Now that Hallowween is over why not feed leftover pumpkins to your chickens? Pumpkins are high in essential vitamins and minerals. Just check for any rot or mold and cut up into large chunks. Your chickens will eat most of the flesh leaving just the skin.
Hen Keeping Tips for October
- Check coops for leaks and fix stiff hinges or locks before winter.
- Ensure perimeters of runs have no breaks which predators could penetrate.
- Create a dust bath by filling a plastic box with play sand or dry compost for use when the ground is damp.
- Provide extra shelter from the elements with a beach windbreak.
- Clear up any spills in the feed store and make sure there is no damage from pests.
Did you know?
A chicken’s heart beats at 280-315 times per minute compared with a typical human’s at 60-80 beats per minute
Hen Keeping Tips for September
- Collect bracken and hang bunches to dry – it is a great source of free bedding for your coop.
- Do not be tempted to overfeed hens with corn, as fat chickens will stop laying.
- Make a health busting treat:
- 1 cup each of rolled oats, wheat and sunflower seeds, plus 1 teaspoon each of brewers yeast, garlic and dried sea weed, combined with cod liver oil.
Hen Keeping Tips for August
- Gather stinging nettles (wearing protective gloves) then blanch them for a few minutes and freeze in small batches. Give them to your flock for a dose of vitamin c and iron
- Keep chickens healthy by worming them with a natural product such as verm-x once a month
- Hang bunches of fragrant herbs, including mint, rosemary or lavender, in the coops to mask odours which are especially pungent in the heat
Hen Keeping Tips for July
- Juice immune-boosting carrots and place the liquid in a drinking bowl for your flock.
- Power wash your hen-house on the morning of a warm day so it dries out by the evening.
Hen Keeping Tips for June
- Gather dock leaves for your birds. They are a free source of greens and packed with vitamins, protein and iron.
- Place a radio in the chicken run if you notice signs of predators in the area – human voices discourage them.
- Pin a white cloth in the coop overnight when red mites are active, and check in the morning to see if there are any on it.
Hen Keeping Tips for May
- Place pots of mint around the outside of the run – the scent will deter rats.
- Introduce any new birds into the coop at night when the existing flock is asleep.
Bank Holiday Monday Opening and Extra Chicken Keeping Courses
Come and see the chickens and all of the other animals we have on the smallholding
The Hollywater Hens shop will be open for all of the equipment you need including our new hen house and run range or just stop by to have a chat and get some advice.
We also have some extra places available on our Chicken Keeping Course running this Sunday Morning - May 1st - See our Courses page for more details.
And we are now taking bookings for the following dates too:
Sunday 8th May
Sunday 22nd May
Beginners chicken keeping courses take place from 10:00–12:30. The cost of the course is £40 and includes sandwiches (egg – would you believe!), cake and tea/coffee or juice. Please contact us for more details and further information and to book your place.
“Fantastic course at Hollywater hens today. Suzie Baldwin is hugely knowledgeable and a real confidence giver. Can’t wait to get my girls.” – Helen Ellis via our Facebook page
The Hollywater Hens’ Beginners Chicken Course includes:
- Setting up
- Chicken breeds
- Feeding chickens
- Handling chickens
- Common chicken health problems
- How to handle your hens
- Wing clipping
- Questions and answer session with fresh sandwiches, cake and tea or coffee.
“A fantastic few hours learning from the Jedi Chicken Master herself Suzie Baldwin. We decided to take the course before we move to France in April and do this all by ourselves. Suzie couldn’t have been more helpful if she tried!! Fantastic course, great lady, great setup highly recommended to all!!!” – Andy MacPherson via our Facebook page
The beginners chicken keeping course is a great way to gain confidence and knowledge enabling you to provide your hens with a happy healthy lifestyle.
Also they are a great way to meet like minded people.
Old clothes and wellington boots are advisable as this is a fun, hands-on practical course.
Telephone or email for more details and to book your place:
07810 660817 or 01428 751749
Suzie on TV
Chicken expert Suzie Baldwin from Hollywater Hens appeared on Channel 5’s The Saturday Show on Easter Saturday 26th March.
Suzie talks with Gabby Roslin and Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley about how easy it is to start keeping your own chickens, discusses some breeds and looks at what you need from a chicken coop. They move on to discuss selling eggs from your garden gate and then show some newly hatched day old chicks.