I've wanted to keep chooks for a few years now, and picked up these two girls this weekend, a Blue Star and Nero, both are lovely and calm. I'm adding another two in about six weeks, two Cheshire Blues, so I'll have a variety of coloured eggs. The girls are also going to have to get used to them, Tau's a softie and loves going in to help clean up any poop! Rhuna and Zasa will have to learn to be steady around them.
This is her going in with them, they're a bit flustered when she goes into their little coop and house, but quite regularly wander underneath her
And finally, I added two more yesterday, these are my Cheshire Blues Picked up two more chooks yesterday, was a bit of a rush as I didn't think they'd be ready for another three weeks, but we managed to get a short term home ready and they are now settling in, meet Stilton and Brie, the Cheshire Blues, along with Nando the Nero and Zinger the Blue Star Brie and Stilton, Brie has less spots Nando And Zinger the Blue Star
I love the blues. I kept chickens for many years, but there seem to be so many breeds that I don't know these days. Are the old breeds still around - Minorca's, Orpington's, Leghorns and Light Sussex?
Not heard of Minorcas, but yep, Orpingtons, Leghorns and Light Sussex are still around, in fact I nearly went for the Light Sussex instead of the Blue Star.
During WWII many people kept chickens, including our neighbours. Much to Father's disgust because the chickens brought rats with them. Plus they never gave us even one egg and IIRC correctly the ration was one egg per family per week. I do not remember if powdered egg was rationed but it probably was, and believe it or not I still buy [and use] it.. Round the corner was a field of - some sort of wheat. Or something. And when they cut it all down people used to appear with their chickens and let them loose to scoff up whatever was left. I always wondered how they knew which chicks were theirs.
Growing up in the fifties, I can remember it was quite common for people to keep a few hens in their back gardens. It was a real treat for me when I used to visit and be allowed to go and collect the eggs! The first time I went to an Agricultural Show and visited the Poultry Tent, I couldn't believe how beautiful chickens could be!
@Janet - this was during WWII - and people still kept chickens until the end of the 1940's - possibly into the 50s Father grew vegetables "Dig for Victory" but he refused to have chickens. And here I am, all those years later, buying dried eggs as Mother did during the war? I think even dried eggs were rationed then.
I was born in 1947, so it would have been the 50s that I can remember many neighbours keeping chickens in ordinary suburban gardens. I don't know if my grandparents kept chickens during the war - I do know they had rabbits but my father couldn't bear to eat them!
I was born in March 1942 - so I was a war baby. But I still buy dried whole eggs, and dried egg whites - originally for Pereg as additions to her meals until I discovered what else they could be used for - even though there is an egg farm up the road where I can buy that day laid eggs whenever I want. Oh, and Tikva does not object to a tsp full added to her new breakfast meal so who am I going to argue with that mini monster? I mean it is only a bit more protein after all... And Joanne, you ARE a baby! Because I say so!
Joanne, what a super location you live in. No wonder they call it God's Own County - your dogs must think they are in heaven!
It's wonderful, I love it up here, am just close enough to civilisation so that I get mains gas and sewage services. And as a wonderful bonus today, Nando laid her first egg, which I'm about to have simply boiled on some lovely soft white bread for my lunch
Very nice. We have Light Sussex, Bluebell, ex battery reds. Great fun and the eggs are night and day to supermarket eggs.
