[ANHBUC]

   It was 2 years ago today that I got my first hens.  What a difference they have made to my life and not to mention the garden!  I brought them home to thick snow and a wooden coop with attached run.  Then added electric netting fence to keep them safe.  They now have a walk in run with eglu cube and eglu classics for the youngsters.

I started off with 6 hens and now have 9 hens, 2 cockerels, 9 quail and 2 turkeys.  I have enjoyed breeding and raising chicks.  Some have been sold and some culled which was an experience in itself.  Hubby has said no more turkeys so I might have to try a few ducks next!   :blink: 

I will have to wait for the lottery win for the smallholding and some alpacas but in the meantime I will continue to enjoy the company of my feathery friends.    

[asd1]

A house is not a home without hens! Iv kept chickens for almost 5 years now ( not including then hens I bought whilst living at home) I even moved house this year so they could have a bigger garden to roam

[New shoot]

I will have to wait for the lottery win for the smallholding and some alpacas but in the meantime I will continue to enjoy the company of my feathery friends.    

I know exactly what you mean 

A smallholding used to be my dream, but an allotment and some back garden chickens later, I'm happy enough as well.  A few chooks in the garden really do add so much 

[Elvira]

Letting the girls out for their daily roam around the garden is one of the highlights of the day (drumsticks going like the clappers to be the first on what is left of the lawn...)
I have my eye on a pair of miniature donkeys next (I just need a paddock!).  At my appraisal the other year my boss asked me if one of my aims for the year should be to get a small holding (clue - I work in an office which is nothing to do with chicks or donkeys!)  Hmm - I think they have rumbled that I'd rather be with my chickens than in the office!   :blink:

[ANHBUC]

 :blink:  Like minded people.  So I am not the only crazy one!

[Kate and her Ducks]

Well if you want any ducks, let me know! I will be doing a hatch in the spring and I never need much encouragement to pop a couple of extra eggs in.

Not sure about alpacas but I LOVE my sheep. I did chose a moment when my OH knew I was very low as I was living away from home and miserable to tell him that my sister had offered us 2 alpaca (via someone she works with) and I had said yes. It was very funny listening to him gently panicking as he tried to talk me out of it without upsetting me until I took pity on him and told him I was winding him up and I had already said no to them.

[ANHBUC]

I would have to have muscovy ducks as the hens make enough noise I would not want to annoy the neighbours anymore than I already do!!   

The young cockerels haven't started to crow yet and I am hoping they will keep quiet until they realise Spring is in the air.

Hubby wouldn't object to me having alpacas if we had the land, I think he would quite like them.  He would definitely prefer them to the turkeys.   

[nerdle]

I heard someone say if you want to be happy for a fortnight go on holiday, for a year get married and for life plant a garden.  I'd say its animals fo me - I have only two but the pleasure is immense and not easly explained to those who don't get it.

[joyfull]

I seem to remember that alpacas were supposed to be at guarding hens against predators 

[Kate and her Ducks]

They do have that reputation and they have beautiful wool. They do need 2 people to shear them apparently so you need to get specialist shearers in and they has been a whole hoo ha recently about them carrying bovine TB.

[Eblana]

At my appraisal the other year my boss asked me if one of my aims for the year should be to get a small holding (clue - I work in an office which is nothing to do with chicks or donkeys!)  Hmm - I think they have rumbled that I'd rather be with my chickens than in the office!   :blink:

I wish where I work and indeed my other half would be more in tune with my desire for a small holding! We have a possible redundancy package coming up next year, work are killing themselves suggesting promotions that I should go for which would take me away travelling and I was talking about it over Christmas with my hubby and he was all on for me taking the redundancy  because I would get plenty of work as a 'consultant'.  Had to bite my tongue as my idea is to take the redundancy pacakage, use it to reduce debts and then to take the plot beside mine (private site so no waiting lists etc. to contend with) which would give me 550 Sq Meters in total and try to have to good life, including chickens, ducks etc. 

Soooo sick of the rat race!!!

[ANHBUC]

I seem to remember that alpacas were supposed to be at guarding hens against predators 

Now that is a good excuse for getting some.   :blink:

They do have that reputation and they have beautiful wool. They do need 2 people to shear them apparently so you need to get specialist shearers in and they has been a whole hoo ha recently about them carrying bovine TB.

It would be hard for them to prove that they were carriers and not contracted it as they think cattle have from badgers.  I suppose they could be vacinated as they are not a meat product, as far as I know that is!   

[ANHBUC]

At my appraisal the other year my boss asked me if one of my aims for the year should be to get a small holding (clue - I work in an office which is nothing to do with chicks or donkeys!)  Hmm - I think they have rumbled that I'd rather be with my chickens than in the office!   :blink:

I wish where I work and indeed my other half would be more in tune with my desire for a small holding! We have a possible redundancy package coming up next year, work are killing themselves suggesting promotions that I should go for which would take me away travelling and I was talking about it over Christmas with my hubby and he was all on for me taking the redundancy  because I would get plenty of work as a 'consultant'.  Had to bite my tongue as my idea is to take the redundancy pacakage, use it to reduce debts and then to take the plot beside mine (private site so no waiting lists etc. to contend with) which would give me 550 Sq Meters in total and try to have to good life, including chickens, ducks etc. 

Soooo sick of the rat race!!!

Yours sounds like the better plan Eblana, good luck with whatever you decide.   :blink:

I heard someone say if you want to be happy for a fortnight go on holiday, for a year get married and for life plant a garden.  I'd say its animals fo me - I have only two but the pleasure is immense and not easly explained to those who don't get it.

I can second that nerdle.  My Aunty gets pleasure from my poultry even when she doesn't see them.  I just have to tell her about their exploits and she always has a giggle.  Best medicine I can think of is a good old laugh.

[JaK]

Happy heniversary!!  

 We have had to rehome a lot of our hens due to the flooding. We have to put in new drainage where the chickens were and plan to make a much bigger walk in run for them. The whole lot will be slabbed and roofed with guttering to fill water butts. I've ordered a new plastic coop from solway recycling too. As much as I love it, I don't think I will be hatching again and wont have any more than 10 hens at any one time now. When we were flooded I only managed to keep 7 and had to rehome the others fast, the garden doesn't feel the same any more, really miss my girls.  

If I had the room I'd love to keep pigs, they are so funny to watch too.

[ANHBUC]

We did the same with a walk in run last year.  The water butt only took half a day to fill so we have put some guttering under the opened tap and into the pond until we can put some permanent overflow drainage in.