Yesterday Adam and I ventured out to collect our new hens. We weren't expecting a traffic jam at the farm but it turns out they are very popular. In fact the nice farmer told me he sells 10,000 laying hens a year. They mostly go via other suppliers such as garden centres (definitely not to battery farms) and he said one posh garden centre sells the hens he was supplying to me for £10 each for £60 each!! These ladies are Betty (Speckledy), Frankie (Goldline) and Dragon Powerz Slayer (yes we let Adam name one!). Powerz is a White Leghorn and quite definitely both top hen and the brains of the operation. She managed to find her way out of the henhouse whereas I had to direct the others to the door at 10.30 am as they were still wandering hopelessly round inside!! Frankie escaped while I went to tell Monty off for barking and was having a lovely free range until Nigel and I rounded her up. They may get some free ranging when I've checked out the fox situation but not yet. They still have some growing to do before they start laying and then between them should produce over 800 a year - that's a lot of omelettes.....
They are so cute! We almost got some this year but it wasn't in the budge for a super secure hen house...and then we had those foxes. Great collage of your new friends!
Wow you have got them !!! Very good looking hens I must say & they look healthy too. A bit of colour variety so you can tell them apart & they will each become individuals very quickly with their own little habits ! I am impressed with the coop..very trendy coloured steps, someone has been busy ! Enjoy your hens & your first egg will be so exciting ! sounds like you have a bargain too !!!
@5unflow3r Start up costs are not inconsiderable - and you definitely need to be fox proof!! It's nice to get to the hen part and find they are not too expensive!
@happypat Those steps are painted in 'willow' Pat and the roof and pop hole are 'damson' (with 'willow' cat footprints across the roof at one point!!) Posh indeed! They are fun to watch but there was a panic last night as they couldn't work out where to roost and Powerz started pecking away at the others who took forever to get to grips with the steps. I'm hoping they'll know what to do tonight or do they always go a bit mad at bedtime? It was a lovely clean farm but he'd already sold out of two of the types I was planning to get - but I'm pleased with these three and the Leghorn lays big white eggs so I'll forgive her for being a little madam... Can't wait for an egg but I think it will be a month at best!
great stuff - my Mum got chicken earlier this year and whilst the eggs were great in the early days are getting tiresome now - but the rest of us enjoy the excess they can'g get through! Cool shot - can't beat fresh eggs!
@sparkle Hahaa - I think the farmer would be surprised that while he was trying to impress me with laying ability I was choosing the ones that lay the least! Good job I've got a lot of neighbours....
@judithg It all sounds lovely& you have really done the job properly too ! You might have to go & perch your chickens yourselves when it's dark until they get the message ! When we used to have lots of hens & they first went in the cabin they used to crowd together in the corner & if you weren't careful some used to get smothered ! Harry & I used to have to go out & perch the darn things in the dusk ! Yours won't smother cause there's not enough of them but they might want teaching what to do !! Good Luck.
Judith, wow, very impressive that you have taken on some hens. I think I like Frankie best :) , sounds like a free spirit and a tad naughty :) ...I hope Monty is not jealous of them !!!!
So pretty, and make sure you don't get egg bound!! My sister had some and her fridge was always groaning with eggs, they just could not eat them all up!
Oh my, they sound like a handfull! What a luxury though to have your own fresh free range eggs every morning! I see an increase in egg sandwiches for lunch and frittata for tea!
May 31st, 2011
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I didn't know the word 'budge'. LOL