The coop is up & ready

[jamjellybina]

I can't wait I'm so excited, the breeder recommended Speckedlys and Marans (?) but we're going along to play with them tomorrow and find ones the children aren't scared of. It feels like Christmas

[lynda66]

that actually sounds like a very good idea, i'd go for a mixture so the kids can tell the differnce if possible and we need piccies when you get them please

[-pat m]

I can't wait I'm so excited, the breeder recommended Speckedlys and Marans (?) but we're going along to play with them tomorrow and find ones the children aren't scared of. It feels like Christmas

MerryChristmas

I hope the mixing goes well - and the children and chickens get on, It would be terrible if they didn't - I would really miss my children if they didn't get on with my chickens

Good luck with you chickens I look forward to seeing some pictures

Pat

[RedThorn]

FIrstly welcome to ya and secondlt CONGRATS Good luck and happy playing ! and lol Pat! My DD keeps telling me she wants to be an animal doctor. She's only 4 and she's had the idea in her head for 6 months now. OH and I say nothing to keep prompting her and support her when she mentions it. If this phase stays, we're in for a lot of strays etc

EDIT: I second Pat's request for pictures! - PLEASE

[jamjellybina]

I have no idea how to upload pictures but will be snapping away this afternoon when we bring them home so will definatley try. Thank you - you are all very friendly. Does anyone know how is best to introduce them to the children today? At the farm when we're choosing or once we're home?

[RedThorn]

Firstly how old are the children?

[Hans Mum]

depends on the age of your children.....i would let them 'help' you choose them but when you get the chooks home they will be stressed from the journey and the change of environment so they will need some quite time to get used to things, then tomorrow let the children help you feed them quitely and see how things go from there. And you need to get 3 or more hens (if you only get 2 and something happens to 1 they dont like to be alone). They'll adapt pretty quickly.

And Pat that made me chuckle,

[MaureenHall]

If the children are going with you to collect the chickens, then they'll introduce themselves I think the important thing is to not let the children get over-excited and frighten the chickens. Once you're home, put the chooks in the coop to let them get used to new surroundings, then once they come out, try tempting them with some corn in your (and the children's) hands. It'll be a wonderful experience I promise you

[jamjellybina]

My older girls that will be helping with the chickens are 7 & 8 and are coming with us later. I think I'll go with the plan of letting them help choose and they can quietly help put the corn out this evening before bedtime if the chickens are out exploring, if not they can help in the morning. They tend not to get over excited by things but my eldest could rival a cockeral for the noise she makes sometimes!! lol

[di]

Hope it all goes well.I'm sure both chooks & kiddies will grow to love eac other lots.
We got ours almost a year ago...the first day was a nightmare as all the children wanted to do was stroke/feed/cuddle them,so it was tricky persuading them to leave them alone to settle in.There were a few ups & downs,at one point DD was terrified of them as they'd all chase after him if he went in the run with corn!But now they all get on great.The best point being that when we've let them Free Range it's the kiddies that round them up & carry them back to the run.
We had had 3 Bantams in our old garden,but because they were a little more flighty the children hadn't had soo much hands on experience with them.
Just be prepared for them(your children) to boycott chicken meat!!

[jamjellybina]

haha - Good point Andi&Di, we eat a lot of chicken in our house so guess they be going hungry as we don't pander to fussiness lol We're planning on just having them in the run for a day or so and then letting them roam a fenced off bit of the garden, we have a toddler who has just started using the garden and don't fancy him getting pecked or chased just yet (although I would secretly find it funny)

[MaureenHall]

You don't want the toddler picking up the chicken poo either, it doesn't taste very nice (well I presume it doesn't judging by the smell of a freshly dropped one)

[RedThorn]

WEll? How did it go? and any pics?

[jamjellybina]

It went well. We went to Merrydale Poultry and spent ages with the chap who helps run the place. We came home with 4 hens, 1 white Sweetie picked by our eldest, 1 brown speckled Sweetie by our other daughter, 1 They just called a blue but I will try and find a pic of the breed she looks like and a ginger Ranger with chunky white thighs lol. I will try and upload some photos tomorrow. So far they've been quite good a bit of a squabble over a worm which two of them played tug of war with about 5 minutes after emerging from the coop. We haven't picked any names just yet but have been winding the girls up saying they are "Sage" "Onion" "Nandos" and "KFC" lol. I'm sure names will come to us once their personalities start shining.

[jamjellybina]

Rosena Johnsons Fotos | Facebook
Rosena Johnsons Fotos | Facebook
Rosena Johnsons Fotos | Facebook
Just a few photos they are still being quite shy and wouldn't come over to me. Hopefully I'll be able to get some cracking ones once they are out and about in their part of the garden.