Chicken And Quail Keeping Course - Beginners

This session is an introduction to keeping quail and/or chickens in your back garden and should take approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. You will have lots of opportunity to observe and meet the girls, see their accommodation and ask questions.

On the day you will learn how to:

• choose, site, set up and clean an eglu and cube
• settle your quail or chickens into their new environment
• handle the hens (if you can catch one!)
• manage their daily care and maintenance requirements  
• look after their basic health and wellbeing
• keep them safe from predators
• prepare for dealing with a broody hen
• recognise illness and what to do
• provide a fun and exciting environment for them to live in
• and make the most of your quails and chickens eggs!

You will need to come dressed ready for the weather as the course will be held outside. Old shoes or wellies, waterproofs and a golf umbrella are recommended! And if we have freaky sunshine, bring some suncream!

We will round the session off with a cuppa and a slice of homemade cake (made with freshly laid eggs from my chickens) and you can ask as many questions as you wish.  

Unfortunately the garden is not fully wheelchair accessible but we will do our best to accommodate where possible.

 *Children must be accompanied by an adult and pay full price for a place on the course (but they will get an extra piece of cake and go home with a memorable experience). 

If you would like to attend one of my courses on a particular date that isn't shown, then I will be happy to arrange this subject to a minimum booking of 2 places - just send me an email with your request.

We accept no responsibility for any loss or injury whilst on the premises. By booking on this course you are agreeing to these terms.

* Omlet’s first quail/eglu keeper!* and "Sunday Times feature (Home Section 24th April 2011)"

I am Cathie and I just adore my chickens (and their eggs)! Having kept lots of different pets over the years including stick insects, snakes, lizards, chameleons, hamsters, cats, giant land snails, hermit crabs, rabbits and guinea pigs, I can confidently say that chickens are by far the most fun, rewarding and enjoyable pets we have ever had. We bought our first chickens and a cube from Omlet in 2008, after attending a chicken keeping course for beginners. We have 5 chickens in the cube, an eglu which is home to 3 ex battery hens and another eglu where our 4 Italian Quail live. I actually bought the quail (and eglu) for my partner’s 50th birthday last January, so technically they’re not mine!

We’ve had our ups and downs as chicken and quail owners and have experienced the wonders of buying our first hens, establishing and preparing their new home, finding our first egg, going through the process of introducing new hens, dealing with bullying, accommodating our broodies to hatch their own chicks (twice), managing the inevitable illness and dealing with vets.

The delight at collecting your own eggs on a daily basis and sharing a glut of surplus eggs with a grateful neighbour is so rewarding.