Chicken bald back

[Maxine1]

I'm picking up my first two chickens next weekend, and have the eglu all ready, but I'm feeling a bit nervous. Will I be able to look after them? Pick them up? Manage to do everything with a busy life?

[Luvachicken]

Hi Maxine and welcome to the lovely world of chicken keeping

 

Everything will soon slot into place and you will find the time to do the things you need to.

If you keep on top of things it doesn't take so long to sort.

 

The chickens might be a bit nervous to start with but they will soon come running when they realise you have treats.

 

What colour eglu did you choose and which chickens have you gone for ?

 

Just to let you know, that there is a morehens disease that you might catch, so watch out

[mollyripkim]

Welcome, just enjoy, they are a welcome break from everyday life. Yes addictive too, started with three and now have over 20. You'll have to post some pictures.

[Mars]

Be sure your setup is fox proof.

If you have busy life buy good capacity treadle feeder and Auto Cup Drinker connected to a good sized water butt, I don't know about the eglu, I use plastic shed, I use automatic door opener.

The only thing I really do is cleaning and collecting the eggs.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Auto-Cup-Drinker-for-Poultry-Chicken-Chick-Cage-Hatching-eggs-Automatic-/141366998723?hash=item20ea2136c3:g:4BgAAOxyLNpSDlF2

[gavclojak]

Welcome Maxine

Gosh we have all been there, the only thing I would suggest is grabbing a chair and a cup of coffee and watch your girls, you will soon see what is "normal" for them.

 

I'm sure there will be a million questions and don't hesitate to pop them on here and someone with infinitely more knowledge than me will be along.

 

The only thing I would say is did you consider 3 hens? I say that because if you lost one then you would have to go through the aggro in introducing a new one. I personally would only ever go for a minimum of 3

[Blackrocksrock]

Welcome and sit back and enjoy your new girls. They will soon get used to you and come running.

[Maxine1]

Thanks everyone! That's very reassuring, and I'm glad I can ask here for some advice.

[sarkymite]

Hi, welcome!

When I first got chickens I had similar concerns as yours; I have a very busy life and was worried about fitting it all in. I have to say I find my hens not only pretty low maintenance (with the exception of me coming down with a case of morehens, which did end up taking over the 4 day Easter weekend entirely whilst I supervised introductions, re-decorated runs, etc! ) but also a really welcome, "simple" distraction from my hectic pace of life. I make time to spend with them even when I don't need to (any excuse to go sit and watch them!!), it's peaceful and quiet (mostly!) and straightforward, and I think it really does me good.

When you are so busy you can't fit it all in, I find I can deal with feed/water and egg collection in 5 mins per day and have got weekend cleaning out down to a fine art; can do it in 30 mins if I have to, though as I said, I tend to make time to spend longer down the garden with the hens.

I find a fox proof (hopefully!) run is invaluable as I don't have to shut them into Eglu at night or let them out in morning, I leave Eglu door open (into run) on all but the severest sub-zero winter nights. I also have a deep layer of hardwood chippings in the run and find i generally dont need to poo pick etc as the hens turn it over and droppings fall through. A hose down every now and again (i used to let the rain do this but find life easier with a tarp over the run roof now) and then I replace the chippings when they start to degrade (approx 6-9 months I find). So all i have to do regularly is clean the Eglu itself and that can be done super quickly if short on time.

So if you create a low maintenance set up from the start I'm sure you'll be fine

[Maxine1]

Okay, they've arrived and they're settling in! It's been fun watching them slowly find their way around, and it took four hours for them to find the food - just as I was getting worried.

I've looked at the posts about getting them upstairs - they haven't tried the stairs, and they do look slippery. Not looking forward to bedtime!

But they're beautiful. I think I'm hooked.

[gavclojak]

What are they housed in, if it's a cube then I think 99% of us have added a ladder to the front of the original cube ladder...it's an awful design

[Cat tails]

Congrats!

What breed of chicken did you go for?

[Luvachicken]

Did they manage to go up the ladder tonight ?

[Maxine1]

Put a torch in the coop, and they tucked themselves in. Progress.

[Luvachicken]

Clever chickens

Do they have any names yet ?

[Maxine1]

Thanks for all the interest and replies. They're Gold Star Rangers, and they're in a fancy Go Up. I'm hoping to let them free range sometimes, but I have veg growing in the garden, so that's a wait and see. I also want to be sure they feel safe enough with me to let me pick them up.

They're called Mabel and Jemima, and Mabel has white feathers round her neck, so they're easy to tell apart.

 

Everything seems okay, but I've got two questions if anyone can help.

 

They seem to like pecking the outside of their feeder, and sometimes their ladder etc. Is this a problem?

 

Mabel looked to me as if she was getting ready to lay today. They both spent some time in the coop, and then she dug herself a nest right by the door of the run and squirmed around in it for about ten minutes. Then she went back to doing her usual thing. Is that what you'd expect? Jemima later sat herself down on the ground, but without the squirms. No eggs though.

 

I'm loving them, and my grandsons Will and Elliot are fascinated too. I've managed a tiny stroke, but they disappear quickly...

[Cat tails]

Everything seems okay, but I've got two questions if anyone can help.

 

They seem to like pecking the outside of their feeder, and sometimes their ladder etc. Is this a problem?

 

Mabel looked to me as if she was getting ready to lay today. They both spent some time in the coop, and then she dug herself a nest right by the door of the run and squirmed around in it for about ten minutes. Then she went back to doing her usual thing. Is that what you'd expect? Jemima later sat herself down on the ground, but without the squirms. No eggs though.

 

I'm loving them, and my grandsons Will and Elliot are fascinated too. I've managed a tiny stroke, but they disappear quickly...

 

My lot will peck anything... watering can, pots, wheeliebin... nothing to worry about. They seem to like the feeling/sound.

 

Might the squirming have been them taking a dustbath? Most hens love to dustbathe and some will even lay on their backs in the sand/dirt.

 

Sounds like a lovely bunch!

[Luvachicken]

I was thinking that they might be having a dustbath too.

 

Chickens also like to peck shiny things and pink toes - if your grandsons wear open toed sandals.

[Maxine1]

...and of course the 'laying' chicken was taking a dust bath!

[Cat tails]

[Maxine1]

Thanks for that - I wondered if they were missing something. I feel very protective of them, and I suppose I'm the biggest risk to them as I'm learning how to look after them. They've been feeding from my hand, and in the next couple of days I'll be doing the next challenge - picking them up.

I've got a Go Up and a run, but it doesn't really seem big enough. I've ordered some fencing, which is arriving today. They're taking over the garden!

[sarkymite]

I've got a Go Up and a run, but it doesn't really seem big enough. I've ordered some fencing, which is arriving today. They're taking over the garden!

 

And so it begins...

Glad you're enjoying them

[ChickenPoopGarden]

Pecking everything = normal. They love scratching and pecking. I get my shoes and trousers pecked at if I stand still for any length of time.

Scratching a hollow and rolling around in it = dust bathing. Chickens just LOVE dusting themselves in the soil. Given time they'll dig big pits that you can barely see them in. They also just like to plop themselves down and rest, especially in the sun.