Hello - newbie here

[nicola o]

Hiya

I've been looking at this forum for some time and found it very friendly and informative so I thought it was time to join properly and say HELLO

I have nine chickens, two dogs and a cat.

I love gardening and try to grow my own veg as much as I can.

I hope to join in discussions in the future (already posted in Rule the Roost to give my opinion on eglus - which i love by the way).

Thanks for looking at my post.

Nicola.

[lainey lou]

Hi Nicola
will say welcome here too! And thanks for your input on Eglus. Look forward to hearing all about your chooks and what you're planning to grow this year!

[Flummery]

Hi Nicola welcome to the grapevine. Glad you took the plunge and joined us!

[Nicos]

Hi there Nicola- and welcome to the Vine!
I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself on here!
What veg are you going to grow this year?? Anything unusual??

[nicola o]

Hi Nicola
Look forward to hearing all about your chooks and what you're planning to grow this year!

Hi there Nicola
What veg are you going to grow this year?? Anything unusual??

Thanks for the welcomes.

Firsly, the chooks - I got three, two years ago from Omlet when I bought the first eglu. Realised that chickens are like an addiction and soon wanted more so last year I bought a second hand eglu on ebay and had three ex-battery hens. I stayed like that until last november when one of the omlet chooks died and whilst putting them back in their runs after freeranging the two remaining omlet girls moved into the others run and house and refused to come out, so now all five live together in that eglu with a double run extension added so they have plenty of room if they can't freerange. As this left an eglu empty I realised I could get more chookies so three weeks ago I picked up a Blue Haze, an Amber Rocket and two Skylines (which should give me lovely green eggs)

With the veg plot, I'm not very adventurous with veg eating so only grow the basics lettuce/salad leaves, radish, carrot, beetroot, onion, (used to grow spring onions but realised they gave me terrible indigestion), parsnips, potatoes in tubs. I tried outdoor cucumbers last year but with not much success so might try them in the greenhouse this year, and I have tomatoes in the greenhouse - I can't stand toms but I grow them for the chooks as they love 'em !!

I like to try something new every year and this year I am going to try some pickling - onions and beetroot - so will grow loads more of them and pick when small. Also going to try some purple sprouting broccolli.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings.

Bye for now, Nicola.

[muck lover]

Sounds like a great variety of veg to start with. All the best of luck.
How many eggs do you get from all those chickens? I’m getting some hens this year I hope.

[Greenleaves]

Hi ML
Don't hold your breath for a response, Nicola O made that post 10 years ago

[Gordon Guff]

Hi Nicola
Im new here myself and found people to be very helpful!
Just need things to warm up and it`ll feel like spring!
Cheers
G

[muck lover]

Hi ML
Don't hold your breath for a response, Nicola O made that post 10 years ago

HA! Never noticed. I suppose I will never find out the egg count. I am getting obsessed with chickens and I don't even have any yet.

[Guest]

HA! Never noticed. I suppose I will never find out the egg count. I am getting obsessed with chickens and I don't even have any yet.

A happy, healthy chicken will lay one egg a day (even without a cockerel). A lot of breeds will only lay in warmer months, hence why you get hybrids (i.e. ex-batts/ brown hens) which quite often will lay all year round. Diet, health, age, weather will all have an impact on egg laying. Also you need to allow for or pick breeds specifically to avoid loss of eggs due to broodiness.

Just start you own thread if you have questions. Lots of bird keepers on here.

[Snoop Puss]

Hi Nicola
Im new here myself and found people to be very helpful!
Just need things to warm up and it`ll feel like spring!
Cheers
G

Hi Gordon, feel free to start a new thread if you want to introduce yourself to the gang. Meanwhile, hello and welcome.