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Week 3: waiting eggs-pectantly

Novice chicken owner Lucy Pearson is back home – and waiting for eggs…

We’ve returned home now, and the chickens are back in the safety of their fox-proof Eglu...

Keeping foxes away

But this week a large male fox has come into our garden every night. We have moved the steps so he can no longer scrabble onto the upstairs roosting area, but we hear him barking in annoyance most evenings.
I am currently researching ways to deter foxes. Methods include ultrasonic devices, burying human hair around the perimeter and peeing in the garden.

I will let you know how successful these are in the near future!

The kids rule the roost

The kids have really got to grips with the workings of the Eglu, sliding the door shut each night and opening it again in the morning. The mechanism is really clever and the handle stows away after use with one simple turn.

Lily and I now have a good method of moving the hen house so that the grass does not get completely destroyed. And now that they are familiar with their surroundings, the chickens can get out into a wider space in the garden.

Unfortunately that will be short-lived as we are about to start major building work soon…

Feed the birds

Although the feed provides all the nutrients the chickens need, we have been trying to give them a few afternoon treats to vary their diet.

They love snails and worms, spaghetti, carrot peelings and cabbage leaves. We also bought some corn kernels, which are a particular favourite.

Waiting for eggs…

As the chickens mature, we are approaching the time for them to start laying. Ruby noticed that they were getting broody, and she has been making them nests with shredded paper.

There is a compartment inside the Eglu for egg-laying, and we now rush out every morning to see whether there are any eggs in there for us.

I have begun asking friends and family for their favourite egg recipes, and look forward to cooking them soon. Our friend Gigs came up with the oddly named ‘Eggy in a Cuppy’. Huh?!?

Next week:  Will the chickens start laying?

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