lozkate Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Help. My OH and children are desperate for chickens, we had decided on 4 - nearly all named and 7 foot space alocated for their arrival, books and magasines digested with as much info as possibe and daily checks for more info from all the experts here. I was convinced until last night when I was about to purchase the coup. Now I am worried - am I really not letting myself in for lots of work, I have little time, just about to increase my hours at work and OH often away now and with 4 new additions am I mad with taking on more work. Yes the children say they will help (aged 12 and 9)- but that usually means help for a couple of weeks then leave it to Mum. We also have a labrador and I would hate him to get the chooks, my OH thinks he can train him to leave them, I don't have that much confidence although the place chosen for them is our kitchen harden which is fenced off. Would they be OK just in the run for most of the time (one decided on suitable for 6-8 birds) - I would hate unhappy and stressed birds. Sorry for this - I just need convincing by someone else and these are all my negative thoughts. Many thanks in advance for any help. Kate Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Hello Kate, Hope I can help a little bit. We are both out the house by 6.30am 6 days a week. Back at the earliest 6pm (its a family business) and I can confidently say that the chooks aren't too much work - they have a good clean once a week, and any other top ups really don't take much time every day. We also have two Springers - it took us a week to get them to accept the chickens in the run - (a supersoaker worked wonders ) but this weekend we managed to sit out in the garden with the chooks free-ranging and the dogs wandering around freely too If somebody had told me I would be able to do that 3 weeks ago I would never have believed them. It sounds that you have a nice area for them - go for it! Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 It is not masses of extra work really. 10 minutes a day to feed and water, collect eggs, let them in and out of the Eglu if you close the Eglu door at night. (5 mins am, 5 mins pm) Plus Half an hour at the weekend for a good clean. Plus an hour or so every 6-8 weeks for a really thorough clean. You can do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozkate Posted September 17, 2007 Author Share Posted September 17, 2007 Thankyou so much for your quick replies. I was just getting ready and looking out of the window watching a neighbours birds and thought how relaxing it would be and it would actually do me good as I could be more chilled (due to writing this topic and your replies I am in one of my positive moments!) I did mention to next door that we were looking at getting some chickens and I dont think it went down too well. Her 8 year old daughter came round and said 'We don't want our neighbours to have chickens next door' - wonder where that came from. They also asked how you pasturise the eggs and get the stamp on them! - say no more. Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Thankyou so much for your quick replies. They also asked how you pasturise the eggs and get the stamp on them! - say no more. Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Hi kate, They really aren't a lot of work and the pleasure you will get from them makes it more than worthwhile. At least you are having your worries now - I suddenly panicked after my Cube and gorgeous girls had arrived, worried about what I had let myself in for! But I wouldn't be without them now, have already got 4 more chookies and there are 4 more on order, my husband says we should have got them years ago and even my 22 year old son shows an interest! As for your neighbours, a few free eggs may well change their minds! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I agree, we had a panic after we got ours (and we only have 2) as we had probs with flies but our chicks quickly learnt how to catch them, and we got a flitrap so there are no probs at all any more. also we leave the house at about 7am and get back at around 5-6pm and our 2 are fine in the eglu run all day, they've dug themselves huge great holes that they sit and dust bath in and always rush up to see us when we go out and love to run around in the garden in the evening when we're home. as far as cleaning and upkeep goes, my OH promised to help but all he's actually done is lift the eglu and run for me so I can rake up the hemcore (and we onyl do that once a month so he's helped twice!!) - so anyway, he's as helpful as ever and I do all the cleaning and looking after but it takes about 10mins a day if you don't have much time, althoguh I always potter around there much longer! All that needs doing is topping up the food and water daily, and when they've kicked mud in thte water emptying it and refilling, then once a week emptying poo tray into compost which takes all of 2 mins. About once a month I move the whole lot off the permanent run area, take the eglu apart and give it a good scrub then hose down and leave it to dry, and rake up all the hemcore and put fresh down but to be honest that doesn't take more than 30-60 mins - I probably spend most time chatting to the chicks and sitting out there watching them free range than I do actually having to clean them out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 It's not the time spent looking after them that's the problem ...... it's the hours and hours you will want to spend watching them and chatting to them You have been warned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 It's not the time spent looking after them that's the problem ...... it's the hours and hours you will want to spend watching them and chatting to them You have been warned That is so true! I agree with what everyone else has said - 10 mins a day for routine stuff, and I reckon to clean the whole Eglu in half-an-hour or so. Cleaning out the run takes a little longer, but if you use aubiose it is so easy and won't need doing too often. I go away for weekends and leave mine with plenty of food and water, I usually get a friend to look in if I'm away more than one night, but they are fine. Provided you get a run suitable for the number you are planning, they won't be stressed or unhappy either. They will bring your garden to life - bet your neighbours will be fine once they see them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I don't think my neighbours have even noticed ours - they may have by my OH going out in the garden and talking about 'THE CHICKENS' at top volume to our friends who love to come over and see them, but apart from that I don't think they would really know they're there, and if they have noticed they've not had a problem with them as they've not mentioned anything! we didn't bother telling anyone as didn't want them to think we were 'warning' them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I've only had my eglu and 3 hens for a week but I would agree with everyone else. I too had a panic just before they arrived but they don't need much effort unless you decide you want to Necessary:- open eglu door in the morning (30 secs) food and water (3 mins) close door once they've gone to bed (30 sec) cleaning - as often as you feel like it, I reckon, or if smell gets bad! Unnecessary but nice to do:- preparing tasty afternoon snacks rushing out if the rain starts to put their cover on rushing out to take it off again if the sun comes out sitting in the garden talking to them while they freerange bringing them in the house for a cuddle at bedtime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I... it's the hours and hours you will want to spend watching them and chatting to them You have been warned I'm lost now if I can't have my quarter of an hour with them before I go to work. I don't know what I'll do when it gets dark in the morning - I go at 6.30 so if they aren't up and ready to chat to me by then I'll be distraught! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 5 - 10 mins a day - I say GO FOR IT! chooks are so rewarding, they get to know you and recodnise you as their mummy! really sweet little things worth 10 minutes a day, you wont regreat it! good luck! and theres also the hours you will spend with them, there great company Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I've only had my eglu and 3 hens for a week but I would agree with everyone else. I too had a panic just before they arrived but they don't need much effort unless you decide you want to Necessary:- open eglu door in the morning (30 secs) food and water (3 mins) close door once they've gone to bed (30 sec) cleaning - as often as you feel like it, I reckon, or if smell gets bad! Unnecessary but nice to do:- preparing tasty afternoon snacks rushing out if the rain starts to put their cover on rushing out to take it off again if the sun comes out sitting in the garden talking to them while they freerange ! they have to have a tasty afternoon treat! i do all of the following unnecessery but nice things bringing them in the house for a cuddle at bedtime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 And of course, you mustn't forget the hours we all spend on the Omlet forum Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Too Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 The clues in the name! We have Two (TOO) dogs and they are fine with the chicks, I lost one only to find him in the chicken pen (made of netiing and posts) hoovering up the bird poo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
