PLEASE SIGN IN IF YOU HAVE CHICKENS

[tortoiseSHELL]

I'm still campaigning for a 'chicken' topic - I think MNHQ have said it is too much of a 'minority' topic. But, there seem to be loads of us. So please sign in so I can see how many there are! Thank you!

Meghalegs - Thanks!...a few questions then to start me off...
How much time and attention do they need every day? (Trying to see if it would fit in around ocassional days when we work PT away from the house).
I know that kitchen scraps can go to the pig but we're only a small family and there won't be that much so is there any particular food that they love (and which is nutritious enough) and that I could grow to save on buying in?
Also, if you were building your dream pig sty what would it be like - size, material, temperature, special features?
Ah, and one more question - what is the ideal age to slaughter a pig? (the pig's ideal age, not mine )

MT, that is a bastard fox

What are turkeys like to keep then?

You are now the third person I have hassled about keeping livestock on this thread!

Ooohhh how exciting or should that be eggciting , a topic just for chickens.

I am eagerly awaiting delivery of my very first chicken coop and house, and soon after will be in search of some tenants

ProfYaffle or Pillock, any hints on where to get hold of them near Bury?

I will watch progress of this thread with interest and glee, well done tortoiseShell

thanks MT
got to say I prefer livestock that put themselves to bed
might put turkeys on the back burner for now then (Boom! Boom! .... I know, I know, lame joke! Sigh)

Updated list...

tortoiseshell
ska
gentleotter
alienears
mehgalegs
marmadukescarlet (coming soon)
hippipotami (would like some)
DuchessofNorksBride
Ripeberry
Professor Yaffle (on order)
handlemecarefully
geekgirl
PrincessPeaHead
zog (would like some)
hermionegrangerat34
ingles2
BigBadMouse
Mercy (used to have them)
WelliesandPyjamas
oggsfrog
PillockoftheCommunity
BoysonToast (coming April)
DoodleToYou (coming April)
Madlentileater
FrannyandZooey (no chickens, but supporter of topic)
Hassled
Eve
KatyMac
Barnstaple (ex-batts coming soon)
Waynetta (no chickens, but topic defender)
moopymoo
dilbertina
littlerach (chickens to come!)
aefondkiss
Loshad
brrrrmmmm (no chickens yet though!)
Raffaella
MilkyCheeks
dancingonthelilypads (chickens still to come)
MaloryTowers
ButterflyBessie (chickens coming)

I make that 41 so far tortoiseSHELL and there are a few others still lurking in Ethical Living so it is roughly 50, probably a lot more.
I think Mumsnet should now recognise your massive effort and give us a chicken area.

O O O O O O < half a dozen eggs for the MN team >

I think it is a good idea to keep this bumped because it is so easy to miss threads like this, and that is why we need a chicken topic

I even want to sort my profile out so I can show off some pictures of my chooks

It's coming but please be patient - our new tech folks are still finding their feet!

gets ready to hide it

Me! I have four.

can i ask how many of us have ducks? we are getting call ducks soon and i need housing advice!

BBM and Dill

Yes, I really don't know why I put Dorset when I meant Devon??

Yes, every Tuesday. Have been for a look but never to buy, although very tempting!

We stay on a 'play/petting' farm nr Torrington, they are organising the ex FR from a local supplier.

Am now getting anxious about having so many chooks, what if they are all good layers?

I need to ask my first question. In the long term I would like to have 8-10 chickens. Do I need to get them all at once if I am going to be keeping them together? What about introducing some ex battery hens? Could I keep them all together? Do 'chicken introductions' tend to go well??

how many hens are you getting marmaduke?

(we have 4 hens and they are in there first year of laying so we get 4 eggs a day) which is a lot of eggs for a family of four but we do supply our family with eggs when they visit and our neighbours too.

dancingonthelilypads - you don't have to get all your hens at once, you could maybe prepare a separate run just a wee one whilst your new hens are getting to know the first ones, we got our four as a house warming present, three of them flock together and one is a bit of a loner. I think 4 is a good amount to start with.

thanks for the update Justine!

I have four delightful hens who keep me supplied with delicious fresh eggs. Oh and Reynard - we're waiting for you!

ska - we have ducks. two tiny little things that go 'meep' rather than quack.
They are temporarily in with three bantam leghorns but I am building a little duck shed for them today.
Wish it looked like this

Ah it's coming then [waits with baited breath]

We had our first 'full house' of eggs this year yesterday, meaning every single hen laid. I threw in some corn on the cobs as a reward.

Bloody cockerel still doesn't look like he knows what he's doing though.

BTW, if there are any semi or fully self sufficient people out there, I've started a thread looking for thoughts on whether I should 'go for it' and go self-sufficient. Link to it from my profile page or find it in ethical living, if anyone has any thoughts. Am worried I am a bit too much of a dreamer

we thought about this

what do you think? Could we make it? Oh so much to think about. My dh is convinced he needs to dig a pond but I think the old sandpit will do!

we're going for calls because they are little, friendly and make great pets, apparently. I love ducks and do miss Pip and Daisy (our old ones that got eaten) a lot