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Original poster

Please dont laugh. Had my heart set on this and H has said no.

58 replies

carla · 08/03/2006 14:42

And my mum thinks I'm bonkers.

www.omlet.co.uk (sorry, can't do links).

The run thing, plus one Miss Pepperpot and one Ginger nut ranger.

We have the space. Can't see the problem.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 08/03/2006 15:17

OMG i forgot the feet

scratch

scratch

scratch

...

zippitippitoes · 08/03/2006 15:18

perhaps find your local chicken owners club and visit someone, volunteer to clean them etc see how you like it

MerlinsBeard · 08/03/2006 15:18

for the children how exactly? to clean/feed/get pecked?

sorry, i just don;t see it. i do however have an avergance to anythingh with wings so maybe i am looking for any excuse to NOT get them!

For fresh eggs i am lucky enough to have a farm shop local.

Original poster
carla · 08/03/2006 15:19

np, not talking a flock. Just two. And am quite used to beady eyes and red bits that wobble around by now, thank you very much! Grin

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 08/03/2006 15:20
Shock
nailpolish · 08/03/2006 15:20

dont envy you scraping chicken shit in the henhouse. god that stinks. and its not healthy.

Original poster
carla · 08/03/2006 15:20
Wink
OP posts:
Bugsy2 · 08/03/2006 15:22

The run needs moving daily to ensure they have fresh grass to peck & so that the grass underneath doesn't get too soiled. The water & feed needs adding to and changing daily. Their nesting area needs regularly mucking out.
Chickens are not very interesting and they are not huggable or even strokable. They won't always lay on a regular basis & then you have other yukky problems like shell-less eggs and all the potential illnesses chickens can get too.
I grew up on a small farm & we had chickens & my parents have chickens now & my children are vaguely interested but certainly not that bothered.
I'd only get them if you really think you are going to want to devote quite a bit of time & effort to them - after the initial novelty phase has passed.

Original poster
carla · 08/03/2006 15:23

They can't poo any more than babies do, np, surely?

OP posts:
Callisto · 08/03/2006 15:23

I love my chooks, but they can be smelly, they get really nasty diseases, they are very destructive, they need fresh water and feed daily, cleaned out daily and the chook muck disposed of safely, they need to be shut in at nightfall and let out first thing in the morning. I am not sure I really quite approve of getting animals because you want them and they may be theraputic. Not good reasons imo. Also paying £400 for a run and two chooks is madness when there is a possiblity they could get bird flu.

Original poster
carla · 08/03/2006 15:24

OK, Bugsy, you're doing it! Carry on Smile

OP posts:
nailpolish · 08/03/2006 15:24

very funny carla (not)

Original poster
carla · 08/03/2006 15:25

Callisto, that rules out most dog owners then, doesn't it?

OP posts:
trice · 08/03/2006 15:27

you don't need an omlet thing. You can build your own henhouse for a few quid. You can get rescue chickens from RSPCA.

I warn you, they will destroy your garden unless you have a lot of space. The eggs are nice. My dad has always kept chickens and ds loves feeding them and collecting the eggs.

In the event of bird flu you can always let the fox get em.

quanglewangle · 08/03/2006 15:31

Hi Carla Smile
Our neighbours son had 6 chickens and they were fine. He built up a little egg business - 6 customers 6 eggs/week each when they were laying. Not smelly and he stuck to his side of the bargain and looked after them. He got bored after a couple of years though and gave them away.
He also had ducks which were nicer. They didn't dig up the garden like chickens do (think I've got it the right way around) and they kept the slug population down. They were good company too and very entertaining to watch. They were given away as well though!! To good homes of course.

cupcakes · 08/03/2006 15:35

I want chickens and I can completley understand. However, I do have a tendency to think these things are great ideas then moan on about them for ages when I find them unexpectedly difficult (we've just got a puppy...).
We've decided to wait a year. See how things go with bird flu and get the building work finished, let the dog settle in a bit and most importantly see if we are still keen!
I get Country Living magazine and do like to buy into that rural idyll thing. There's a small feature in there this month on how to keep hens. They recommend \link{http://www.kitchen-garden-hens.co.uk/\this} website.
I can totally understand why you want to get them - I would sooner spend the money on hens than a holiday (not that I wouldn't love a holiday, you understand!). I think it makes a lot of difference if your dh agrees with you. My dh really wants chickens so I know he'll be involved in their care.

Callisto · 08/03/2006 15:35

It rules out anyone who has an animal for the wrong reasons and doesn't realise that animals are 365 days a year. We are a nation of supposed animal lovers and yet some of the abuse that goes on in this country is sickening and most of it caused by ignorance. By all means have any animal you want but just realise how much of a commitment that animal will be.

Original poster
carla · 08/03/2006 15:49

cc, thanks for that. How did you know I saw the ad in CL Shock Grin

Callisto, I do understand the point you're making, and of course I wouldn't undertake the care of something I couldn't look after. But I do appreciate your comments. I was just thinking out loud on MN.

By now, I should know better Smile

OP posts:
MrsSpoon · 08/03/2006 15:55

I would love chickens but then I'm off my head completely. Our garden is tiny so I think it's out of the question really but if you have enough space, you are committed to look after them, can afford them financially, and have someone who would look after them while you are on holiday I don't see why not.

wannaBe1974 · 08/03/2006 18:30

you also need to bear in mind that if you live on a residential estate then you may not be permitted to keep chickens. Generally most residential properties have covenants on them prohibiting the keeping of any livestock, obviously this won't apply if you live in the country but if you live in a town it almost certainly will.

Chickens aren't really huggable - if you like birds then why not get a budgy - you can tame it, it will live in the house and won't cause quite the mess/smell that chickens will. If you want to get something for outdoors then maybe a rabbit?

Pixel · 08/03/2006 22:42

We had 2 ducks in our small garden - much nicer than chickens. Even if they peck you it doesn't hurt at all because of their blunt beaks and they are very amusing. They used to tap on the back door if we were late with their food! They are a bit smelly if you don't clean them out often enough and they will ruin your lawn if you let them on there in wet weather (webbed feet make it muddy). Also you have to clip their wings so they can't fly away. (it doesn't hurt them, it's only the feathers). Good points:- they laid 4 eggs a day between them, they kept the cats out of the garden, they ate slugs, snails and woodlice, and the neighbours luckily loved them. They said it was like living in the country to hear them quacking and would borrow them to clear the pests out of their veg patches. I would have some now if we didn't have a miserable landlord. I wouldn't pay out for a daft plastic hut though!

ThePrisoner · 08/03/2006 22:48

I've always liked the idea of having chickens, but my carnivorous dh said he would put them in the freezer.

Tanzie · 08/03/2006 23:00

My Gran used to keep chickens and when they were ready for the pot, she used to hold them between her legs and cut their heads off with her enormous dressmaking scissors. Then she would let the chicken run off without its head. How we would all laugh.

Pruni · 08/03/2006 23:05

carla, friends (not here) have chickens and their garden is ruined on a regular basis.

however the eggs are special.

I hesitate to mention this again but I think we do actually live quite near each other...and I have seen foxes trotting down our street and sunbathing in our garden. Is the omlet foxproof? I know our friends suffer frequesnt losses and it used to be upsetting for their quite young children. (They are hardened teenagers now and can handle it.)

mrsdarcy · 08/03/2006 23:38

My DH wants to buy chickens from the website you linked to, so you're not alone, but I think you're both mad Grin

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