Monday 13 July 2009

Chickens












I am chuffed at how much pleasure my hens bring me, they are fascinating to watch and very friendly too!!

Plus I get the added bonus of about 6 to 10 eggs per day. Over the last 20 years I have always tried to have a few hens running around, my father started it off when he gave me some Bantams, but sadly the darn fox clears me out on an all too regular basis, just hate it.

Recently a chum of ours offered me rescue hens from a large poultry farm, and a local Doctor wanted to reduce his flock. So I had to devise a way of making the chickens safe from the fox. A search on the internet led me to buying a roll of electric netting designed to keep chickens safe. I must say this is working very well and also stops the Kelpies, Roo and Rusty from rounding them up!!

I have 6 black hens which I think are Orpington or may be Australorp, and 8 brown hens that you see in the big free range units. The Brown hens lay brown eggs and the black ones lay white.

Would love to know what breed they are, if you know, pleased leave a comment.

The best time is going to collect the eggs with my two grandsons, wonderful to see their faces.

I am feeding them on mixed corn and layers pellets, with grit and shell. They live in two rather old field poultry sheds, and this seems ideal.

I am amazed at just how much you can buy for keeping a few hens, seems to be a very popular hobby.