I see you are an avid hen fan Dove and you are right, I would have to get the rest of the family on board, after all they would be eating the eggs too.
Oh yes, I heard all about Jill's hens poor things (yes I know it is all make believe, but so near the truth. Luckily (for the hens here,) we don't have foxes on the islands although there are a few escapee ferrets roaming around, which are just as vicious.
We have had hens for most of our time here and found them fairly easy to keep.
OH built a large raised henhouse with a covered run, so they have shelter on wet days and could be left enclosed if we were away for a day or two. They are free to roam during the day and are there like a shot if I get my fork!
They get fed mixed corn with some layers pellets when in lay and eat worms and grubs and bugs, dandelion leaves and berries and the occasional mouse! They seem to lead long and happy lives and our bantams raised several broods of chicks.
No health problems apart from keeping an eye out for scaly legs.
All of ours came from the local auction market and we just went along the pens and picked ones we liked the look of to bid for.
Do they not strip the soil of everything when loose BCD? I could let hens roam free in this potager as it is fenced but I'd be worried about them having the seedlings and crops as well as all the weeds and grubs.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
we had hens at our last place, small garden, was quite convenient to open them/clean them in the morning. ironically our garden now is much bigger and whilst initially we thought great, we can have lots of hens, the problem is, the best place to put them would be so far from the door, the time taken to sort them first thing in a morning before work is putting us off. (not least the time taken for neighbours also, when we're on holiday). i do really miss having the abundance of eggs. We're both a long way from retirement, but it feels for us, something that will wait until then.
@Obelixx ( and GD!) I use squares of wiremesh to cover newly planted seeds or small plants in the veg garden and elsewhere, if I have done a lot of clearing, but with sensible precautions they do surprisingly little damage overall. It is a large garden, which helps, but they like poking about under shrubs or foraging in the meadow and other grassy areas, and of course they clean up under bird feeders so I never get Daturas growing! They do like a patch of dry soil in the summer for dustbathing and can make a bit of a mess sometimes, but mostly we rub along together quite well
You have given me such a thorough overview of your hens, maintenance, pros and cons and how they would do so well in our garden. We have a patch just outside our window in the field, we are in the process of changing this from a raised wild flower bed into....what? We haven't come up with a good use of this patch.
It would be ideal to house some hens there,it is close to home, within view, admittedly exposed to the weather, but with a house and fence they could be secure and cosy. Now the difficult bit - I have to persuade OH that this is a good idea. It is my birthday and Christmas soon, so perhaps that may be an answer for him! I know pets are for life not just for Christmas, but we are responsible adults not fly-by-nights.
One thing I should mention is Bird flu. Not trying to scare anyone, just to be aware.
Last year was ok, but the year before there was an outbreak which meant restrictions were imposed for a number of weeks. Birds have to be kept in an area that cannot be accessed by wild birds and you have to wash shoes and equipment in disinfectant, and goodness knows what else to avoid transmitting infection, I can't remember it all.
One thing I do remember is that Harrod Horticultural produced a free standing run with the right size mesh that you could erect round your henhouse. Not cheap, (they aren't), but possibly a useful solution to a potential problem.
Hello went to a farm near by which have chickens and got lots of my list of questions answered which was helpful, I can ask more question if need to think of any, they sell chickens some which lay different coloured eggs like blue and olive green
I have decided to have chickens and got the run and coop in the Homebase sale which looks good may extend the run, will need to sort the area out on my plot yet and won't get chickens till next year when all up and ready,also ound a good shop which sells the food at an ok price and product like the water feeders and got some advice from them
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