Oh my goodness, it has been like preparing for a baby, and then just waiting and waiting and then all of a sudden it all happens in a flurry.
This morning Paul (my boss) managed to catch 3 of his free range Welsummer hens (not quite a true breed colour; thier legs should be yellow and thier feathers, brown), the other two hens that I am getting were a bit skitty and he was unable to catch them this morning. He put the 3 in a sack and brought them into work, they were very quiet sat in the foot well of the van. I had arrived early so that the chickens had the least amount of time in the sack. I then lifted them into my car and drove back down the hill, to home. I unlocked the front door and Hannah decided that this was the morning she would make her escape.* So I placed the chickens gently down in the hallway and went back outside and opened my car up, which thank goodness Hannah just jumped in, no great chase up the hills – actually it worked out really well as I then knew she was safe in the car and Buddy in his cage. Enabling me to carry the chickens into the back garden and safely place them in to their bit of garden, so that we can all get a customised to each other.
First thing this morning I went to the base of the hills where a tree had been cut down, I noticed this yesterday when walking the dogs. I picked up two cut off branches and took them back round home, purpose being; that the chickens could have a couple of natural perches to sit on.
After gently opening the sack and letting them step out one at a time, they quickly moved away from me, they were slightly jumpy as I stood up and walked back through the fence. The bronze coloured chicken was quite noisy, so I scattered some corn, having already placed a feeder and drinker down before they arrived. I then went into the conservatory and watched them all get busy, scratching around. I left them quiet and hopefully quite content.
This morning Paul (my boss) managed to catch 3 of his free range Welsummer hens (not quite a true breed colour; thier legs should be yellow and thier feathers, brown), the other two hens that I am getting were a bit skitty and he was unable to catch them this morning. He put the 3 in a sack and brought them into work, they were very quiet sat in the foot well of the van. I had arrived early so that the chickens had the least amount of time in the sack. I then lifted them into my car and drove back down the hill, to home. I unlocked the front door and Hannah decided that this was the morning she would make her escape.* So I placed the chickens gently down in the hallway and went back outside and opened my car up, which thank goodness Hannah just jumped in, no great chase up the hills – actually it worked out really well as I then knew she was safe in the car and Buddy in his cage. Enabling me to carry the chickens into the back garden and safely place them in to their bit of garden, so that we can all get a customised to each other.
First thing this morning I went to the base of the hills where a tree had been cut down, I noticed this yesterday when walking the dogs. I picked up two cut off branches and took them back round home, purpose being; that the chickens could have a couple of natural perches to sit on.
After gently opening the sack and letting them step out one at a time, they quickly moved away from me, they were slightly jumpy as I stood up and walked back through the fence. The bronze coloured chicken was quite noisy, so I scattered some corn, having already placed a feeder and drinker down before they arrived. I then went into the conservatory and watched them all get busy, scratching around. I left them quiet and hopefully quite content.
It is all very exciting, well for me, maybe not for them. Now just have to wait for my first egg; it is going to be so ... well just ... brillent.
I have had my heart set on Blue Laced Wyandottes but to buy new is quite expensive and having never kept chickens before, it was a little bit off putting. I have kept ducks so do have a little experience of poultry but I wanted to learn more about chickens before going head long into expensive chickens.
Paul has lots of chickens and said "he had about five that were the wrong colour, but perfectly healthy in every other way and would probably charge me £3.00 a chicken". They were hatched last year and are already laying. Bargain, which is why I have Welsummers and not Wyandottes!!
My aim in the future is to get some Wyandotte Bantam eggs and put them under one of the hens if, or, more likely, when one of the chickens gets broody.
*When ever I have taken Hannah up the hills, she must enjoy it so much that, the very next time, I walk in the front door she is waiting to run out. At first and very several times afterwards, I would follow her up the hill however last year I decided and it was ‘horrible with worry’ but I just let her go. Eventually after about an hour and after a huge downpour a very kind neighbour on the other side of our tiny housing estate brought her home. I repaid this kindness with a good bottle of wine! Now she runs out the door, runs for about 15 foot (3 meters), stops, turns round, and looks at me. I ignore her, walk straight to the car, open it up and she jumps in, simple.
