News Flash - Latest!

I have decided to buy, not make, a hen-house. We have spent each weekend (and in my case, a big part of some of the weeks) since September, working on the people house. In spite of a trail of joiners/gas fitters/plasterers which still continues, we look like having to carry on with the work till Christmas. I have a Big Birthday (complete with bus pass!) coming up in January so I have decided that I'll buy the house and we'll make the run which will take a lot of the pressure off.

The once I fancy is

http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/lenham-503-poultry-house.htm

It is the smallest of this range, suitable for up to 6 laying birds. In spite of the fact that I know many small-scale poultry keepers can't help adding to their stock (!) I know we can't eat more eggs than 4 hens will lay - and even then the family will be getting some. I'm choosing this for its ease of cleaning - we still intend to put it on a raised platform, about 18" off the ground, so there will be no bending to clean out or collect eggs. Good when you are queueing up for your bus pass. It can also be moved as it has big sturdy handles front and back so I can include the hens in the Crop Rotation!

Haven't decided when to buy. Ideally there's no point in storing it for months but nevertheless I'd like to have it for my birthday - half past January. What fun!

Looking at hens in the countryside

We went for a visit to Spurn Point today and in Easington we saw several groups of hens, some free ranging like these and some in mesh enclosures. I think the lady above is a black rock and the little madam hurrying across the field below is a Light Sussex.

I'm still debating what hens to start with. I thought of retired battery hens as it seems like a good life to give them but from advice on the Poultry Chat forum - address on the right - I understand it's preferable to have some experience with other hens first, so you can tell if they are exhibiting 'normal' chicken behaviour or something problematical due to their un-natural lives so far. I havent totally made my mind up. I will probably go with whatever is available first.

Early days!

Just starting to plan our hen house and run. I have got my on-line order of 30m of Weldmesh safely tucked in the shed and we have a hen house design cut out and stuck together in Cornflake Packet cardboard.

I've also bought a couple of books and joined a poultry forum for advice and inspiration. Roll on Spring!