn't help that my kids are starting to worry that there are no eggs yet, despite only Fuchsia having a nice bright red comb, and the other two being a little paler... I guess we are just a paranoid house!

 

What should I be checking for in their poo?

[merlina]

hehe - I think you should stop checking for anything at the moment

 

I'd just take time to look at what they do (including the poo!) and what is 'normal' for them. Get used to their ways and behaviours and eating etc etc.

That way you're well equipped to see if anything changes - and those changes are usually the first sign that something's 'not right', well before there are definite 'symptoms'.

 

There's a thread on the boards somewhere which links to pictures of healthy vs unhealthy hen poo if you really want to have a look

 

I know I was an overanxious mum - I thought there had been a horrible fox attack the first time I saw all mine in the old compost heap dust/sunbathing with legs and wings all out at weird angles!

 

EDIT - I found the poo thread - click on the link in the Dogmother's post at the bottom for pix

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=14546

[lisaroo2]

He, he, sorry, but I can remember being exactly the same, and if it helps, when we had the Chooklets in September I went through it all again, oh and two weeks ago when we had the newbies. You just need to relax, watch and enjoy them. You'll soon pick up when there's something wrong when you know them. There's tons of fab folk on here who know so much if you get stuck, just don't be afraid to ask. It's all just a big learning curve but its fun too xxx