[Misc] Anyone keep chickens? WTAF did I agree to it?

[Herr Tubthumper]

Ducks Hill Farm egg vending machine - the-gingerbread-house.co.uk

A trip to Ducks Hill Farm egg vending machine, Ruislip

the-gingerbread-house.co.uk

We get our eggs from here, going today actually.
If yr up to it, you could sell yr eggs similarly, nor too far I guess

They look like those wonderful FEBU machines in Amsterdam.

When I lived in Hove I often used to buy eggs from someone in Rodmell. Their house had an honest box with eggs for sale outside.

 

[chickens]

5 pages. Clucking hell.

 

[AmexRuislip]

They look like those wonderful FEBU machines in Amsterdam.

When I lived in Hove I often used to buy eggs from someone in Rodmell. Their house had an honest box with eggs for sale outside.

I think it's a great idea, when you pay for your eggs, you get an authentic cluck as the door opens on the selected door.

 

[A mex eyecan]

I keep chickens at my house in Cambodia! Fortunately, they are completely free range, roosting in trees, on top of the house etc, so no major financial outlay.

You seem to have forgotten vet fees on your list!

But I will say, it’ll be the tastiest chicken you have EVER eaten, especially if you cook it straight after slaughter, so that’s a big plus!

and don’t forget the call out fees for the pest controller trying to get rid of the rats

 

[dsr-burnley]

I got persuaded to agree to us keeping a few chickens.

By the time I'm done with buying a coop, bedding, feed, drinkers, feeders, grit, tonics, sanitisers, tonics, toys, shelter, sandpit, hardwood chippings for the run (no bark allowed), f***ing Fort Knox 500SqFt run (we have badgers and foxes living in the garden), I reckon the eggs will be about £20 each. Oh, and that's before I've bought the sodding chickens (between £30 and £50 each - WTF?!!).

"Oh, but [12-month old baby G1976] will love it. Won't you love her little face when she collects the eggs?"

"She can help me kill them when they get too old. Perhaps she'll like plucking them?"

Any chicken keepers on here? Please tell me that there is some benefit to put into my mental cost:benefit calculation, because I'm currently seeing pretty much only downside.

Bear in mind that under new rules just coming in, you will have to register with the government how many chickens you have, what breed, where they live, etc etc etc etc - this apparently will help stop avian flu. (Though who fills in the details for any wild birds living in your garden is not known. Maybe the government doesn't know that we have wild birds, or doesn't realise that they can get flu as well.)

 

[Easy 10]

All true, of course. But where's the fun in that?
And anything you produce yourself always tastes better.

Thats just what everyone says to themselves to justify all the aggro.

I've grown chilli plants and tomatoes in my garden. Fine, but no better than the ones at the local greengrocers. Lifes too short to piss about discouraging slugs etc.

 

[jevs]

Best pets i've ever had....full of character.

Fox proof your run. Then, double the fox proofing....and then double it again. I thought I had done enough and the b'stard fox still killed them.

They will destroy your garden if they're allowed to roam free but they'll also eat all the bugs and pests.

There's loads of free rescue chickens around or, buy a couple of bantams.....smaller but they're worth it for their fluffy feet.

They can be very aggressive to new hens you add to the group. The establish ones will attack and kill any newcomers (hence the term "hen-pecked") so if possible, get them all at the same time.

Enjoy, they're amazing pets.

 

[Timbo]

You also get two for the price of one, not only will you get to keep chickens, you'll get a lovely extended family of rats to go with them.

 

[FatSuperman]

I had chickens growing up, so whilst I remember the wonderful character and hilarity chickens can bring, I also remember that it's effort to keep them alive and healthy - like any other animal / pet. Frankly, if you get chickens because you want cheap eggs, you're never going to achieve supermarket prices. So it's either for the freshness or because they are actually great pets.

I'm telling myself all this again because Mrs FatSuperman randomly went out and bought all the gear, which just turned up at the house a month or so ago. I'm obviously partly annoyed because it's more work for me, but secretly I love going out there and have the chickens excitedly cluck and run about when I go near.

Mrs F: "Aww all the animals love you so much don't they, the cats and dog are the same - you must have a special power"
Me: "No, I'm just the idiot that feeds them all"

 

[Goldstone1976]

One of the better days: 4 eggs, and run now fully fox, badger, and rat proof.

 

[Titanic]

Gotta love a Brahma... and a crazy Polish

Very POSH looking hen house

 

[Goldstone1976]

Gotta love a Brahma... and a crazy Polish

Very POSH looking hen house

The silkies are thick as pigshit!

 

[Goldstone1976]

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

One of the better days: 4 eggs, and run now fully fox, badger, and rat proof.

View attachment 185915

Looks like they're living in a cross between Stalag Luft III and the Trueman Show.

 

[Goldstone1976]

Looks like they're living in a cross between Stalag Luft III and the Trueman Show.

That, my dear sir, is exactly the analogy I shall henceforth use when describing the lengths to which I’ve gone to keep predators and rodents out. Brilliant!

 

[AmexRuislip]

View attachment 185918

Picked up our eggs on way back from Chenies, did you enjoy?

Is that chicken run from Omlet?
(No pun intended)

 

[Bry Nylon]

View attachment 185918

Blimey. Your cock can reach your knee.

 

[Chicken Run]

One of the better days: 4 eggs, and run now fully fox, badger, and rat proof.

View attachment 185915

That habitat is incredible, brilliant work

 

[Goldstone1976]

Picked up our eggs on way back from Chenies, did you enjoy?

Is that chicken run from Omlet?
(No pun intended)

I hadn’t realised you were actually going today; we should have had a beer together. Yes, it was fantastic - we came away with a dozen plants and bought a sculpture which we’re expecting to be delivered any minute. Did you enjoy?

The run is hand built from scratch. The coop is this one (with the addition of auto opening and closing doors):

Long-Legged Maggie's Dozen Hen House

Maggie's Dozen Hen House, made in Dorset by Flyte so Fancy. Traditional timber chicken house with long legs - elevated to rise above the hustle and bustle of the garden.

www.flytesofancy.co.uk

 

[LamieRobertson]

View attachment 185918

Selfie?