Following the visit from the two ‘chicken experts’ we decided to try giving the hens the freedom of the garden one evening when the cats were indoors.
They loved it in a very non-excited way and calmly pecked their way round the grass, ignoring the vegetable patch completely.
The following day we let them out in the morning, together with the cats, under close supervision, and, to my surprise it worked wonderfully well. Yes, the cats were ‘interested’ but the hens weren’t remotely phased and if a cat approached too close for comfort the hens flapped their wings and that was enough to give the cats the message. Later it was lovely to see Toby stretched out on the grass beside two hens.
This meant that their run was now available for the chicks and as soon as it warmed up we transferred them to their new playground.
They had a whale of a time, running, jumping and, above all, wallowing in the dirt. Yes, they all rolled themselves in the earth and had dustbaths. Now they are a dirty grey colour.
May 26, 2010 at 9:14 am |
Yayyyy.
Cool cats!
May 30, 2010 at 8:48 am |
yes, they certainly enjoy their freedom and I’m so relived they are all getting along well together.
May 29, 2010 at 9:31 pm |
Hello old friend. Your hen run looks in a lot better condition than mine.
I shall have to get the hammer and nails out!
May 30, 2010 at 8:44 am |
Hello Meredic, I’m afraid we cheated and bought our henhouse and runs as no-one in our huse is any good with a hammer and nails.
May 29, 2010 at 10:11 pm |
You are going to get so many fresh eggs! I envy you that. Actually that gives me the idea for dinner. I’ll make an herb omelette as my basil, rosemary, tarragon and chive are out – but my eggs are from the super market.
May 30, 2010 at 8:46 am |
We’re keeoing our fingers crossed but the poules pondeuses are not producing many eggs so far and as for the chicks, we can’t tell how many are boys and how many are girls yet a while.