keeping chickens

[florry]

I fancy getting a couple of chickens and keeping them in my garden.

I have never kept chicks before but I do have guinnea pigs a rabbit couple of cats a dog and a parrot. oh and three kiddies and a hubby LOL

So can anyone tell me if two will be enough ! do they lay one egg a day each ?

Any info would be appreciated

 

[Penny12]

Ok - I'm an inner city girl so I may be waaaay off here...but I thought I heard that chickens need a rooster to 'persuade' them to start laying eggs otherwise they won't bother!

I will be watching this thread with much interest though

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Florry,

I will ask my friends who have a farm (and lots of chickens!) and post back here. They are away for a few days but will post as soon as I know!

Cheers

Karen

PS I'm a country bumpkin and I have a feeling Penny is right about the roooooooster Though maybe the parrot could be a stand in LOL)

 

[florry]

Thanks very much.. I'm gathering some info ..
and will wait to hear what your friend says.


Bye

 

[Shugmac]

When i was about 10 my mum and dad got my sister,brother and i 4 chickens they were like pets used to follow us around the garden and they used to come up to the back door and peck on it to get in and muscle the cat out of its food dish to eat his food they were brilliant laid an egg each everyday (which you will notice the difference in taste from shop bought) if they stopped laying you knew they were'nt feeling ok and off to the vets they would go sitting in a cage with all the other cats and dogs that were waiting to see the vet then someone we knew that had chickens and roosters said oh you need a rooster best thing for you chickens it turned out the rooster he gave us had TB and our chickens caught it and had to be put down i keep saying DH when i'm retired i want to move back to the country and have chickens again if there is any other questions you might have feel free to ask and i hope i can help you.

Sharon

 

[Sasha Jade]

We used to have chickens and my daughter gave them all a name and she was often seen walking round the garden, pushing a chicken in her dolls pram (if it wasn't a chicken, it was a puppy or kitten!!).
For her breakfast, she used to go out to the henhouse and get a newly laid egg (it used to drop into her hand) and from it being laid to her eating it was about 4 minutes!!
I agree Sharon, theres certainly a difference in the eggs from the ones you buy in a shop, the colour of the yolk for a start.
Sadly we were visited in broad daylight by a fox when they were out in the garden and he killed all the chickens (some had only just got out there after rearing them indoors from a day old)He also killed 2 ducks leaving us with just 2 ducks that had the sense to jump in the pond. We have not wanted to get any more since then but we still have DaisyMay the duck, sadly Billy (her mate) died at Xmas.
We have never had a cockerel, but had loads of eggs, at least one a day from them all and sometimes 2.
Love Sasha

 

[AngieUK]

We kept 24 chickens (and a goat) a few years back. Chickens usually lay an egg a day except for when they're moulting.....they loose thier feathers and that 'thing' (I have forgotton the name of it) on top of their head stops looking so red. Once their feathers are back they lay again.

It was good fun and they're quite easy to keep, one thing though, they get really friendly with you and will follow you around but never try and touch one if you have a cut on your hand.........they can smell blood a mile off and will peck very hard at your wound! also, if another chicken has a sore area on it's body the other chickens will keep pecking at it - even to the point of death - so a chicken showing any wound, or any bleeding area has to be separated until it is healed.

It's best not to have a cockerel as well, as then the eggs can be fertilised and may contain 'nasty bits and peices! you don't need a cockerel for the chickens to lay eggs.

 

[florry]

Ok thanks to all of you I have picked up some very useful info !

One thing though !!!

Who's gonna volunteer to look after them when I'm with the Mouse ???

LOL




You get to keep the eggies

 

[Miffy2003]

Florry,

I'm so sorry haven't come back to you before now! I have not been able to get hold of my farming friend (no it's not Farmer Mickey!)

Looks like you've had lots of advie already, but I'm happy to keep trying if you'd like me to)

Karen