Hello, Crafters.
I hope you had a great relaxing weekend. Yesterday, Hubby and I went to Vicki and Leigh’s for Sunday lunch. It was also our first opportunity to meet the latest three additions to their family, i.e. three chickens called Jalfrezi, Piri Piri and Nuggets (not Nutmeg as I said yesterday!). To me, hens are hens and they lay eggs, but now I have met these three, I think they are such adorable creatures and can be so funny!
Leigh has built them a coop in one of the trees, with a ladder that’s strong enough for the hens to walk up, but would collapse under the weight of a fox! In the coop, Leigh has also set up – using guttering – a feeder that keeps a constant supply of food available, whilst keeping it all dry. There are also protective “collars” around the tree trunk and wooden coop support, that prevent tree-climbing predators from reaching the hens.
Notice the ladder that leads up to the coop, and the collars around the tree and wooden support for the coop.
Vicki and Leigh did a lot of homework before they bought the three hens, and found out they like to rummage through undergrowth, climbing, swinging, and being kept amused! Leigh has also built a “climbing frame” which has two swings attached to it. They have the run of half the garden and are true free range hens. Yesterday was the first day I’d ever picked up a hen, and although it was fairly light, it was heavier than I expected. Leigh has even fixed a hand-sanitiser on the wall by the door where you go back into the house. Well done, Leigh, I think you’ve thought about everything! xx
Nuggets eating on the swing on the climbing frame.
Jalfrezi snacking on the climbing frame.
Jalfrezi is quite happy going up high if there’s food there!
As we were out yesterday, I didn’t have any time for crafting, so I don’t have a card to share with you today! I’ll cetainly remedy that for tomorrow. I hope you have a great week, and until tomorrow, happy crafting!
JanB. xx
Feeding Piri Piri by hand!
Me holding a hen for the first time ever!
Oh Jan, the chickens (or should I say, GrandBabies!!!) are just delightful. Their home is just amazing and Leigh is to be congratulated on his building skills. Bet Othman had a hand in it! These chickens are well known for being easily trained for doing tricks too. XXX Mal
I certainly won’t be letting Othman know the chickens can be taught to do tricks! There’s no telling what he’ll have them doing! LOL! xxx
Aw Jan they are just too precious 🥰 I am a huge animal lover and my pets are like family to me. Love the bits Leigh has added for them 🥰🤗💖
Aren’t they just? They were really friendly and can be so funny as well! xx
Love your “Grandhens”! They are just beautiful! What a great place they have to live! They are 3 lucky “hens”! 🙂
Many thanks, Deanette. Yes, they are certainly well looked after! xx
What wonderful pictures Jan. I love chicken. I grew up with them. They bite too!!! Leigh has done a fantastic job in constructing the activity playground for the chickens. Love the swing idea…..TYFS your day with us. X
They are really lovely creatures. Yes, one of them was a bit over-enthusiastic when he was pecking food out of my hand. It made me jump more than hurt! LOL! Yes, Leigh did a brilliant job building the hens an activity house and garden! xx
Thanks for sharing, Jan! We have 12 chickens, but they are not as fortunate as these…….What a grand way for them to live!!
You’d need a huge house for twelve chickens! But aren’t they cute creatures! xx
Having been raised on a farm until I married, I say this is quite a hen house.
Many thanks, Reba. I’ll make sure Leigh knows! xx