Forghorn Leghorn Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Evening All We are very new to this forum and we only bought our Eglu and Chickens (from omlet) last week. The Ladies are setting in very nicely. We wondered if we could ask a couple of questions that may have been asked before (sorry). Are mealworms ok to feed to full grown chickens? we have heard they can carry bacteria that can cause problems. do any other owners feed their chickens live mealworms as they are full of protein? Secondly we wondered whether the Eglu could get too cold as the winter closes in. Our chickens are well provided for with fresh straw every day but the eglu is in the middle of the garden and does look as if it can get very cold, will they be ok? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Hi Foghorn Leghorn Welcome to the forum, everyone has got a wealth of knowledge so don't be afraid to ask !! Yes, mealworms, both dried and live, are fine to give chickens, in fact they'll probably take your hand off for them and you'll have friends for life !! Don't worry about the chooks getting cold because the Eglu is designed to keep chooks warm in winter and cool in summer.....good luck with the girls. We'd love to see some pics !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forghorn Leghorn Posted November 6, 2007 Author Share Posted November 6, 2007 Thanks Chooks The chap who delivered them said to keep them in the run for a week but the whole family loves them all ready. we wish we had done this ages ago they really are great pets. Yes I have cleaned up chicken poop and i still love em LOL this is no novelty!!. We always wanted to keep chickens but never had the space or time to build a chicken coop. I then did some work at a house and the family had a Eglu in their garden and I was totally blown away by the fact that someone had, had the idea to design a chicken coop designed for the ordinary surburban garden. I think the omlet organisation really has a nice attitude to its customers and even down to running a website with lots of information inc pictures and videos and a active forum shows a certain commitment. Looking forward to visiting often (after a short trip at Ebay) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Hi Foghorn Some people like to keep the chickens in the run for a week but most people can't wait that long !!! As long as you let them out an hour or so before sundown the first few days then they'll soon get the idea !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Hello Forghorn and welcome to the forum. Chickens are fantastic! If you have any questions whatsoever the forum is great and has most of the answers. The 'Stickies' at the top of each section answer most questions, but if in doubt or need further advice, just ask! There is normally someone on here at all times of day! (you will see the forum becomes addictive ) Dried mealworms don't offer any nutritional benefit to hens as the 'contents' have been dried. Mine still love them though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlaidegg Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Hi I'm pretty new to this too and the helpful people on this forum are always there to offer advice, particularly when my free ranging chickens didn't want to go back in. So my top tip (gleaned from all the advice that others gave me) is build in a treat that is fed from a special container that the chooks come to recognise. Then when you let them out for the first time you will have it all under control. Mine caught on pretty quickly and now come running to the sound of me banging the side of a metal bowl filled with sweetcorn. When once I have got their attention I start scattering the sweetcorn through the open run door and voila - chickens safely back in the run! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forghorn Leghorn Posted November 7, 2007 Author Share Posted November 7, 2007 We have tried them with corn on the cob 1st uncooked then cooked and they looked a little bemused by it and lost interest. We thought about tinned corn washed but you mentioned sprinkling corn to bring them back to the eglu. I am guessing you mean dryed corn?. I picked them both up to day and I have to say it was funny because maisy (gingernut) looked ever so put out by being held and "brocked brocked" as if she was telling me off. Matilda (miss pepperpot) took it in her stride and the whole family made a fuss of them both. we let them out for 10 mins today and they investigated a small part of the garden....very slowly. This is great fun and we havnt even had a egg yet i bought them mealworms today but Mrs Leghorn doesnt like like em because they are too maggott like..speaking of which can they eat fishermans maggotts? Mr Leghorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 I may be wrong, but i think the fisherman's maggots are dyed pink and they should only really eat the white ones. Glad you are enjoying your new girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Hello, welcome to the crazy world of chicken keeping. It really is the most obsessive hobby. would love to see some piccies of your new girls Nicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Welcome! You'll soon learn that there is no such thing as a daft question! If it's been asked before, some kind soul will direct you to the relevant post. Ask away - you'll be amazed at the number of responses you get! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forghorn Leghorn Posted November 7, 2007 Author Share Posted November 7, 2007 I think that plain maggotts are available but like a chicken I like to stay with the crowd if you guys don't use em then i am unlikely to as well. Mealworms eat grain whereas Maggotts tend to eat decaying meats of any description so by virture the chickens would be eating meat? or am i being a bit sensitive . Anyway Mrs Leghorn says no to maggotts so I suppose it a academic question now I will take some pictures this weekend when I have the day off and its brighter and post em next week Best Regards Forghorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Hi & Welcome to the Forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlaidegg Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 I did mean sweetcorn. I bought cheap tins from asda, that were just in water (no sugar or salt) and when I say sprinkle it is a tad sloppier than I made it sound Mine absolutely love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Welcome 'Leghorn' family Glad to hear you are enjoying your chickens. They are the most rewarding of pets. I find any excuse to get outside and chat with them Will ge great to see some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 My children absolutely love giving meal worms to the chickens. One of them will happily chase them around until the worms are produced!! It's a great way of getting them to like you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 It's a great way of getting them to like you!!! And I thought they liked us for our personalities . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...