by Katie-Ellen

Created on: December 19, 2009   Last Updated: May 28, 2011

Hens are the most productive and interesting indviduals with characters as unique as ours. We first chose to raise hens to have fresh eggs and as natural grazers and intant fertilisers for our garden on two legs. Little did we know that these beguiling creatures would wrap their way into our hearts and lives.And they have egos that outstrip any tender human one. As soon as they see one of us walk outside, it’s clearly only for the sole reason of feeding or tending to their particular needs. They learn very quickly who feeds them.  

We bought our point-of-lay pullets at approximately three months of age (the hens, not us!) Previously we had put up a high fence to keep them to one side so we could grow vegetables and fruit on the other . Well, this was a brilliant idea until son number two wanted to let them into the whole area. And very quickly, we discovered the damage that their constant scratching for bugs can do to tender young seedlings.

We had made a small hen house out of recycled products. It included a roost but oddly, they preferred the nesting boxes.We made it secure so no foxes or wild cats could attack our beautiful hens.

They had three nesting boxes but in the end we changed that system and had one decent sized one as they loved to cuddle up close for warmth while sleeping. Plenty of soft straw in their boxes and on the floor completed their new home.

When we discovered their passion for wanting to fly over the fence, we clipped one wing so that it would offset their balance. This I was told only needed to be done once. Well, not our lot; we did it a number of times as their greatest goal and purpose in life was to get to the other side of their fence.

Hens need four things; fresh water. greens e.g. kitchen scraps; grain and protein (this comes from their eternal hunt for worms and bugs plus a love of bread scraps in the afternoon). They have other great food passions like leftover porridge and mash in the mornings. This consisted of a little minced meat combined with a few herbs: nettles, wormwood, rues and a little finely minced garlic. This can all be mixed in with leftover cereal, porridge or yogurt and made into a patty. We also feed them a handful of other herbs each day consisting of whatever is available.

Before too many weeks went by after our hens arrived, they each had individual names: Brain, Tubby and Squat. Now Brain was like no other hen. She could spot a bug from

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