[NormandyMary]

..till I get my new girls. We worked very hard today (as you know, OH has health issues so we can only work as and when)on the new run, all the posts are in and it will be finished by Sunday. We also unwrapped our new henhouse to see what it was like and we are chuffed to bits with it. They are expensive over here, but this seems to be very well made. So hopefully, if all goes to plan, I could getting some birds at the market next Wednesday. As Im going for specific types, I may have to wait a while to get the ones I want, but as long as I can get a couple of Light Sussex and a couple of reds to start, Ill be more than happy, then I can add a couple of Bluebelles and then chose 2 more when I see ones I like. Im partial to Wyandottes, so maybe Ill chose them. Ill be like a child in a sweetie shop!
Be happy for me...Ive waited a long time for this moment!!

[JaK]

  So exciting! Can't wait to see some pics when you get your newbies. Not long now. 

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

The waiting is part of the excitement (or it is for me anyway)!  I can't say it's the best bit but it is pretty good all the same 

Happy hen shopping 

[NormandyMary]

I agree FL, its like the build up to Christmas, the anticipation and excitement, however at Christmas, the actual day is usually a huge let down, unlike, hopefully, getting my new girls, and more importantly, our own eggs again. I did warn OH though, that we may have to wait till spring for full production, but Ill be happy just to have the odd one!

Its like the time I was waiting to get out baby boys (Billy and Toby our pygmy goats). I thought that day would never come, its only a few months, but it seems like we have had them for years. We love them so much its untrue, and I know they will love having hens around. They will see their run clearly from their own enclosure, so it will keep them amused. They loved our other hens, the girls used to poke their beaks through the boys fence to say hello!

[hillfooter]

Well done NM and your OH I hope you will be very happy with your new hens they sound like a good assortment you are going for there. 

Personally I could always find room in any flock for a Light or Buff Sussex or two they are, in my book, the perfect backyard hens.  Easy going, hardy and productive.

Best wishes
HF

[New shoot]

Great news Mary    We will need pics asap   

[evie2]

That's wonderful Mary, can't wait to see the pictures

[NormandyMary]

Thanks for your good wishes folks. Today, we were cementing in the posts of the run and this afternoon, OH started to put the new henhouse together (flatpacked!). He's done about 2/3rds of it, but he was so tired poor thing, I told him to stop. Its looking good, although I dont think it will hold as many birds as it advertises. It says 8-12, 12 I assumed, if they were bantams, but I think there is only enough perch room for 6 large girls. I will see how 6 manage before I get anymore, but we do have the other little house which could take 4, it just needs a perch putting in. It was our maternity unit for broodies, so no perch was needed. The new house looks easy to clean as all the flooring is in small segments which slide out. Brilliant. OH says I can have a word with our usual breeder next week to see what she's got. Whoopeeee!

[daisy1990]

good news, hope they bring you many hours of pleasure

[NormandyMary]

Well, you'll all be pleased to know that the henhouses are ready for occupation. We installed a perch in the little house this afternoon, and gave it some wood treatment and its come up a treat. The new house went together very well, its going to be very easy to clean as all the flooring pops out easily. So tomorrow we will be doing the fencing, which shouldnt take long, Monday Ill be shopping for chooks! Ill either be going to our normal supplier, or depending on what they have and havent got, we have the option of going to a local market to get some. We've also bought from there and we had no problems. Then its photos all round, of the chooks and my little boys (goats) for you all to admire!!

[New shoot]

Enjoy your chook shopping Mary    and we will keep you that promise of piccies   

[joyfull]

shopping for chucks is great, so many colours and sizes to choose from and then of course there is the egg colours to take into consideration, decisions, decisions 

[NormandyMary]

Quite so Joy, though over here the breeders tend to just concentrate on the bog standard birds. Ive tried the small ads for smaller private breeders, but they all seem to sell bantams, and as much as I find bantams cute, its LARGE eggs I want! I phoned our usual provider this afternoon to see what they have "ready to lay", they have reds, blacks and sussex. Unfortunately they dont have any Bluebelles, but I will leave them my email address and ask them to email me when they do have some. So, Monday afternoon, we will be taking possession of 2 black chooks (black rocks I think) 3 red hens and 3 light sussex. That will leave me with enough room for a cockerel, hopefully a sussex, and 2 Bluebelles if and when I can get them.
I said to my OH that Im getting just as excited as when we got chooks for the first time, he too is so excited, that's why he's been working so hard on the run etc for me bless him!

[joyfull]

cant wait to see the photos 

[NormandyMary]

I am now the proud owner of 8 beautiful hens and a gorgeous cockerel. I couldnt believe my luck when we got there this afternoon, and found out that they had exactly what I wanted, even 2 bluebelles! We desperately wanted a Light Sussex cockerel, and they had one of those as well. So now I have 2 light sussex, 2 black hens, 2 red hens and the 2 light grey. They have all settled in well, they have been exploring the new house and their run and have found their food and drink. Im not looking forward to bedtime as there are always one or two who dont cotton on easily!
Toby and Billy have introduced themselves too, they are very happy with their new companions.
Photos of all to follow!