Chicken.. Licked?

It was a hard year last year on our hens.  We entered the New Year with only 6 hens, from 11 hens and a cockerel.  Sad times.  Some we found what remained, others simply never came back to the coop.  All of our French Wheatens Marans have gone, such is the fate of the free range hen.  We discovered, quite early that the Marans were hopeless at going back to the coop.  If darkness struck before they got back they simply announced that 'the end was nigh' and sat down where they were, all our time was taken with ensuring that they were all back in the coop, this includes the cockerel!  But slowly, despite our best efforts they disappeared, two on one night!

I have to admit this left me more angry at myself than anything, I feel personally responsible for each one, I could have done more.  Gone out earlier, checked more often.  But I know that in the real world I cannot be on chicken watch 24 hours a day.  There are foxes, dogs, cats and all sorts out there.  Even a ferret which took 7 of the neighbours ducks in one night from out of their locked house!  A plan was needed.  Something to contain the hens, deter the predators and try and encourage an early retiral to the coop by all hens involved.

We call it Chicken-Knox...

(Sorry for the bendy look, it's one of my homemade panoramas!)

The chicken house always had its own small pen around it, but the chickens were free to roam anywhere on the farmyard, but the land surrounding lends itself well to being fenced in giving the hens a nice area of land that is entirely their own.  It is also butted up against our top paddock, so should we ever decide more land is needed we can make adjustments.  It is a bit bare for hens at the moment but I am working on that.  My mum is a collector of shrubs - when she finds them growing in her gravel they are dug up, put in a carrier bag with some compost and sent to us.  She has been doing this since we moved in and I have quite a collection.  Planting them has always been a 'I really should get around to that' job - some of these things are huge now!  So, a decision was made and they have been planted at Chicken-Knox.  And what with the summer growth that is usually down here I think the chooks will have a whale of a time!

With that in mind we added to the flock, all was safe and we wanted to top up the numbers.  It happened slightly sooner than we originally planned we said "we should get a few more hens.  Check when the next sale is." *rustle* *rustle* "Oh its tomorrow! Right-o!"

So off to the sale we went with specifics in mind, a checklist:

1 cockerel

Some hens

Something likely to go broody

There was a lot we were interested in as no one could possibly want it unless they were us: 1 Welsummer cockerel with 2 silkie cross hens.  Who'd want that!  What a mix match bunch.  They were in a tiny cage which was dark, so most casual observers just saw 6 little eyes peering out of the blackness.  But we hung around and soon saw a handsome cockerel and two black hens emerge.  Bidding was non-existent, only a few people who seemed to be 'maybe he doesn't mean it' but we did and they came home with us for only a few pennies.

I am not a huge fan of silkies, they aren't the prettiest birds in the world, cute, but not pretty.  But I think that these girls aren't too bad in the looks department.  The photos aren't great, they are still a little shy.

Here they are with their guy....

We also wanted something we were sure would lay and we are certain of age and breed and all that jazz.  So we got 3 Welsummer pullets as well.  They are lovely girls and are so funny to watch!  Its like they aren't too sure how to be chickens!  They walk up to the others and stare hard at them before starting to copy whatever they are doing!

They all seem to be getting on fine and the eggs seem to be a sign of that, we are now getting 5 - 6 eggs a day, which is a great number!  I need to find some eggy recipes, and fast!!

The Going's Slow

As you know we have built the stables but they still require a bit of work before they are ready for allowing people in.  Namely, electrics, water, internal wall in the tack room and various fittings.

We have spoken to an electrician and the quote is acceptable so we are in the process of getting a date set for him to arrive and get started.  Lights, sockets and, while he's at it, putting lights into the garage without the door!

I have however been having fun with my catalogues and have got the first of the fittings for the tack room.  I am trying to be sparing, getting the basics and then seeing what needs to be added as the tack room is in use.  So today my saddle and bridle racks arrived.  Isn't that the most exciting picture you have ever seen?

We are also progressing with the extension to the house.  The new plans are in, which are essentially a request to change the existing planning permission for a second house into just an extension to the existing one; with a few layout changes, obviously.  The extension will consist of a new open plan kitchen / dining area which will lead through to a large family room.  Beyond that, two new bedrooms, a bathroom and a cinema room. 

I cannot wait for the extension.  The new kitchen means I will be able to cook in winter (not that I physically can't at the moment but the current kitchen has no heating and a draft, so whatever the temperature outside is, that's what it is in the kitchen.  Doesn't help when you need room temperature butter!  But does help if you forget to put the milk back in the fridge!) 

It will also mean that we can eat at a table, not off our knees in the lounge!  We do have a dining room but it is also my sewing room, the computer room/office and general dumping ground.  It is also a long walk from the kitchen!  

And the new bedrooms will finally mean we can have guests staying over without the currently compulsory 'would you like the floor or the caravan?'

Its a big job however, and we are only just starting on the journey, the next big step in realising our dream!

The Stables - Finally Done... Almost!

Finally got the stables in last Friday! The workmen did well even through the gale force winds and the driving rain, and snow! It took them two days, well one and a half I guess! They look great. All my life I have dreamed of owning stables! I used to play 'stables' when I was little, drawing designs and layouts and desiding which of my multitude of imaginery horse would go where!

So now they are done, although we do have to get water to a more suitable location and get some lights in there, but ... details, details!  We have STABLES!!!

It is amazing to stand in front of our six doors and think, finally, 'This is mine. And this time its real!'

Before

End of Day One

Finished!!

The finished changing bag...

I have finally finished the changing bag. And I am very pleased, although Farm Guy has said it isn't the most manly bag for him to carry when he is out on his own with Farm Baby! :O)

I incorporated all of the aspects that I have learned with my practices.

Double pocket on the front, one the perfect size for my pocket diary!

Not the best inside pocket but a double inside pocket and a nice pink zippered pocket.

I also made a little tiny version to keep her dummies together and handy, it attaches to the strap of the bag - or anywhere I suppose!