Chickens are here!

[Smileyk]

We collected our ex-battery hens yesterday.  They went into the coop and although they'd peep out of the door into the run, they wouldn't come out at all.

This morning we had an egg (and it was dd2's birthday so she had it for breakfast) then gradually they came out.  Two came first and then the third one came out and finally the fourth one.  We've had another 2 eggs too.  Two eggs in the nesting box and one outside - not bad going.  I just hope they lay another overnight as I inadvertently used dd1's egg in some cakes this afternoon and she is not happy with me.  ::)  Bad mummy.

Three of them put themselves to bed tonight but the last one wasn't keen and we had a bit of a battle.  Ho hum!

[Smileyk]

[manicscousers]

congratulations, nothing like it, is there, our 18 are giving us at least a dozen a day, luckily there are 9 people looking after them and we all have relatives who like fresh eggs  ;D
ours have now developed personalities, they're getting cheeky, too..they think my bare toes are slugs and have a peck  ;D
they love slugs, snails and worms, plus all the weeds,could you have a better way to get rid of things that annoy you  ;D

[Old bird]

Hi Smiley K

They get better and better too.  Mine are now so tame that they run round the lottie to a call from me (when I let them out onto a larger section of my lottie!)  They also "talk" to me now - and there is much excitement when I appear - lots of chatting and running around!

The ex bats are much tamer than "normal" chooks as they have lived a bit and despite their horrid cramped living conditions, they have never been mistreated by man, so they see humans as food and cleaning out etc. and not necessarily anything to fear!

The eggs just keep coming too!  It is amazing they keep coming and coming and coming!  You will notice also that after a week or two their yolks will become much yellower which is when the "battery egg" runs out and "free range" kicks in.  Taste much better too!

Keep us posted!

Old Bird

;D

[waitingforland]

Congratulations on your chickens  ;D
I just ventured into keeping chooks and got my four young pullets on Tuesday, i'm keeping them in my garden (no allotment yet) and sit outside watching them for hours when it's not raining  ::)
Can't wait for mine to start laying in a couple of months time.

[Smileyk]

Well they seem happy enough and we get two eggs most days.  We've had a few soft eggs but will monitor that and see what happens.  They are becoming tamer and sometimes you can stroke one but other times you can't get near them.  I was wondering about letting them out this weekend to free range the garden - but not sure if it's a good idea or not.  Might see how the weather is!!