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Tuesday 22 April 2014

Gardening with hens....




I am always greeted with enthusiasm when I venture into the garden with implements..... this means the hens can dine al fresco with any luck, as poor hapless worms have their worlds turned upside down....

The only problem is that the hens also love any new green shoots...fine if they'd stick to grass, but nooo.... tasty young lettuce leaves..... pea shoots......and oooh yummy soft fruit..... so after only managing to get SIX gooseberries off TWO bushes last year, stern measures have been taken. I've got a fruit cage.....(these will be the most expensive gooseberries ever at this rate!).

As you can see the hens had to supervise it's construction.


The cockerel is quickly bored by proceedings....


Um... I don't remember a one legged hen hopping about??! (don't worry she's just resting the other one...).


Though the girls do work too - I'll throw clods of earth to one side to shake off from the weeds later, and the chooks will have a good rootle around and do some of the work for me.


And they are not averse to having a peck at my boots either. Better not wiggle my toes!!


Anyway at least the gooseberry bushes are now safely behind wire mesh - I've left the top open for insects, though I'll probably close that later to stop the sparrows eating the fruit.  But I'm fortunate to have quite a few bees in the garden, this chap was enjoying the dandelions which are flowering at the moment.


And what of Princess Button I hear you ask??  Helping?  No chance!! Snoozing in the sunshine!


Tiring work this gardening....


11 comments:

  1. Your hens enthusiasm for gardening always makes me giggle. Thank you muchly for the tea and cake and company last week. Splendid to see you.

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    1. It was lovely seeing you and Robyn & Ben too. Yes the hens are funny. I love their company (and yes I know that makes me odd! Happy to be though!)

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  2. Hi I recently found your lovely blog while I was looking for houses for sale on the Scottish Islands and have just added myself as a follower. You live in a very beautiful place.
    Kay :-)

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    1. Hi Kay, thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment. OOoh where are you looking to move to? Good luck with house hunting and may you find your dream home too!

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  3. Sounds like you got the project completed nicely! Without the assistance of kitty cat. :o) Nice photos.

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    1. Oh yes, Button would most certainly just have complicated matters - she is a cat of strong opinion ;-)

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  4. Very helpful chickens, and Buttons is doing what cats do best, when they are not walking the beach. Great pictures, Sian

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    1. Hee hee she loves coming into the garden with me but gets very grumpy if it's not sunny and she can't snooze nearby.

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  5. A fruit cage sounds like the perfect solution, Sian. Your girls really are very bonny and healthy-looking, but what's this about a cockerel? I thought you didn't want any more chicks appearing from their mother's hiding-place? :-)

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    1. Sigh...well the best laid plans etc (excuse the pun). I did a neighbour a favour last year and put some of her hens eggs under my broody hen. She said I could have two of the hens in exchange. Except eventually one turned into a cockerel! I now need the farmer to come and - er - desptch the cockerel....

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