My first hens!

[Crundy]

Yay! We went to pick up the Eglu today, and while there we asked to look at the hens they had. They seemed just as nice as the ones we were looking at in another farm, so we thought we might as well get a couple from there instead. We therefore now have Myrtle and Mable (Myrtle is the ginger one).

One problem, they wouldn't go into the Eglu to roost! We tried leaving a torch in the Eglu to attract them to the light, but checked back 20 mins later and they were lying down in the run
Eventually We resorted to the "jabbing them into the Eglu with a broom" method, which they wern't too fond of! Hopefull they'll go straight in tomorrow.

I'll keep you updated, but I have to admit that I'm really excited and I never thought it would be so hypnotic to watch a couple of chickens peck at the grass.

[di]

They are rather gorgeous!!!
I'm not very familiar with Eglu runs(in fact not at all!),but can you access the run?If they "roost"on the grass,they should be fairly easy to pick up & pop inside...if not you could try encouraging them with just a few titbits.Hopefully,the fact they'll wake up inside there in the morning,they'll realise that's where they need to go tomorrow night.
Have fun chook watching...it never gets boring!

[Crundy]

Not that easy to clamber in, especially for a chubby like me!
I'm sure they'll get the hang of it eventually.

You should have heard them when they first saw one of our cats returning to the garden

[bluemoon]

They look beautiful, Crundy.

[Hans Mum]

lovely girls, be warned you'll want more

[sheena]

lovely girls, be warned you'll want more

Oh yes, how true is that!!
I've only had my girl's a month and I already want more, need to move to a house in the country I fear... then there will be no stopping me!

[MaureenHall]

Oooooooooooooo congratulations I've got a Myrtle too, and she's a ginger one - one of my first ex-battery so knocking on a bit! Keep us posted on progress, first egg etc won't you

[HayleyB]

The one in front looks similar to a Black Rock, will be a good layer, they are lovely and lucky laydees, but you should get a third one anyway, umm.. err.. sorry............. just in case horrible to think of but they don't like being alone

[francesbean]

Hello Crundy - well done on your purchase. I have an eglu (red) and had 2 pepperpots and 1gingernut from omlet as well. Ican confirm they are lovely temperament and brill layers, ive had an egg from each a day since Igot them (bout a year ago), and apart from maisies eye injury(dont know how it happened but shes got a popped pupil now) they have been healthy and happy. Ifthey havent got the hang of it by now encourage them in at night with a small handful of sweetcorn. The only other issue i had when mine were young was when they started laying they didnt know to lay in the nestbox- but adding a golfball or two for a couple of days did the trick.

Also i agree with Hayley B about getting a third,I lost one of the Pepperpots to a dog attack in the early days, and it was so heartening to still have two -they love company.
Now Ive added 2 ex batts and all 4 are happy as larry.

francesbean

[Crundy]

Holy crap! I come down this morning to let them out, and what do I find in the nesting box? Well, poop, actually, but when I went back a hour later to clean the poop out of the nesting box I find it's been replaced with a egg! So first morning, first egg.

We rewarded them with some grapes in the afternoon. They didn't last very long. The egg has already been consumed by the OH

[Crundy]

Hello Crundy - well done on your purchase. I have an eglu (red) and had 2 pepperpots and 1gingernut from omlet as well.

Is the Eglu OK for 3 then? I wanted three, but was told the run wasn't big enough if we wern't going to let them into the garden until we came back from work each evening.

[Flummery]

Lovely chickens - and what a lovely egg too!

[davefromthechipie]

Great looking hens and wow what a good shaped /size egg.
Your right you can watch them all day long .

[Nicos]

Awww....lovely!!!..bet you can't stop watching them??? ..( and I bet you've already got a favourite???)

[Crundy]

Second day, second egg
Saving it until tomorrow, had a duck egg for brekky instead.

Christ she made a hell of a racket after laying it! Is that to tell you it's there, to warn you off or what? Hope the neighbours don't get upset!