We had planned this summer to start keeping chickens. Unfortunately things didn't quite go to plan. Firstly we haven't got as far with the garden as we would have liked, which means that there isn't yet anywhere to put a hen house. Secondly we had the unexpected expense of having to replace the car after it failed it's MOT so badly that it wasn't worth having it fixed. This does mean that we have had a lot of time to read up on keeping chickens and to spend time trying to figure out which breeds we would like to keep. Bryony has been doing most of the reading while I've settled on at least three varieties of hen I'm happy keeping: golden, speckled and crafty!
On the serious side, we are looking at having four chickens of different breeds which lay different coloured eggs. Not only will both the chickens and their eggs like nice and varied but it seems a really good way, especially as we get used to things, of keeping track of the health of each bird. If we suddenly don't have white eggs we will know which bird is sick.
Thursday 6 October 2011
I'd stick with bottled hens. They don't make a racket and wreck the garden.
I'm with Adrian on this one. The Old Speckled was my poison from a time 20 years or so ago when I had it on draught in a pub in the centre of The City of London. Great stuff.
I'm intrigued by your scientific approach to hen keeping though. If you get a cockerel you'll need understanding neighbours!
No cockerels, just quite (hopefully) docile hens.
Looking forward to hearing of your eggy progress.
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