Pottage Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 You should totally go for it! I’ve had my babies, sorry I mean hens, almost 3 weeks now and it is the best thing I’ve ever done. I love love love them. They are like my children!  My husband and I are still learning and the slightest little thing that isn’t “normal” is making me a bit anxious (see my multitude of posts on here ha ha) but I wouldn’t change them for the world. I love them to bits, I’m even starting to get cuddles now (mostly only because they think I have treats but I’ll take that cupboard love!).  I’m rural and I know we get foxes because other people have lost ducks and chickens to them . Our girls run has galvanised mesh on the whole length of the bottom/underneath to stop a fox digging in, they free range when we are at home and able to keep an eye on them either in the garden or from the kitchen. Our garden also wraps around the whole house, but one side now has bamboo screening up to stop the little blighters getting at our veggie patch. You could try something like that to keep them where you can see them.  Honestly, go for it. You really won’t regret it. You should, however, be prepared for them to trash your garden and take up quite a lot of your time. I spend most of my evenings now cleaning up after them and watching them bimble about. It's far more rewarding than spending the evening in front of the TV though.  Don’t forget there are lots of rescue/ex commercial hens that need loving homes too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaKiw1 Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Not sure if anyone has answered your 'can I leave them out for an hour or so to do the school run' query but if you have gone for the free-ranging or even inside an electric fence option then it is probably safest to shut them back in the enclosed WIR when you pop out. It will only take a few minutes to do this as a shake of a container in which they will quickly learn there are some dried meal worms, or some other tasty treat like a bit of corn, will soon get them racing towards you and into the WIR so it's not as if they are hard to catch and shut away. Do go for it - you'll never regret it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Pottage I'm glad it's not just me!! I've had my girls for 4 weeks now and I'm COMPLETELY obsessed! I think OH is getting quite fed up of me now that all I ever want to do after work is be with the chickens! Or worry about the chickens, go on the forum and talk about the chickens, plan which chickens to get next....I think I have Morehens!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pottage Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Oh my God, I am such an idiot. Â I have literally only just twigged what Morehens Disease is The even sader thing is that I've even Googed it loads after seeing it mentioned in passing on here, but have never found a definitive answer on what it is and what the symptoms are. Â I ended up disregarding it and thinking it must only be something that affects those little black water birds with the red beaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scaredyhen Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Hahaa Pottage  I worked out last night why it might be layers mash. Before that I guessed it was because it must be layered food or something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 I did exactly the same thing pottage. I also didn't know where the crop was, until I found a huge lump at the bottom of one of my girls necks. Them I had to do a post about abbreviations. I though OH was old husband Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Pottage ~ I didn't realise at first what Morehens Disease is either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pottage Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 I thought layers was a brand name for ages, until I had that moment when I walked into the kitchen one day and saw the feed sack!  I'm sure there is loads of stuff I'm still being very simple about, though today is being a bit of a revelation. Apparently the "dangly bits" Husband and I have referred to for weeks is actually a wattle, and her lovely rosy red “cheeks” are really her ear roles (which I am still in shock about)!  Everyone has to start somewhere Scaredyhen. Hopefully these numpty stories have reassured you a little bit. I am still getting up at about 5:30am every morning to let them out because I’m worried one will have died overnight. I’m hoping that will pass soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scaredyhen Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 It does give me some hope Also, I will have yet another reason not to be able to do the housework  I'm quite desperate to get going with it all now. Annoyingly I have to work the next two Saturdays and have something booked for the one after those. The place I want to go is closed on Sundays and I'd really like to go with my husband and kids so weekdays are out. Perhaps just me and the small one can go for a preliminary scout next week sometime to see what we think. I'll have to try not to come back with a hen house and four hens under one arm I suppose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Oh my God, I am such an idiot. Â I have literally only just twigged what Morehens Disease is The even sader thing is that I've even Googed it loads after seeing it mentioned in passing on here, but have never found a definitive answer on what it is and what the symptoms are. Â I ended up disregarding it and thinking it must only be something that affects those little black water birds with the red beaks. Â I did exactly the same....I was so embarrassed...I thought OMG this morehens is airborne!!!! Eveyone seems to have it...then I cottoned on.......DOH Â And when I first went to the farmers shop for auboise I asked for Ambrose and a moult was a malt:))) Â Hahah cheeks, yea I didn't know they were ear holes until the vet showed me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pottage Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 At least you have time to get ready for your girls. We quite literally had to build the run around ours!  We were expecting the rescue lady to text the following weekend to say to come and get the girls, but on the Friday evening the week before at about 8pm I received a text to say the rescue was all systems go and to meet her at the farm Sunday at 12.  Now at this point I was at a rather merry family gathering. The following Saturday I rolled out of bed with the hangover from hell and had to dash around buying feed, bedding, galvanised mesh (which *nowhere* seemed to have in stock!) and goodness knows what else.  We collected the girls in empty Time Wine Club boxes (oh the shame!) as we had no time to purchase proper carriers, and put them in their coop on the grass with the door open whilst my husband dashed around making sure their run was at least secure for us to let them into it the following day when we had to go to work. To say it was a stressful weekend is something of an understatement!  This is about 1/2 an hour before we had to go fetch the babies   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pottage Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Google is an amazing tool. I entered the words "how to pronounce aubiouse" before I went along to the feed place and completely humiliated myself (which happened anyway when I tried and failed to lug the thing plus a bag of feed back to the car. HOW HEAVY?!?!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Your very luck pottage my OH doesn't know one end of a hammer from the other and try lugging all that stuff with a broken arm. Have been getting everything delivered for ages now. Thank heavens for farm and pet place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
