Handsome beast isn't he? He belongs to Elizabeth at Welsh Hills Again

I have longed for a small flock of chickens for a long time, I love to watch them, and I certainly love eggs. I have spent endless hours looking at coops on the internet, and working out where I should get my hens from, but to date, like the bees, I have done very little about making it a reality apart from going on a training course at a local free range farm, and learning the fundamentals of keeping happy hens.   The first time we stayed at Elizabeth's beautiful holiday cottage, Gwenoldy, I was able to watch her hens and roosters at close hand. She was very generous with her expertise, and it was during this holiday, I decided this was very much something I wanted to do myself too.

In an attempt to kick start my current slothful state, I have registered with the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) in the hope they will entrust me with some of their ex battery charges, and allow me to adopt 4 or so to live in my garden. I intend sectioning it into 3 areas, so they will have their own, in a wilder meadowy bit, under the fruit trees.

When they arrive they are pretty sorry looking, and I know all the pros and cons, especially about them being shortered lived and prone to ailments. I just felt it was the right thing to do, give a  needy hen a home.    I have looked at all the various pure breeds , bantam and hybrids, and feel to start with at least, these ginger girls will be a perfect place to start.

Now all I have to do is wait and see if they judge me suitable, and if they do, then when the next batch of farm escapees become available for me to collect and care for.

Fingers crossed!

Quick update: I am going to be getting 6 ginger girls in a few weeks, as soon as the next  batch of hens are released from the battery farm.