[hillfooter]

Want to find a perfect Christmas gift for a chicken enthusiast?  Here a few suggestions to start the stocking filling.

A head torch perfect for hands free dark evenings.  LED Lenser three LED one with the head strap battery pack are excellent and far better than cheaper single LED types and no keeper should be without one.

Waterproof over trousers to slip over your trousers for a quick visit to a a muddy run.  Regatta Chandler II overtrousers are great waterproofs for such use available in many sizes from Amazon and many outdoor suppliers, around £22.  Light weight and economic work trousers.

A wide rimmed wax hat for those cold rainy days along with warm waterproof gloves.  Barbour wax jackets and a warm scarf complete the outfit.

Amusing bedtime reading is "Hen and the art of chicken maintenance" by Martin Grundon in low cost paper back from Amazon.

HF

[Lindeggs]

All excellent ideas, Mr Hillfooter!     I was really, really hoping you weren't going to suggest chicken-themed novelty salt & pepper shakers.  Obviously I don't know you very well yet.   

[mothership]

Love these ideas, will suggest them to non chickeny husband. thanks

[TeaPots]

the LED lenser head torches are BRILL. I use mine for walking the dog too

[compostqueen]

I think a box of those fine disposable gloves for poo picking duties etc.  You can never have enough. 

Tube of chicken poo lip salve   

Torch. Good idea. Not keen on my rechargable thing.  The light beam is kerapp!

[hillfooter]

All excellent ideas, Mr Hillfooter!     I was really, really hoping you weren't going to suggest chicken-themed novelty salt & pepper shakers.  Obviously I don't know you very well yet.   

Thanks for reminding me Lindeggs. 

Don't forget the chicken themed salt and pepper shakers perfect for those after dinner conversation pieces.  If your guests have been invited by your wife from her friends at the local history society, motioning towards your chicken cruet set your opening gambit should be, "Oh by the way did you know I keep chickens?"  Then you can bore them rigid with your feathery tales of laying feats and which breeds you keep before they start rabbiting on about their houses being recorded in the doomsday book!  A guarentee you won't have to provide dinner for them again!

While I'm at it how about a 3foot high flashing LED cockerel for pulling santa's sleigh just right for that front garden tableau.

A Merry Christmas
HF

[TeaPots]

a thermal type mug, cos a cuppa gets cold quite quickly whilst standing watching the garden antics over the fence, whilst supping that morning nectar.

[hillfooter]

a thermal type mug, cos a cuppa gets cold quite quickly whilst standing watching the garden antics over the fence, whilst supping that morning nectar.

Great idea Teapots.  My wife was given one on a trade stand at Burghley this year and I've commandeered it.  Great for sustainence while doing those chicken jobs in this weather
HF

[orchardlady]

How about a years subscription to a magazine like Practical Poultry or a similar?

[TeaPots]

A great idea O.L.  but probably most already subscribe    :happy:

[orchardlady]

My mother who is a potter gave me a beautiful pie funnel with a cockerel on the top (removable) and completely not twee! Something like that would be wonderful.

[TeaPots]

a suitable 'trug'-type basket for egg collecting. Better than pockets!!!

[hillfooter]

a suitable 'trug'-type basket for egg collecting. Better than pockets!!!

Too true Teapots I've lost count of the times I've given my jacket an egg shampoo
HF

[orchardlady]

Well the trug idea is fantastic. I bought a hand made trug this summer and it is beautifully made. Unfortunately too large for egg collecting but a smaller one would be wonderful. They are a bit pricy but with time the trug gains a beautiful patina and will last a life time. My mother bought a large one in the early 1970's and has used it consistently over the  years in her large and fanatically gardened garden. It still looks wonderful.

Just Google Trug Maker and you will be surprise how many of them there are. They come in so many different sizes. To watch the maker at work you realise how well they are made and realise they will take a great deal to destroy. You will be supporting a craftsman to.

[Craig69]

I agree those head torches are spot on!!
Have had one for years. Great for many things!
Disposable gloves are a good idea as i'm getting fed up washing my gardening gloves