I never imagined when watching the cult TV show ‘The Good Life’ that one day we would be growing veg and keeping hens ourselves. Despite being warned by several friends not to get too attached to them I didn’t sleep well on their first night here. I was acutely aware of sounds coming from outside in case a fox was hanging around and was up early to check that they were all still alive. My worries were unfounded, they were fast asleep in their little house when we turned up with breakfast!
A local man called Brian built the chicken coop and came on Sunday morning with his son Grahame and the six 8-week old chicks. When it was ready I put them all in the coop. Brian then looked round at the veggie patch and said “they love a bit of cabbage”. He strolled over and ripped a few leaves off Ken’s last huge cabbage (as I watched Ken’s face for a reaction), shredded it up and gave it to the hens who devoured it in no time.
Now what Brian doesn’t know is Ken’s history with cabbage. Family members reading this will now be rolling around laughing but in case you don’t know the history click to read this blog ‘Memories of a Cabbage’ and you will understand the significance of Brian’s actions! Ken managed to swallow his initial reaction but I could see the terror in his eyes as Brian walked towards his cabbage and the look of relief when he only took some outer leaves! Not sure Ken could cope with having the heart ripped out of another cabbage! I am sure this will give Brian a good laugh when he reads it. Ken is now happily feeding his leftovers of cabbage, spinach and pumpkin to the hens.
Another mistake I am told is to name them, but we have anyway; three each. Ken’s names are Bébhinn, Elisa and Mary. My three are Felicity, Phoebe and Daphne.
We are looking forward to our first home laid poached egg but I think that will be a few months away.
Any hen expert out there please leave me all your hen keeping tips as comments on the blog.
























