Project – The Urban Hen Keeper

I haven’t blogged for a while as I’ve been busy foraging for ingredients to make jam & alcoholic treats! The three girls are well and truly part of the family. Still no eggs but the hens are a constant source of entertainment!

Mabel was a bit poorly a couple of weeks ago. One day I thought she was so sick I even phoned and made an appointment at the vets. On my return from work, bracing myself for an expensive trip to the vets and rallying my Dad to give me a lift in the car. I went out to put Mabel in the pet carrier, she was absolutely fine!

Having spoken to many other hen keepers & getting some advice from the Omlet forum, I’ve decided I need a relax a little bit more when it comes to chicken health!

As I mentioned earlier I’ve been doing lots of jam making and fruity booze brewing (sloe & damson gin etc). So here’s a picture of some of the jam I made.

Yep, Mabel seems to have caught a cold and on top of that she’s molting too!

Thankfully my chicken guru, Aunty Marion, has given me a few tips on how to handle it. I’ve made a cloth thingy to hang up in the Eglu. I’ve put a few drops of Olbas oil on the cloth, hopefully this will help her breathe! I’m also putting some liquid tonic into their water to give the chooks an extra boost.

We found Rhoda wandering around the living room and kitchen yesterday, she is a very cheeky chicken! It did make me laugh though!  We have now put up a barrier so she doesn’t come in the house and do herself a mishchief!!

We’ve got a new addition to ‘the clan’! My Aunty Margaret has bought us this fabulous chicken shaped egg holder!!!

Unlike most of the UK, the weather here in Carlisle has been mostly sunny. The Hens took full advantage of this and made themselves a dust bath / sun lounger so they could catch a few rays!

In preparation for the winter months, Simon’s been really busy  building a fancy roof for the top of the chicken run. He has also used his creativity to make a sign for the chicken run!’

I’ve got an amazingly talented husband!! The wood he used for the sign was from a eucalyptus tree that bit the dust after we tried to move it. So the tree lives on … a bit like the Tree of Temptation!!!

Whilst tucking into our dinner this evening we had an unexpected visitor into the dining room!!

"Mmm.... dare I go in, the grass is always greener ..."

"DOH! No Grass! But what's this round the corner?"

Yes, the hens are taking over!

They’ve decided their own food isn’t enough and are trying food from our plates too!

I love the fact the girls are now familiar enough with us that they come down to the patio by the house. Rhoda even peeked her head through the patio doors, cheeky chicken!

Elated would be the best word to describe how it felt when I managed to coax Rhoda to go onto my lap. I understand it takes time to tame a creature and gain it’s trust, so this was a real breakthrough for me!

This photo has made me go out and buy some more hair dye, check out those roots!!

Chicken Fact: The Ancient Egyptians developed a way to hatch chickens artificially. This saw the beginning of chickens being domesticated for food and eggs!! Got to love those Ancient Egyptian folk.

YEAH! Simon has designed me a logo for the urban  hen keeper. I love it! He is so talented! What do you reckon to it??

If I ever get an excess of eggs, I will most definitely be using this logo on the egg boxes.

…. Simon and me for some food!!

The hens and Toby the cat have come to something of an agreement with each other. Although I’m not sure if it is just a rouse on Toby’s part, and he is secretly plotting their demise!!!

Like the not so cool gang at school, I am being followed around the garden by the hens. No doubt this is because they now associate me with treats. I don’t mind whatever works, right? Simon is also building up a good rapport with the hens. He always did have a way with the ladies. Lol

What a totally relaxing, interesting & rewarding day!

It’s been a day spent outside in the garden, maxing, relaxing, it ain’t too taxing!

The veg plot has been tended to & many slugs unearthed. This seemed like the perfect kind of day to let the hen’s out to experience REALLY free range.

They have loved it! I’ve even managed to get Rhoda to sit on my lap while she eats out of my hand.

Toby the cat is completely ambivilous to the Hens as they are to him. Toby would rather sit and soak up some sunshine than bother with the chooks.

A very bad day at the office, but coming home and spending some time with the hen’s is suprisingly theraputic! Cleaning out chicken poo really brings you back to reality and reminds you what really matters in life. Whether it’s the odour that wafts you back to reality I’m not sure!

Discovered all the girls love ‘woodland crumble’ bird food, they go mad for it!

I felt brave today so tried to pick up Rhoda. I managed to get hold of her but she did not want to hang around having cuddles. I’ll just have to keep working on them. Hopefully they’ll love the cuddles soon enough!