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Chicken keepers

Meet others keeping chickens on our Mumsnet Chicken forum.

Original poster

my chickens are coming tomorrow!!

20 replies

LilyMunster · 01/04/2008 22:03

huzzah!

eglu cube and 6 chooks (as if i havnt been going on about it relentlessly for godknows how long...)

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Original poster
LilyMunster · 01/04/2008 22:03

tho, not in this guise, like...

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dilbertina · 02/04/2008 09:48

Hope the delivery goes well today! As a novice chicken keeper (6weeks in!) I think they're fantastic. I never knew chickens could be so friendly! They even put up with my 4yo picking them up and cuddling them!

Original poster
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 12:27

they are here!!

am ridiculously excited!!

cant stop doing exclamation marks!!

man just left...

am off out to scats to get a galvanised bin for the feed and some straw bedding for the nesting box

yay!!

(any other tips on things to pick up while im there??)

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tortoiseSHELL · 02/04/2008 13:27

Oh how exciting! Put some pics on your profile!

dilbertina · 02/04/2008 13:45

Well at some point you'll need

worming stuff..either verm-x if you want natural or flubenvet if you want heavy-duty....that's not urgent though...

red-mite powder...again not urgent...

Aubiose or hemcore is good, made from hemp I think...I use in bottom of nesting box (under little bit or straw) and underneath perches as much more absorbant than straw and poo disappears into it...

I presume you've got something for food and water to be served in...

A little trowel/spade and poo bucket useful if they are free-ranging and you want to keep poo levels down in "human" areas.

Have you got some mixed corn? they'll love that and is a good way to get them eating out of your hand!

My top tip would be to get used to handling them quite soon (I was a bit nervous to start with!) - they (and you) soon get used to it and it makes it easier if you need to handle them for any reason.

Enjoy!

Original poster
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 13:58

thanks for tips dilbertina

have just got back and now have galvanised bin with those elastic hooky things to the lid on the keep the food out of rats' way... also got some chicken spice foir a wee treat... didnt get corn yet as they only had mahoosive bags and they wouldnt haVe fitted in the bin ... but will get some.

yeah, it comes with the feeder and water drinky thing...

they will be free ranging... but i think i'll keep em in the 2m run for a week or so till they get used to home and i get used to them! they are all hiding out in the house so far... not ventured down the ladder to reach the food and water...

will go and take pics and talk to them a bit...

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TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 02/04/2008 13:59

The only urgent requirement is that they have a water drinker. But you may as well get a corn hopper (feeder) while you're about it. They'll need suitable feed (ie. layers pellets) and some grit - bags of crushed oyster shell.

Scats should have everything you need including what dilbertina recommended.

And congratulations on your new arrivals!

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 02/04/2008 14:03

Sorry, last post a bit late!

If you want to tempt them to eat from your hand or from round your feet before you buy mahoosive sack of corn - and your hens may not be brave enough until tomorrow when they've calmed down - you could try some cooked rice or pasta or sweetcorn.

Are they making that 'brau, brau' noise yet?

Original poster
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 14:13

ah, grit! yes i thought there was something else i hadnt thought of...

binkin camera needs chgarging so no pics yet...

hiya norks nope, theyre still hiding in the house... ive put some straw i just bought into the nesting box to make it a bit more homely... seems a bit rough and scratchy tho... am i being precious??

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dilbertina · 02/04/2008 14:50

You can always wash and roast egg-shells and crumble them up instead of grit in the mean-time. If they're free-ranging they may get enough stuff with shells as well to keep them going. You'll know if they're not getting enough as you'll get soft-shelled eggs!

Mine adore mixed grain. They also love things like prawn shells etc...

Enjoy chatting to your girls - they'll be out soon!

Original poster
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 14:55

theyre a bit young for laying just yet anyway... theyre only about 16weeks now (iirc)

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TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 02/04/2008 15:31

re: the straw, they'll either squash it down into a nice cosy nest shape or they'll scratch it all over the place and have a thoroughly nice time.

Don't be tempted to use softer hay instead as it can get wrapped tightly round their legs - or so I've heard.

Flame · 02/04/2008 15:39

That you BOT???

Original poster
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 18:04

ah, righto norks, will leave well alone. they seem to be doing both atm

yes! flamechicken my dear, it is I. i have named the first one (only one so far) to venture out of the house and into the run Flamechick

have just been taking pics... gimme a minute to upload (or attempt)

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Flame · 02/04/2008 18:33

I feel so proud!

Original poster
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 19:13

right!
i have a profile... you may take a look if youre bored

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Flame · 02/04/2008 19:27

(You're reading "His Dark Materials" btw)

So proud of Flamey

DD is currently saving all her doubles of stickers to give to your DS

Original poster
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 19:29

ah! thats right... will amend. cheers

awww dd is so lovely!

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Madlentileater · 02/04/2008 19:30

congratulations

Original poster
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 19:40

thanks maddy

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