You would think that the fact that I am overrun with eggs during the summer months would put me off purchasing anymore livestock but these two little chickens were so irresistible that as you can see it did not stop me. So now I am the proud owner of two bantams, the prettily named Silver Sebrights!
Last Friday I found myself invited to a 'Hen Party' and went along the next day to hopefully meet some new people and chicken contacts. The hen party was an idea started by Francine Raymond who has written some beautiful books on the subject of the kitchen garden and all things associated with it. Keeping hens, ducks and geese and bee-keeping are just some of the subjects she has written about. Take a look at the book page of her website if you are looking for a book to get you started and with the added bonus of some really beautiful photographs I met some lovely people at the party, a lot of whom were complete beginners at keeping chickens. I asked one particular lady what had started her interest and she said without a moments hesitation 'Jamie'. Ah the power of the media! She is excitedly looking forward to her hens laying their first egg. I can remember that moment, and it is a real thrill! That's without taking into consideration the wonderful taste and colour of a 'homegrown egg'. The Hen Party seemed such a good idea that I mentioned it to my neighbour Lucy. We have decided to have a party of our very own later this year and with that in mind we are going off to buy some hatching eggs this coming Monday. So expect lots of chicken posts and pictures in the next few months.
You might just be able to guess what I called my two newbies?
Why Francine and Raymond of course!