My husbands has completed the chicken enclosure and purchased our first 4 chickens, Lowen Browns, that have had one laying season prior.
We bought them from the local markets (they were just getting their feathers back so looked a bit ragged) and the seller told us that it would be about 3 weeks before they begin to lay again. Just 1 week later we started to get 1 egg a day, 2 weeks later 2 eggs a day so we are hoping the trend continues.
The enclosure takes in part of the orchard: 2 Orange trees, 1 Lemon tree, 1 Mandarin tree and 1 Kumquat tree, the remainder of the orchard is outside of the enclosure and accessible for the hens when they are free ranging. We have surrounded the bottom sections of the trees with wire mesh to stop them from getting pecked at. The 'girls' love scratching around in the compost section around the trees and I am sure the trees will benefit from their 'deposits'
We purchased this hen house online, it did say it is suitable for 5 hens but we are finding it too small for 4 hens so another one is in the plan in the not too distant future.
.jpg)
Every morning the hens are let out to free range and are having a great time in the newly dug area that will eventually become the rose terraces. They are sharing the many worms with the Kookaburras that seem to have built in radar when a project is going on and in they come. Last week while the machine was taking off the topsoil the Kookaburras were diving in and having a great feast.
We bought them from the local markets (they were just getting their feathers back so looked a bit ragged) and the seller told us that it would be about 3 weeks before they begin to lay again. Just 1 week later we started to get 1 egg a day, 2 weeks later 2 eggs a day so we are hoping the trend continues.
The chicken enclosure
The enclosure takes in part of the orchard: 2 Orange trees, 1 Lemon tree, 1 Mandarin tree and 1 Kumquat tree, the remainder of the orchard is outside of the enclosure and accessible for the hens when they are free ranging. We have surrounded the bottom sections of the trees with wire mesh to stop them from getting pecked at. The 'girls' love scratching around in the compost section around the trees and I am sure the trees will benefit from their 'deposits'
'Girls' house
We purchased this hen house online, it did say it is suitable for 5 hens but we are finding it too small for 4 hens so another one is in the plan in the not too distant future.
Free ranging
Every morning the hens are let out to free range and are having a great time in the newly dug area that will eventually become the rose terraces. They are sharing the many worms with the Kookaburras that seem to have built in radar when a project is going on and in they come. Last week while the machine was taking off the topsoil the Kookaburras were diving in and having a great feast.
10/03/2014 yippee now we are getting 3 eggs a day and hoping for 4 eggs a day soon
1/04/2014 4 Eggs yesterday so all of the girls gave 1 egg for the first time - Looking promising!
 |
The first Egg |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.