My other half tells ma that their family (poor, rural Irish) used to peel potatoes thickly and plant the bits of peel that the eyes were in and grew plenty of potatoes that way, eating the rest. That's frugal!

Thanks for the reassurance, ladies. They've already paid themselves in entertainment value, but if they could leave us a few more presents that might help us afford to take some more when we're a little more confident. Like yours, Linda, I'm sure t'other 'arf loved every second. To embarrass him fur...

Poncharetta - you wouldn't consider adoption, would you? Your Christmases & Birthdays sound just fab!!

Thanks for the reassurance. Have a feeling that chickenitis is taking hold a little at a time! At the moment we're getting two eggs a day from our 12 ladies. They have been out of the battery for 4-5 weeks now, and with us for 5 days. Do you think their egg production will go up as they settle down,...

That's horrid! Poor chooks, Mum and Orphan Annie

Hi Mardatha - we live on another cold Scottish hill and have had to put a porch on the side of our coop for extra shelter. Please tell us how you get on with the shells as we have ex-bats and I didn't know about the problem.

If you don't like the idea of carpet, then a few layers of newspaper wetted or cardboard with any e.g. grass cuttings then put on top will help smother them out. I think you had the cardboard idea, but if you don't put stuff on top it rots and the weeds come through again, I found. Another idea for ...

Was thinking about Betty when I was cleaning out our girls - recently reprieved exbats. They are in a phase of trying out all new things, and one or two were pecking at straw that fell out of the coop. I wonder of Betty, who won't be able to see so well after dusk, thinks she's eating worms? And, fr...

Hi, we've had our 12 ex-bats for less than a week and feel extra 'specially responisble for them because thy had a horrid start, so sympathise with your anxieties. But all your instincts take over and it becomes easier hour by hour almost. The 'keep in coop' message is just so they recognise 'their ...

I agree with pretty much everything said so far. Leaf mould makes excellent compost, and I'd also suggest considering a seed bed. This is the time they need the very fine tilth, and then you can transplant them when they're bigger. Cuts down on need for expensive bought compost. Main growing areas c...

Well, don't we all?, Aceface! The girls are coming on in leaps and bounds - almost literally. Dora the Explorer has now discovered that her wings work, which came as a shock to all of us. One of them opens her wings and runs from one end of the pen to the other, seemingly just for the fun of it. The...

Also, if they have a dust bath, that would help them keep their feet clean.

Hi and welcome. You may find it helpful on the forum page to look at the pictures people have posted of their coops - one of the first two or three threads on the page. It would give you a few ideas for cheap DIY designs and sizes. Don't be intimidated by some of the more deluxe set-ups, which are l...

Wonderful to share your excitement and enthusiasm. Congratulations, and I hope it never wears off. Have fun!

Really sorry about this. Big hug (())