No matter how small a patch of land or garden, chickens are a useful addition and can be kept by anyone. With very little know-how these feathered friends can offer company (oh yes!), are pest eaters (a great natural control for all things pesky), they provide great tasting eggs and can be raised for the table.
Our chickens have more than half an acre of field in which to free roam, with some added woodland to provide cover from predators. Occasionally they share this with a few sheep or lambs who keep the grass low.
The brood are made up of ex-commercial hens and some other breeds all suited to the unique climate. Despite the numbers, its easy to see their individual personalities and they love nothing better than welcoming us when we come home! At night these lovely ladies retire to their hen house and cwtch down.
OUR FIRST CHICKENS
Paxo, Millicent and Goujon..... All ex-commercial organic, free-range hens..... acquiring them was almost the first thing we did when we moved to Wales, a few years before we ended up at our little farm.
Three soon became two. Goujon liked to go for a walk and we had plenty of foxes and stoats that would only be too happy to have chicken for tea! It also transpired that Millicent did lay eggs, just not in her nest box but the hedge. All a learning curve but great fun!
Both Paxo and Millicent did make the move with us to the farm but are no longer with us.