20% off Halloween Items
There's less than a week 'til Halloween now, and many of you will be hosting horribly haunting parties and spooky celebrations over the next week. So why not take advantage of our devilish discount on all spootacular products?
Get 20% off all Halloween products until midnight on the 31st and celebrate in spooktacular style.
Just use voucher code: SCREAM20DISC (valid in UK, until midnight on the 31st October).
Win a £50 Omlet Voucher!
Thanks to everyone that has entered our annual Pumpkin Carving Competition so far. We have seen some truly petrifying pumpkins and you have scared us silly. There is still time to enter if you haven't already, and you could win a £50 voucher to spend on the Omlet website.
For your chance to win, just send a photo of your carved pumpkin to stephanie@omlet.co.uk The competition closes at midnight on the 5th of November. That's easy to remember!
A Very Impressive Cake!
Being huge fans of both cake and chickens, we were thrilled to see photos of an Eglu Cake that one henthusiast had baked for her sister's birthday. Not only does it look the part, but it sounds pretty tasty too, with three layers of sponge, peanut butter and jam. With green icing, edible chickens and chocolate mini eggs, Amy really did create an Eglu owner's dream. In fact, we are feeling a bit of cake henvy!
Unfortunately we didn't get to sample the cake, but it's not surprising to hear it was gobbled up in seconds. Yum!
The Chicken Forecast
Did any of you hear the eggs-tra special version of The Shipping Forecast on Radio 4 earlier this month? It was eggstraordinary! Feedback listener Dinah Shore had written her own version for the programme, titled The Chicken Forecast, in which different breeds of chicken and their predicted behaviour were read out by Dilly Barlow.
“Issued by the vet office, on behalf of the egg timer and toastal agency”, the Chicken Forecast included the 'general synopsis at breakfast time' and 'free range forecasts'. It concluded with the UK outlook for the next 24 hours - “remaining unsettled, with bantams veering westerly to avoid the post van”. What a hoot!
Although the clip is no longer available to listen to on the BBC website, we managed to track it down on another site for you. It's only two minutes long and it is well worth a listen if you keep chickens. Click here and have a giggle!
Keeping Cosy
This week Tom has written us a brilliant guide to looking after your hens in the Winter, but it's not just chickens that need eggstra TLC in the next few months. We have stocked up on products that will make Winter a safe and cosy time for all pets, and here are a few of our favourites:
Coloured Bottles and Matching Covers for Rabbits - It's always good to have a spare water bottle at hand in case of a frost, and these covers will help to regulate water temperature and prevent algae.
Microwaveable Pet Bed Warmer - Cats and dogs might get chilly on Winter nights, but pop this in the microwave to heat up and it'll keep your pet's bed warm for up to 12 hours.
Christmas Pudding Bed - Let's not forget the smaller members of the household! This cosy bed is perfect for hamsters, gerbils and mice to snuggle up and keep warm.
Visit the Winter Warmers page for the full range!
Tom's Winter Health Care
With the weather turning colder, now is the time to think about preparations for your hens.
Give your coop a very thorough clean out, taking it apart completely and cleaning every nook and cranny. Make sure it is dry and then sprinkle Red Mite Powder everywhere. As hens will be spending more time in the coop, they will need cleaning out more often in Winter.
Drinking water is one of the hardest things to sort out for your hens in winter. When temperatures plummet, it will be necessary to replenish the water a couple of times a day if it is below freezing outside. If you have an outside power supply, you can purchase warming plates specifically designed for chicken drinkers and this is a very worthwhile investment.
Another alternative is the Snugglesafe Microwave Heatpad which can be warmed up in the microwave and placed underneath the drinker.
With regard to food, feeding your usual pellets/mash is fine. You can make up a 'pellet porridge' by soaking pellets or mash in very hot water, leaving it to cool slightly and then
feeding it to your hens. They will appreciate the hot meal! A handful of Omlet Mixed Corn an hour or so before bed, will help keep them warm over night, but it contains less nutrients than layers feed, so should only be given at the end of the day. Fresh green vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, chard and cabbage leaves hung up in the run will give the hens something to peck at and prevent boredom. Why not try hanging in a Food Ball?
Omlet housing is designed to withstand a very cold winter, but if you are worried, we now have Extrem Temperature Jacket available for the Eglu Cube and Classic. Giving them extra shelter when it is really cold, by providing extra Covers, will help keep the cold wind/rain out.
The most important thing to remember is that winter is a difficult time for all animals, so make sure you spend a bit of time with your hens.
Before the 'Big Freeze' hits, we have Bonfire night! Hens are usually unaware of anything when they go to roost, but it is wise to take precautions if you are having fireworks in your garden or very close by. The noises will not bother them, as they will be asleep, but check the garden carefully the next day for any spent fireworks that they could have access to.
A feathered friend who loves icy weather! The sucker on his front means he can be stuck to your car window, perching there until he is needed to de-ice.
Now, this is a bird that's worth holding on to!
A colourful, wooden kitchen set that folds into an easy-to-carry case. Complete with pan, canisters and utensils, this kitchen is waiting for little chefs to cook up a storm!
Unsuitable for children under 3.
Most men like a bit of sauce with their breakfast and there's no denying that these egg cups are a bit on the saucy side. An eggstraordinarily cracking pair, it has to be said, the Double E(gg) Cups are a real bust-have for any fella that likes something to get his teeth into.
Ooh err missus.
Dried Mealworms are the less wiggly alternative to live mealworms but will still go down a treat with your chickens. They are the larvae of the Flour Beetle and made up of over 48% protein and 40% fat, making them tasty to eat and unlikely to escape a hungry chicken.
Now available in new 500g pack.
This delightful advent calendar has 24 pouches for you to fill with treats and sweets for your children. They will love opening a different pouch each day in the run up to Christmas, and it will be much more exciting than opening a regular chocolate calendar.
Hang this somewhere special, using the wooden bar and string and let the fun festivities begin.
Reusable Christmas after Christmas for years to come!
This glorious new range of kitchen textiles from Hope and Greenwood will guarantee you oodles of kitchen fun. Printed with pretty poodles in pastel colours, this gorgeous apron will look simply splendid on any chef. Of course, looking so glamorous, you're bound to enjoy the cooking much more too, so you may be spending oodles of time in the kitchen.
Made from 100% cotton and complete with 'life is sweet' badge for that extra touch. Matching items available.
