My parents are going to get chickens, I'm bizarrely excited . . .

[bran]

and you lot are the only people I know who are likely to be at all interested, so I'm telling you.

They went on a chicken keeping course at Ballymaloe and have ordered a Eglu Cube.

I'm really looking forward to going to visit them, and ds will be thrilled to help feed them and collect eggs.

I would like chickens, btu can't be bothered with the mess, so wish one of my relatives would get a few,lol!

It's beginning to feel like war-time Britain with so many people having chickens in their back gardens!

PS. bran, it IS exciting and brilliant for DCs.

My parents are really looking forward to having them, and they plan to bring eggs to dinner parties as gifts. I suspect they will be giving a lot away as there will be six chickens and only two of them to eat all the eggs.

My Mum had plans for them to travel a lot after Dad retired, but he now has to have dialysis three times a week so I think this will be something to keep him amused instead. They also have a neighbour with a son just the right age to look after the chickens when they do go away (he can't wait for the chickens to arrive either).

Mum originally wanted a cutsy wooden hen house but I showed her the Eglu the last time they were over (which I had first seen on MN of course) and she really loved it. I should probably be kind and point her in the direction of MN so that she can post on this topic but at the thought of my mother reading some of the stuff I've posted on here over the years.

Yes, kids love playing with the chickens - all od the kids' friends get very excited when they come over here

me too!

And harvest festival at school the kids took home produced eggs to sell. We are super mums!

I WANT CHICKENS!

(could I keep them just in the garden and will they not be eating by local cats?)

or maybe eaten?

you can keep tehm in the garden. big ones will not get eaten except by foxes (if you have any). go and see someone who keeps them - i think omlet let you do that. it is fun, cheap, eco freindly and they are lovely.

bran - point your mum at the Practical Poultry Forum, it's just a bigger version of the MN chicken section. She'll get all the advice she needs.

The best fun on the forum is spotting all the other mumsnetters.

Lol, I love PP - mag and forum!