Hens

You will have to watch Mr. Fox. I don't know how effective a deterrent they are but fox are very opportunistic. My daughter keeps chickens (only 3) in their back garden and she has a run that is covered, attached to the coop. Mr. Fox has been around but can't get at the chickens thankfully.

Your life in Wales sounds very ideal....and it seems moving from Kent was a great decision for you and your extended family as well.

The best decision ever, have 100+ birds so have to keep on guard.

So lovely to rescue Battery hens Wthan...they all deserve a quality of life,and they look so healthy..:o)

i hope so .......... but my hens were killed by a mink . it got 10 over a month and can get in the tinest space . allso wach 4 stoates but its lovely to watch them run free

Just a question for you chook keepers....when you collect your eggs do you wipe/wash them before storing? I was told yesterday that they should be left alone as there is a waxy coating on the eggs when laid and I'd be removing the waxy coating on the egg (naturally coated to keep eggs fresher longer).

Any comments???

no dont wash them ,if you wash the coating off backteria can get in and make eggs bad. i only wash if its coved in poo and then use that one 1st.they keep fresh 4 bt 3 weeks and you carnt hard boil new eggs lol, they have to b a bt week old or you carnt get the shell of. you can freeze eggs out of the shell haha. either whole or seperate them . in case you have a glut. and you can fry them from the freezer acording to my book , hens in the garden eggs in the kitchen . very interesting i think !!!

Well my goodness....learn something every day! The chooks' eggs that I saw yesterday looked more like freshly dug up potatoes (muck on them) and I didn't even realize they were eggs! I guess you just have to wash them as you use them. Thanks Cristine.

I guess my daughter's chooks are a messy lot as she does clean out their enclosure regularly.

lol they can be thats a gud buk 2 get .

So pleased there rescue hens

I totally missed your reference to the book, Cristina....lol I definitely need those new glasses that are on order!

I'll look on the net to see if I can locate the title.* Thanks for the tip...it would make a good present for our daughter with the big C right around the corner! :)

* Found the book on Amazon so have made a note of it.*

it has loads of lovely recipes in it and little storys bt hens and lots of advice . i use mine a lot .x