Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

diluvsdiscounts

Gigervamp wrote: »

They haven't started laying yet, so we're still eagerly awaiting the first egg!

I have to tell you I went dizzy the day I went in and saw the first egg. I sat in the garden for about an hour holding it and ringing/texting everyone to tell them offthe new arrival. I then had a similar experience a few days later when there were two, god knows what will happen the day I go in and there is four!!
I did struggle for a few moments though before I could eat it with thoughts of it would be a little chick if I didn't eat it(which it never would be because we haven't got a cockeral) and then I thought I've waited three years for these chickens if I now won't eat the eggs I think DH would divorce me haha. I've got over it now and have no trouble eating them they are soooo tasty.
DH keeps complaining about the garden destructors as he calls them and the devastation he sees when he looks out into the garden so I told him yesterday that I will be buying him supermarket eggs if he carries on moaning:rotfl:
Let us know as soon as you get an egg.:j

Gigervamp

Hehe.

I'll definitely be on here when I get the first egg! Probably after doing a little jig around the garden!

Mumof2_2

What lovely girls Gigervamp! They look pretty much the same age as 3 of my 4, the older one has laid 13 eggs to date (only got them 20.2) so doing fab.

Here's some pictures of our lot:

Tikka



Mabel


Peckish


and last, but by no means least, Betsy

4Chickens

I need new glasses.
The chickens were loose in the garden yesterday and my border collie Mack was out there rounding them up. I was watching out the window and saw Mack bolt passed at top speed with a chicken in his mouth:eek:. I jumped up and started screaming, just in time to see him bolt passed again with said chicken, but this time a bit closer. It wasn't a chicken, it was a monkey (stuffed obviously):o. You'd have thought I would have spotted the arms and legs wouldn't you?
A bit later I catch Mack pulling the tail feathers out of our big grey and white chicken at the botton of the garden. I leapt up and was about to start screaming when I squinted and realised it was a tree root he had in his mouth.
Oh and I had a dream the other night that I went to check on our four chickens in the garden and they were all huddled together hiding three chicks that looked like puff balls. Instantly I thought the next door neighbours' rooster had been rogering my girls. NOTE: the next door neighbours don't have a chickens never mind a rooster. I was going to keep the chicks anyway.:rotfl:

Mutantk

Wow great thread - have sat and read it from start to finish - much cheaper and more MSE that buying a book - thankyou all for great tips and info! Juat ordered a coop from Ebay and been and bought layers pellets, corn and grit and some straw for nesting box and I pick up my 4 black rocks after Easter weekend - can't wait, am so excited! Already got my eye on the Lakeland egg boiler for my birthday in May! Out of interest, if I use straw in the nesting box, is shredded newspaper any good in the rest of the house? Someone in pet world this morning told me to try that but I hadn't heard anyone on here suggest that...Thanks in advance

mummy_knows_best

Hi i only have the 2 chickens one very boisterous the other very quiet, and the mad one has started to peck at the timid one, im really worried about her ive been out there with her most of the day, she just stands there and lets the other one peck her, im told its probably boredom but they arnt shut up all day and have a variety of foods, ive read about beak protectors to stop this are they any good?it was also suggested that i get a couple more, i just dont know what to do im really worried about her,can anyone help?

ginnyknit

Mummy knows best, you have to teach the bully that you are the top of the pecking order by pressing gently on her back till she squats or carrying her around under your arm. Obviously there will still be a pecking order but you will find they soon settle down. I had one bully and now she is very good. We let them onto the ready dug veggy patch today and now its a fine tilth ready to sow on! You can give them toys to distract them I beleive, or hang a cabbage up for them to peck at - gives nice yellow yolks too! Make sure you have 2 lots of food bowls so they don't have to share helps.

jexygirl

Mumof2 - what is that green stuff under their feet???? now i remember, its grass!!!! They look fabulous
Cindie - you off to specsavers then? your post made me smile!
Mutantk - I use sawdust from my log supplier, everywhere, both inside and out (outside it helps make it less muddy atm), the girls have decided where to lay, they nest, where to sleep etc. against everything I read! I would say tho, that newspaper would become quite soggy and smelly perhaps, and go a bit mulshy but not sure, as they poo / wee where they sleep, depends how often you clean them out I guess.
Mummyknowsbest - if you have an old mirror, try that too, I read somewhere, that it can help reset the pecking order, not sure how, unless its them thinking there are more? Ginnys advice sounds good to me too.
Jex

angelavdavis

Mutantk wrote: »

Out of interest, if I use straw in the nesting box, is shredded newspaper any good in the rest of the house? Someone in pet world this morning told me to try that but I hadn't heard anyone on here suggest that...Thanks in advance

Hi Mutantk,

I use shredded newspaper/waste paper in the nesting box with whole sheets underneath so the soiled bedding can be easily lifted out but outside you need something a bit less water absorbent. I use bark chips. You can wash them down with the hose when they get a bit smelly and then I replace them every 2-3 months.

mummy_knows_best

Thankyou so much for your advice, i have had them since november i just thought it strange why she should suddenly start picking on her now, i have put a mirror in there today and have started giving them separate bowls because she will not share the food and will gulp it all down so the other doesnt get any.I hope she does stop as she looks so sad just stood there in the garden, she even put herself to bed over an hour before the other tonight poor thing.