Hen house corner

Sarahsaver · 26 May 2005 at 6:10PM

I would like to know how many other old stylers have chickens, then we can share hints and advice on here.
I have had mine just over a month, and they are doing great. They eat leftovers though are a bit fussy and won't eat just any old thing. Mine have just appeared in the local paper

because I am a local business person with an odd hobby (chicken keeping - is it really that odd?) The kids love them and the novelty hasnt worn off like it would have done with a standard pet. These are definitely not pets, named hen 1 and hen 2 in case they need to end up on the table

squeaky · 26 May 2005 at 6:21PM

We have a couple of chicken threads you might like to peruse

If you look in our "Indexed Collections" sticky and then click on "organic foods" you'll find some links.

leonie_2 · 26 May 2005 at 11:30PM

Me SarahSaver, I have your hens sisters!

Lol SarahSaver gave me the address of the local breeder so I got my three from there last Saturday. They are brilliant and love to play sweetcorn dash up the garden and back with the kids! :-)

We had one laying straight away and today the second one started laying, I think the final one will be a while yet though as she just likes to forage for food for thirty mins then has to have a kip!

I cant wait for Sunday so I can make yorkshire puds with my fresh eggs, i've heard a number of people say that it makes them rise even more, yaaay!

I'm very scared of the local foxes breaking in so im making it like fort knox out there, just to be on the safe side.

skr80ab · 27 May 2005 at 7:58AM

parents have got 6 of them - def pets, and all have names! they enjoy the garden, but have converted a greenhouse frame into a hen house hilton for them at nightime!

jordylass · 27 May 2005 at 8:38AM

The place where I buy my free range eggs changes there chickens every June, so I have my name on 6 of them, but Mr JL isn't keen and doesn't want our very expensive lawn damaged if poss. I'm trying to sort out a corner and hoping he'll come round once they're here.

Lillibet_2 · 27 May 2005 at 8:46AM

Would love to but with a small suburban garden & a carivorous cat I don't think so, Hubby would have a fit:p Plus, who do you get to look after them when you go on holiday? Or do you just not go on holiday? And who kills them when thier laying days are over? Can you get a chicken slaughterer out of the Yellow Pages, like a chimney sweep? Sorry, lots of questions & I don't think there's any chance for me to proceed unless we move anyway.

mrsn_2 · 27 May 2005 at 9:02AM

I have 6 hens of different varieties, live in a huge run by the side of the house and they are not not phased by my 5 rotties, 2 terriers and cat, & I don't go on holiday !!!

Mrs N

Magentasue · 27 May 2005 at 9:22AM

Lillibet wrote:

Would love to but with a small suburban garden & a carivorous cat I don't think so, Hubby would have a fit:p Plus, who do you get to look after them when you go on holiday? Or do you just not go on holiday? And who kills them when thier laying days are over? Can you get a chicken slaughterer out of the Yellow Pages, like a chimney sweep? Sorry, lots of questions & I don't think there's any chance for me to proceed unless we move anyway.

1) Cats are unlikely to be a problem unless you have young chicks (which you don't need to have)
2) We have suburban garden - not a problem
3) You don't have to kill them if you don't want to
4) You need to find a neighbour who likes the idea of free egss when you go on holiday! They need to let them out in the morning, lock them in at night and top the food and water up every two or three days. And collect the eggs!

Sarahsaver · 27 May 2005 at 2:45PM

I have no probs with wringing their necks when their days are done, although my Goan friend said she would do it - with a sharp knife :rolleyes:
I have a couple of patches of lawn i have 'surrendered' to the chickens.
Interestingly after mine settled in they began to lay regularly, and now their eggs are getting bigger:)
The eggs are great, we had a huge pile of eggy bread for tea last night and just the colour of these eggs makes you realise how c**p battery eggs are.

foreverskint · 27 May 2005 at 3:00PM

do you need to keep a cockeral with the hens or not. I would love to have hens but am worried about the dawn chorus.

Magentasue · 27 May 2005 at 3:04PM

foreverskint wrote:

do you need to keep a cockeral with the hens or not. I would love to have hens but am worried about the dawn chorus.

No you don't. You only need a cockrel if you want the eggs fertilised.

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Hen house corner

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