Carol's Chickens

I have been in contact with the farm in Dorset that is breeding the Domoniques. We had a chat and and it seems I need to wait a bit longer as they lost a few of their first chicks because being a rare breed the gene pool is quite small, and some were too weak. They now have two at a month old and some more in a mixed flock. They said they will definitely be able to get me three, it’s just a case of being patient. As I am the only one waiting for them, they have said they won’t sell any until I have my three. This made me feel a bit better even though it’s frustrating having to keep on waiting.

It’s quite strange going in the chicken pen and looking after it without any chickens in there. I had planted a pot of nasturtiums and a pot of herbs for them to peck at, so they need watering. There is a jasmine which was already planted in a hole in the patio and is now in their dry sheltered area so that also needs watering and a hanging basket on the outside to water. I feel like I am looking after invisible chickens! I am allowing a fine crop of dandelions for them too as long as I don’t let them flower, my garden is as weed free as I can keep it but the chickens are allowed some weeds to keep them happy.

On a completely different subject, there has been another side effect of the chicken pen that I hadn’t expected. We have just realised that our apple tree inside the chicken pen has no apples this year, even though it has had plenty in the three years since we planted it. We realised that the bees are put off by the net and mesh. They can get in because we have seen the odd one in there and it made its way out again okay, but we have seen many fly up to the mesh then fly along side and away again without going in. We think some accidentally find their way in but most are put off by the mesh. I said earlier that we would sacrifice the lowest apples to the chickens but now it looks like we will be sacrificing  all the apples for the sake of the chickens. The daft thing is this year we could have left the gate open had we known but that wouldn’t help in future years. My next door neighbour suggested we get a butterfly net and catch some bees and take them in, I think this is probably easier said than done. I can imagine either getting stung or the bees panicking to get out again and ignoring the blossom. We may try to do this but are also resigned to the fact that we may have to have an apple tree with no apples. I did do a bit of research to see if I could pollinate myself with a fine brush, but this would mean collecting pollen from another apple tree which, as I don’t know of any near by would prove rather tricky.

Apart from the lack of chickens the pen is looking great. I am so ready for my chickens, and continue to try to wait with patience and imagine them in there every time I look in. These chickens are going to be so spoiled!

I am all ready and waiting for my chickens, and have been keeping in touch with the farm in Dorset that breeds Dominiques. They now have chicks but I need to wait until the end of May for them to be two months old when they can be sexed and will be strong enough for me to take to their new home.

I keep looking in at their home to be and imagining them in there. Since we finished it the hanging basket and pot of herbs have grown and the apple tree has blossomed. I am hoping that as the lower branches of the apple tree are quite vertical, we can sacrifice the bottom apples and the chickens won’t be able to get at the rest, otherwise we may have to put some netting round the underside of the tree. We shall cross that bridge when we come to it: It’s a small price to pay for the pleasure of having the chickens!

Looking in to the run

Inside looking out

Apple blossom and chicken coop

I have also added a fallen branch to the corner of the run to give them a natural perch. In front of the run I have my first chicken: It’s a rusty chicken for decoration and probably a similar size to what mine will be when I first get them (about the size of a pigeon).

Rusty chicken

A few years ago my son, Steve kept chickens and sparked my interest. From then I started following chicken blogs. I have sponged up enough information now to feel ready to keep them myself.

I researched breeds and decided that I wanted Dominiques. They suit all my needs: small, quiet, friendly, hardy, good egg layers and pretty. I have chosen just one breed in the hope there will be no picking on each other and will use coloured leg rings to tell them apart. I would like three. They are classed as a rare breed in the U.K. and the only farm I have found that breeds them is in Dorset about an hour and a half journey from me. I am keeping in contact with them to see when they will be ready for collection, they think it will be the end of May as the earlier cold spell we had set them back a month in coming in to lay. (You can’t hurry nature), I have to be patient!

We set about getting ready for them. First we cleared the area of the garden that they are going to have, it has two big shrubs and an apple tree which I think will be chicken proof and add interest for them.

Clearing the site ready for the chicken coop and run

Then Steve and his girlfriend ordered the coop and put it together for us, in return for dinner and beer.

Steve building the coop

Steve finishing the coop

We got a professional in to build the run as we wanted a good job. It’s full height with a wind proof and dry area for the coop leading on to the garden area.

Coop inside the run

Inside the run looking out

The finished run

We are pleased with our set up, all it needs now is chickens.  I am very excited, just another month to wait.

As a foot note to this post, I would like to thank the blogs that helped me on my way. I have followed “The Hen Cam” for two years now and Terry is a font of knowledge on all things chicken and has helped me to feel ready now. “Tilly’s Nest” introduced me to her “Tour De Coup” which led me to “The Spice Girls” which is where I got a lot of ideas for our set up and also to “Natural Wanderings” which helped me choose Dominiques. Thank you all.