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Keeping Chickens Newsletter
July 2013 Vol. 1
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July 2013 |
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Lisa
: Hi Gina, I like most started with just 4 chickens last
summer in a small London back garden that was till we moved to surrey,
smaller house larger garden - not for long lol. The new improved
large coop and run were built before the boxes were unpacked and
soon the girls had 3 new friends. Then we rescued a coop that was
being thrown out along with its 2 residents. Next came 6 day old
chicks for our daughter sent early on Christmas eve, gone was our
dinning room as it was far too cold in the garage for the chicks.
Four of the chicks were boys so found a new home with our friends
farm. She was sad at losing them, they were all hand tame and came
out to play daily so a few more chicks later, and an incubator and
eggs, and eggs we put under our broody hen, you see where I'm going
with this. We now have another large coop and run built in the garden,
4 became 25 very very quickly, we moved 6 months ago. Our girls
are a mix of breeds and colours they all play together in the garden
happily in the afternoon and take themselves home in the eve. They
reward us with lovely tasting fresh eggs. Each day any extra eggs
are sold to fund their food and bedding costs. All are handled regularly,
most raised by us from a few months/egg/day old chick. Even the
4 hatched and raised by our silkie are very friendly, they all come
running to me when called like you would a dog and most answer to
their names. The younger ones moved into their new home at the back
of the garden and have just started laying but still come in through
the patio doors to visit each eve often sitting on the sofa. They
also used to all sleep in one nest box no matter what I did 5 chickens
in a small space is so funny to see but now they are happy laying
they roost on the bars at night.
My advice to anyone new to or thinking of getting chickens is buy the biggest coop and run you can as 4 very quickly become 25, read loads of books and websites as you can never know enough. Handled regularly all breeds are friendly and easy to handle. Then just sit back watch and enjoy - they give so much more than eggs. If someone had told me last summer that I would be in the garden daily talking to chickens (yes they do answer me back, I speak great chicken) I wouldn't have believed them. Now I can't imagine the garden without them. BEWARE it's infectious many of our friends now either have chickens after seeing ours or have adopted a chicken that lives with us and they visit. Now the space at the bottom corner is looking a bit bare having just removed an old tree. Don't tell my hubby but I think he may not get his shed lol Well better cluck off, the Sussex is doing her victory song and dance to let me know she has layed. Bye for now all, Lisa Carol : How old do most hens live? I had one which died this week. She was only 2. My
Reply : Sorry to hear that. It can vary (just as with people
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