imminent chickens!!

[Shelli]

Dear All

Am getting very excited - we went to look at chickens on Sunday and have decided on 4 black rocks to start us off. They are very tame, love being handled and according to the chicken lady are almost indestructible - which is important with children around.

I was holding one and it fell asleep - which is apparently a good sign , not a sign that I am in any way dull and uninteresting!!

cant decide on whether to get a moveable ark or static chicken shed at the moment - it's only for them to sleep in as once they're acclimatised they will have a section of the garden under the trees to scrat about in. We will probably fence an area off for them so that our son can still play football on the other grassy area.

They dont seem much trouble from what the chicken lady was saying -

Any ideas on names - I was thinking of old fashioned ladies names like Agnes and Ada

shelli X

[eleanor2]

shelli sounds a really good hoby.eggs as a reward. i think gertie sounds a good chicken name.

[franbee]

Harriet, Gladys, Maud, Florence, Clara.

[sunflower]

Congratulations on your four Black Rocks. I have heard that they are very good layers and easy to keep. If you go onto the 'Omlet' forum, there is loads of information on there about Henkeeping. Also, you will see what other Forum members have named their Hens.

[keepersdaughter]

That's exciting Shelli, please post pictures when you get the girls. I see you picked a couple of old fashioned names beginning is A. How about Abigail or Adelaide, I think they sound like wise old bird names (apologies to any Abigails or Adelaides). Or, you could maybe pick a couple of Rural Musers Names ! :)

[Rustic Pumpkin]

Oh, Good Luck, Shelli, I envy you.

I long to have some chickens, and I would name them Emma and Jane (as in Austen) but sadly my neighbour has laburnum trees that overhang into my garden, right by where I have the only place to site a small run, and as they are poisonous it would be no good keeping hens there.

[Shelli]

They're HERE - our 4 girls arrived last night - the man came and set up the ark and run and we put them to bed

we were so excited we got up early this morning and there they were - out in the run like they'd always been there, pecking grass - beautiful in the sunrise.

We have all named one each

OH chose Layla
I chose Yoko
daughter chose Hannah
and son chose Shell

they are 17 week old black rocks - so eggs in 2-3 weeks - they're eating loads and 2 are bigger than the others so we might not have to even wait that long.

Here is pic - but it's not very good as itwsa taken through the mesh of the run

[keepersdaughter]

That's wonderful Shelli, bet you can't wait for the first egg - what will you do with it I wonder.

[Shelli]

Their first ones will be small and might not be "proper" eggs at all e.g. soft shells or no yolks.

the first proper egg will be a soft boiled "dippy" egg with toast soldiers - and we will all share it!

Shelli x

Must say I feel very rural today

[Crocus]

Well Shelli, congrats on your new "babies"! Hope they will give you lots of pleasure and eggs of course. That dippy egg sounds delicious - I love dippy egg with soldiers - my mum used to make it for me when I was little. Lovely names you've chosen as well. xx

[Shelli]

Chicken Update

Our girls are growing more every day - eating none stop and becoming fully integrated into the family.

my son had a hoot this morning trying to be a hen shepherd - he was trying to herd Layla back into the run (she likes to get out and eat the juicy fresh grass) but every time he got near to her she jumped off sideways which he thought highly hilarious - he then couldn't do anything for laughing. small boy in gales of laughter staggering around garden doing impersonations of chicken jumping sideways. - That in itself was worth getting out of bed for!!

Shelli X

[sunflower]

Hi Shelli, love the pics of your black rocks and what lovely names for your new girls. My four hens, Annie, May Alice and Lucy love to eat seedless grapes as a treat late in the afternoon, Its chicken chocolate. Also, they love cabbage hung up in the run and cut up lettuce.

[Shelli]

Hi Sunflower

I heard from a friend that they like seedless grapes - so I put some out for them - but they didn't touch them - should I have hung them up i wonder? they were just loose leftovers (a bit past their best ) so I put them on the ground in a corner next to feeder - also i put them out in the morning at the same time as their main food.

If I give grapes again I will hang them - we have a little grapevine in a pot - the wasps got quite a few so I dont think they're fit for humans - lucky chicks eh?!!

They love our cooking apples - the children cut up one every day and there's not much but skin left at the end of every day.

And Worms!! - they go crazy and run about like well ... chickens!! - you have to make sure they each have one though or it's war !!

They are giving us such pleasure - and they haven't even started laying yet

Shelli X

[sunflower]

Hi Shelli, glad to hear your hens are doing well. Maybe yours have'nt got a sweet tooth......or should that be beak!!! It was so funny the other day. On the chicken forum I belong to someone mentioned about hens liking toast and marmite. So, I fancied this for my lunch and made extra for the hens. I crushed the toast into crumbs and offered it to the hens. Annie, the head hen started grumbling under her breath as if she was saying, 'what is this silly woman giving us now' All four tried it, said UGH! in hen language then rushed to the water trough to get rid of the taste!

[buecherwurm]

So funny, sunflower. I can just understand how your hens must have felt as I can't stand the taste of marmite

[Shelli]

you either love it or hate it apparently - i love it - esp on toast with honey

the gals are almost 23 weeks now so I'm hoping it wont be long until we get our first offering - which will be small and we shall keep for luck - one book I read said between 19 and 21 weeks for black rocks and the next book said 24 week old pullets will be coming into lay -perhaps it depends on other factors too - i have noticed that Layla, the biggest one, has now got bright red cheeks and her comb is going darker - could this be a sign, i wonder?

they are becoming very tame now and race across the garden to meet me when they hear the flapping of wellies - it's cupboard love I know as I usually have something tasty about my person for them - their fave treat is bread and watercress.

They have really brought the garden to life - they are funny to watch - esp when they spot an insect flying by and go mad running after it - I always think that they look like old ladies running for a bus!
Shelli X

[Linnet]

I love to have my chickens in the garden with me - they will come and sit by my feet to sunbathe. I love to hear them 'talking' to each other when they find a juicy morsel. My son loves to talk 'chicken' he will go out with them and squawk 'Beckeeee...beck beck..beckee' there is only one word in the chicken language and 'Beckee' seems to fit the bill because they will answer him- honest - go on try it......