umbrella thursday Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 I'm new to the forum and discovered it when looking at the Omlet cube, which my husband thinks is a pretty nifty piece of kit. I've always wanted to keep chickens and fancy some pekin bantams. We have plenty of room but husband thinks they will smell and be loads of work. He's also convinced we will end up spending a small fortune in vet bills and stuff. I wonder if any of you experienced chicken keepers can advise me on how much work it really is and how much smell I can expect, also how much they cost to keep once the eglu and run is purchased. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Well say to him that they hardly take any time to clean out, you can line the droppings trays with newspaper and simply scoop it up. Chickens don't really smell. I've never had to go to the vets with my chickens and the only time when Henrietta was ill and needed putting down we asked the bloke we brought her from a few years before about her and he knew what had happened and despatched her for us. Also you can buy the standard healthcare things like poultry spice and louse powder quite cheaply if you need them from Mole Valley. If I were you I'd do some thorough research on keeping hens, the Omlet website has some really good and helpful information on it, which will tell you all you need to know. Hope that helps, Liz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Hi there I have had my cube and three chickens for a month and I've been really surprised at how easy they have been to look after. They do not smell (I use Aubiose in the droppings tray and run) and are really easy to clean out, just putting the waste in the compost bin. Very low maintenance really. I have a dog and he is much more responsibility/hard work, with walking, grooming, training, etc. There is only one slightly negative thing for me, and that's the copious amount of poo they do. Our family have taken to wearing Crocs on our feet (I've got the wellies) which are washable inside and out and I just hose them down at the end of the day. I have netted off a corner of the garden so the poo is contained, and shovel it up/hose it at the end of every day. But it's not particularly offensive especially compared to dog poo. So far they do not smell, I've had no problems with flies or rats and they are not at all noisy. It's only been a month though.... I reckon in a month I will get through a bale of aubiose at £7, food at £5 (more expensive if you go organic). I get my aubiose, layers pellets and grit from the local saddlery who deliver free. Hope you decide to go for it. And don't forget Omlet do a 28 day money back guarantee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 (edited) Tell him they take about 10 mins a day to look. after, with a bit more time say at the weekend when you give them a good clean out. The will only smell if you let them! You'll love keeping hens. Welcome to the forum. Edited August 5, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umbrella thursday Posted August 5, 2007 Author Share Posted August 5, 2007 Thank you all for your advice - I will have to save up for the cube first but think this may well be the ammunition I need. I've already trawled this site quite extensively but will have another look and do some more research, but hopefully will be joining you hen keepers soon. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Hiya, This is a great group to belong to., and trust me chickens are great to look after, Have you been to visit one in your area?, they will be able to show you what its all about and give you loads of advice, I now add Garlic powder (not from tescos) to their food and have noticed the difference with the smell, and its great, there just isnt any, no flies, its great. Trust me, it one of the best thing you can get. , and you will just sit for ages watching them, .. Housework wil become a thing of the past........... ( you just wont have time to do any, ... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umbrella thursday Posted August 5, 2007 Author Share Posted August 5, 2007 Hi Tracey I've not been to visit one in our area yet - need to find one in Somerset - but hopefully will do so soon. Thanks for your help - I'm really looking forward to keeping hens - just hope they don't decimate the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 If you let them free range around your garden, they probably will decimate it! Although bantams do much less damage! But they will get rid of weeds and pests, so let them loose and when they've cleared the area, start restricting them to the areas you want them in. I think most people find they keep their gardens decent if the chooks have restricted access only! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 If you go to the gallery on here you will see piccys of the chickens and alot of the runs that we all have, that may give you an idea Not all of us let our roam around the garden, i dont, they have their run and then they have an outside run, but the garden is mine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 My bantam babes are wonderful, and the pekins have the best personalities of the lot. They do like to go broody though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 I too keep bantams and have hybrids and large pure breeds in the past. Click on my www to read all about them. They are less destructive than the large birds - hence my preferring them. Their eggs although small, have large yolks and less whites - so are just the same - and really tasty. I have 8 and I reckon they cost £1 a month to feed. The don't do huge poos either Feel free to pm me if you need to with any questions. You will just love bantams - I have all sorts - and Claret does too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Hi TraceyI've not been to visit one in our area yet - need to find one in Somerset - but hopefully will do so soon. Thanks for your help - I'm really looking forward to keeping hens - just hope they don't decimate the garden. Well I think I can help there. I'm in Yeovil, I just have an ordinary eglu though with two chickens. Helen G is in Ilchester and she has an eglu and a cube. Hope that helps, If you want to come and see me let me ask my Mum first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 With regards to the smell/flies etc my OH was exactly the same about us getting chickens, he was convinced our garden would be swarming with flies and have rats everywhere and smell so bad we wouldn't be able to go out! ~However, we got the chickens (only 2 in an eglu) and we add garlic powder to their water and have done from day 1 so the poo doesn't really smell. On the 1st day we moved the run and then where it had been got swarms of blue bottles on the remaining poo which the OH got all worked up about and tried to mow up with the lawn mower, this however didn't work and appeared to spread it out even more so he was on the verge of making me ring the breeder up and return them!! all very stressful but we've got a routine worked out now where I pick up the poo from the run usually in the evening when we let them free range for an hour or so, then the following morning I fill our watering can and add a couple of drops of pure citronella, and then water the whole run (the girls love it, and run under the water then run away when they get wet!) and that together with the girls pecking any flies that go near keeps them at bay almost completely. The only time they really come near is when the girls free range and the poo in the run is left unprotected!! As for cleaning out we line the tray with newspaper and empty it once a week and even then there's not much in it at all so it gets tipped straight into the compost bin which is making our grass cuttings compost amazingly quickly! Anyway, bit of a long one but after our initial fly problems that were quickly put right and we have got Hemcore to put in the run and hopefully make cleaning them everyday easier, I would definitely recommend getting them, ours are just so sweet, OH even said he missed them when we were working all day saturday and didn't see them at all!! bit of a turn around from him wanting to return them only a week before!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 MEN !!!, cant live with them and cant Kill them...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umbrella thursday Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 wow - you are a really friendly, helpful lot - thank you so much for all your advice. Dilly, I have looked at your www already, you have a fabulous garden and I have so enjoyed reading all about your girls, it makes me want to get some more than ever. Ubereglu - I may take you up on your offer, but will be sure to give you plenty of warning so you can ask your mum first. We're in Frome - so not too far away. Otherwise perhaps I should just visit a breeder - do you know of any nearby. I've looked on this site and noted a couple but wondered if you had any recommendations. If I let bantams in their run all day and then let them free range for an hour or so, do you think this would restrict garden damage? Thanks all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal & ella Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 The irony is that the best way to convince your other half to have chickens is to get them after which they will wonder how they ever lived without them; that's what I found with Ella! Incidentally, on the subject of cleaning up the poo: one of my kelpies does that for me (dirty s*d). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Chickens are easy to look after, if you clean them regularly they do not smell and the eglu and cube are really easy and quick to clean. We had never kept chickens before and were complete novices, after a year of having them we would not be without them, they really entertain us with their antics. We have been to the vets once in 1 year and that was with Sam today (she has a respitory infection which the vet said was brought on by the weather). As long as they are kept in clean conditions and regularly wormed (every 3-4months) you shouldnt have many problems at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 totally agree with it being easiest just to get the hens and then the OH will be won over by them - mine had loads of reasons not to get them, and even once we had them kept telling me why it was a bad idea but after 1.5 weeks he wouldn't get rid of them now he went back to work this week after a week off with them and said he really missed the chikcens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
