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If you remember back in 2011 we started re-homing ex-battery Hens.
I made a hen house from a donated small shed and made a run, soon after we realised they needed more room, so I extended the run.
But as it was only a metre high it was difficult for us to get inside it to catch the Light Sussex hens that are still a bit flighty!
They also have been able (despite clipped wings) to get on top of the run extension & get on to the fence between us and our neighbours!
So I have dismantled the old run extension and replaced it with a full hight & wider run, so the hens will have more room and we can get inside it easily.
This photo shows it in mid construction. Just need to re-locate the door and put the roof on.
As you can see in these photo's our current flock are doing well, even giving us an egg now and again.
The cheeky Light Sussex hens do have fluffy bums!
So it's finished.
Now full height & about an extra 2 sqr Mtrs of floor space. The entire run has a corrugated plastic roof to give them more shelter for the winter and has a gentle slope so we can collect the water running off, so I will have to add more guttering to collect all the rain water in the rain barrel.
News update:
My seed order has arrived from Kings Seeds, looking forward to getting all this planted.
I have been contacted about a very interesting website that's all about how to keep healthy and happy Hens, so I have added the link for you below:
http://www.custommade.com/blog/art-of-happy-hens/
Thanks for reading/returning. Ian
On Friday the Raspberries we ordered from Kitchen Garden magazine arrived, 6 of each:
Malling Minerva (early summer fruiting)
Glen Fyne (summer fruiting)
Polka Agm (autumn fruiting)
So I got the supports in and as it started to rain, I just heeled the new canes in, for planting proper in the week.
Wont fit the tension wires just yet, will wait until they put on growth in the spring.
The Spinach I sowed earlier, either didn't germinate or a mouse has munched on the emerging shoots.
So I started some more off in a seed tray at home, and planted them out today in one of the raised beds.
Lets hope they survive.
Anyway you can't see the rain in this photo, in fact the sky looks rather blue, but it was getting late and we had done enough, but as you can see no wind, the flag is limp. But everywhere was wet!
Two days later (Tuesday) I did get the Summer fruiting Raspberry canes in.
Will let them grow a bit before I put the support wires in.
Not ready for the Autumn ones yet so just heeled them in the corner.
Thanks for reading/returning. Ian
Only went to the Allotment today to dig up the last of the Cara Potatoes.
As I have said before the yield has not been as good as in past years, today I dug up 8.99kg (19lb 13oz) from 2 rows. So total yield is about 18kg (39lb) from an initial 3kg purchase.
In the Greenhouse the Chillies are still growing, had to pick one as it looked like it was about to fall off, when I picked it I found a woodlice in the top of it! So hope it hasn't eaten all the insides.
Harvests today:
Chilli, Raspberries, Kale and Cara Potatoes.
Also some greens for our chickens.
Thanks for reading/returning. Ian
