I have been reading the forum with interest the last few days!
I have been wanting to keep chickens for about the last 18 months, but having a demanding job 4 children (two of which are identical twin boys just turned 4 and the edlest 2 being ferried to and from swimming, scouts dance club etc). It did not leave me much time, so all I did was talk and read about keeping chickens.
This last month though the urge to keep chickens has become unbareable, it seemed that evey couple of minutes all I could think about was chickens The only thing that was putting me off was the expense of an Egglu or coop and run
On Saturday enough was enough I just had to have chickens so I decided that I would convert the summer house, so I partioned part of it for my chicken house, fitted a perch, nestbox and cut a pophole fitted a door and made a little ramp for them. I was ready to go!
We all jumped into the car and went to the Domestic Wild foul trust (just outside Evesham in Worcestershire) and got all the bits and bobs that I thought I would need as well as 1 X RIR (Ginger) 1 X Speckled (Freckles) and 2 X Black Rocks (Jelly and Blackie)
I left them in their new house until Sunday morning 7am, they spent the whole day in the garden while I built a run on the side of the summer house(Hen House)
I cannot belive how addictive they are, my whole experience so far 3 days, has been so much more rewarding than I imagined they are just FANTASTIC.
I will post a few questions later once I have measured my/their house and run and maybe a few photos as well
Will
Last edited by Will on 29 Apr 2008, 16:12, edited 3 times in total.
man go for it it will give you the most pleasure in relaxation you can ever imagine and your children will love you for doing this i an ow over 40 and love this its so relaxing, i wish my parents did this for me , but sadly had to learn the world and its ways for myself , go do it , AND ENJOY
What a smashing introduction of you and your quest for chucks!
Welcome to the site .
As Sharon says you certainly won't regret having them; I can sit for hours watching their antics ; they are funny, cute, loveable and so much more!.
Looking forward to some photos when you get a minute
Welcome to the forum.
They are addictive, so don't expect to only have those you have now. I started with 4 and now have 9.
My father kept chickens when I was a child, so I did have them and have wanted them ever since. It was only once I realised you could rescue ex battery hens I got motivated and the rest is history. I was over 60 when I went for it.
Wendy
Hello, hope that you enjoy the forum and the friendly chums that inhabit it's threads. Apparently some of them are into chicken keeping so you might find out some usful stuff, i did.
Welcome on board and congrats for following your dream.
Chickens are lovely, I have 8 ladies all ex batts. Like you I waited approx 3 yrs to get mine. Couldnt have them where we lived before so had to wait till we moved. Havent so far had more, but I am seriously thinking about it lol.
Hello, and welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of chickens!
As everyone has said they so addictive, i spend all my time either with them, thinking about them or talking about them!
I got my 3 ex-battery girls over 3 weeks ago, and they already are part of my life and family, they are just great pets with added bonus of beautiful eggs!
Hi and welcome. You've definitely found the best source on the internet for chickens! It's surprising how little you get done over a few girls. We got eight about 6 weeks ago, and I have done little else than watch them and babble to them (expect to question your sanity with them ), even though I've had three essays from uni to do and my deadline is now Friday and i still have one to go !! I'm 21 and I know for sure that I am a chicken keeper for life! My best tip is never be afraid to ask...if you've got a question or probelm it's more than likely that someone else has been through the same thing, or is wondering about asking the same thing! Piccys would be lovely.
"The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it." - Arnold H. Glasgow
I got my five on sunday, they are ISA browns and I think would have been destined to be battery hens. I have named one, Mrs Brown she is the biggest and the most confident, and a bit lighter in colour.
I can't tell the others apart ..........yet. Hopefully they will grow up to look a bit different, im sure they will in personality.
We live in scotland, ( we have been up here for about 6 months after moving up from leeds.) So there are lots of sawmills up here where we got the wood cheap for our house and run. The house is brilliant and we are just extending their run. Section by section, working in between the rain! We were out there every day for about 2 weeks building the house. Nevermind about the house work!!! I can now fully appreciate why the "bought" houses and runs are so expensive, alot of work (and time) goes into them.
I am totally spoiling mine, don't see that is going to stop. Always on chicken websites and I dream about chickens every night...........not good I think I am becoming obsessed........
Cheeky chicken be proud youve uprooted yourselves and starting fresh and you starting a new life , enjoy it and also enjoy all what goes with the moving and i guarantee you will be very happy, welcome onboard
i have dutch bantams(very tame)the cat aint sure though so hes getting closer in the kennel for acceptation, i go into the run often but then the cat skeeps indoors at night so no worries and the chicken are all secure after a bedtime story and worms
The only thing that was putting me off was the expense of an Egglu or coop and run 
.
), even though I've had three essays from uni to do and my deadline is now Friday and i still have one to go 
!! I'm 21 and I know for sure that I am a chicken keeper for life! My best tip is never be afraid to ask...if you've got a question or probelm it's more than likely that someone else has been through the same thing, or is wondering about asking the same thing! Piccys would be lovely.
