So... What exactly were you expecting from this page!
It's not what you think!
Ro has always wanted to keep chickens for all of the 12 years we have been together, and until now there was always an excuse!
However, the excuses ran out, no matter what was offered, there was no longer the "no space, no time, whats the point, who will look after them etc." So 3 days outside in Early January (we close for 3 weeks) - torrential wind / rain / snow, digging posts in, bailing the holes out, discussing politely the qualities of 50 metres of chicken wire being so easy to work with (not!) We renovated the old generator hut and the result is this, which now houses 14 happy hens who probably have the best view in the world!!!
After settling in nicely, each have their own personalities as you would expect, and slowly but surely names are emerging! There is "Paris" who looks pristine and so pretty all the time, but loves chips! Eddie - short for Edwina but named because she has virtually no comb so looks more like an eagle! Gosia, named after our polish waitress who is slightly crazy and never shuts up, she insists on following you around telling you off - just like our Gosia! There is also Roadie named after roadrunner for looks and the fact she can't just walk anywhere, everything is at full speed! Oh and then Maggie -clearly the woman in charge!
This was taken during "mucking out" nothing like some fresh sawdust and a sunny patch, to take a nice "bath"!
Helping with mucking out (which actually means chucking all the old stuff out of the barrow that we just put it in!)
Some "Before and After"pics!
The left hand ones were taken in March, about a month after we got them when they were beginning to get feathers, the right hand ones were taken 9th of May, you can see how far they have come!
Eddie ...
Whilst some were at the back of the queue for combs... some were definitely at the front! Meet Flick!
(tried for an hour to get an"after pic" today - still a work in progress!)
Paris
One of the better feathered when they arrived, all she seems to have gained is more attitude!
Roadie!
Maggie, the trouble maker!
A more recent "naming"
Beaky (and now we have to decide who is dave dee dozey Mick and titch!!!)
The run is easily accessible from the Inn, feel free to go out and say hello, or ask at the bar for a bag of corn for them - instant friendship!
It brings a whole new level to "knowing where your food comes from!"
It has also opened Ro's eyes to the fact that there is more than one 7.00 o'clock each day, not just one at night - seeing as that is when they are let out and fed every morning!
20th March Updated pics!
From hens that had no plummage to these...
look at those gorgeous thighs so fluffy!
We have been building from 3 regular eggs per day.
Today was our first 7!
There are so many factors - re growing feathers takes all energy - and they really needed to do that. Then the change in food / circumstance / light / moving and routine all pointed towards "they wont lay for at least 6 weeks" yet we had a steady 3-4 a day, then 5 then 6 etc...
We feed them natural food (corn and pellets and baked shells for grits) and leftovers, nothing that forces them to lay - they choose to.
Here are some true "bottoms up" pics!
28th March
Independance day!
We are now averaging around 9 eggs a day!
Today during mucking out, we decided to let the girls have a wander if they wanted to, and they loved it!
Their run is a quagmire after 4 days of rain, so this was lovely for them, ambling up the hill, grass and moss to dig up, and bugs to eat!
Getting them to come home was not as bad as anticipated, although we think that a few are planning an escape now!
11th April 2010
So...whose idea was it to let them loose!
The food is no longer enough pull to retrieve them, they see being let loose as a right not a privilidge after all this time with a daily scrat!
They plot !
They decided on a distract and conquer strategy and it worked!
14 hens, divided into 3 groups, all made good headway in different directions on the first official no time to babysit as you guys run amock and re design the gardens day!
Result was a very tired Joost as he went to feed them with the intention of a break that never materialised as they had other plans!
At this rate, we will soon need breathing apparatus to retrieve the braving advance party from up the hill!
They are having the time of their lives though, and in honesty so are we!
