“BITS AND PIECES”

"GETTING STARTED with HENS".........(July' 08)..... for absolute beginners.

First steps are always daunting, but keep it simple......do your research. Poultry books, other related websites. And if you can, visit friends, who keep poultry. But let's start wih the henhouse. 

HENHOUSES....... come in all shapes and sizes. And many old poultry houses were made with whatever came to hand. Although treated wood was the standard material. But the new, cleverly designed, low maintenance, plastic houses are gaining in popularity......colourful, practical and very strong.  A variety of wooden, purpose poultry houses, of varying quality can be bought. Garden sheds can be bought and converted. Existing garden sheds can also be converted. The choice goes on and on, but from your point of view, the decision may be around affordability, or how practical your diy skills are and how much free time you have on your hands.

From the hens point of view, the house must be wind and waterproof and of course predator proof. Light, with space to move freely, and good ventilation, with no dark, damp corners to harbour red mites etc. A safe place to roost and a safe comfortable place to lay their eggs.

From your point of view, it must be appealing and enhance your garden. Easy access for cleaning and collecting eggs, are also essential. .....and this appears to be something not really considered in some bought and badly designed poultry houses. It must be functional and practical for you and your garden poultry.

LAYERS.......you can have bantams, or you can have rare breeds. But if you are new to poultry I would suggest you look no further than good quality hybrid laying hens. Bred and developed to give you plenty of large eggs, on a nearly daily basis and also bred and developed to be healthy, calm and friendly. Most hybrid layers are sold with the full vaccination programme. There are a range of good, quality hybrid layers. There are also however some very poor quality birds and not so honest sellers, that will take advantage of people new to poultry. When buying, buy only the best,  from a good and reliable source.

FEEDERS & DRINKERS.......can be made in galvanised material, which are more expensive, but will last "forever". More likely you will buy the inexpensive plastic types....and these are just fine. They do the job, they are easy to clean....and as said, they are inexpensive. Do not use, "whatever comes to hand", unless in an emergency.....Doing so is costly.... your feed bill will soar with wasted food.

POULTRY FEED......wee chicks start on "chick crumb" and at around six weeks move on to "growers" and at around sixteen weeks go on to "layers pellets". And this is what you feed your pol layers when you get them. This offers the laying hen at this stage, and throughout her adult life, the balanced diet to keep her healthy and laying plenty eggs. "Treats" are ok. But for the first two to three months, while your birds are still young, hold back totally on the mixed grain and fancy bits. Layers Pellets only.....except for what they find in their travels around the garden.

SUMMARY......at this time, that is enough to be getting on with. Basically, there are no regulations, or need to apply for a licence for a small flock. Laying hens are friendly and sociable and will really give you loads of fun as well as eggs. They cluck away quietly....and although no neighbour is likely to object, you may feel you wish to mention you are considering keeping some hens. Wherever you purchase your birds, you should expect to purchase top quality and well sourced layers. You should also be expected to be offered ongoing advice and support if needed.

We certainly do..... As well as "Certificate of Authenticity" which also includes " A Personal Guarantee" and "Full Vaccination Programme Guarantee"

"POULTRY SUPPLIER"....(July '08)

Where you choose to buy your first hens may simply be governed by your location and availability. As someone new to poultry I would suggest to look no further than "Hybrid Layers" for the reasons giving in this section.

They are bred and developed to be hardy, and healthy with a calm and friendly temperament.....as well as of course, an ability to lay big, quality eggs throughout the year. By buying "Hybrid Layers" from a reputable supplier/breeder, you will be buying "Authentic Layers", that can be truly sourced.....with a proven history and record. They will have all the positive characteristics that have been refined in their breeding and development. You are buying the benefit of the recorded, research work, involved in selection and breeding of past generations of quality poultry.

And as a person new to poultry you will reap the benefit of "buying the best". And making your first venture, with even a few garden hens, a really fun and wonderful experience.

But this section is not about what kinds and breeds of poultry you should choose. It is about, as a beginner, finding the right supplier.

If the following in any way sounds patronising, I apologise at the outset. But we were aware, when we first started, how inadequate we felt at the first point of contact with an experienced supplier.  We started with no practical experience. And we only wanted around three or four hens. Most suppliers and breeders will be helpful to persons new to poultry. There are still many others however, who instead of sounding enthused and excited, knowing someone else wants to start keeping hens, come over as bored, uninterested, unhelpful, (and worse). Especially once they realise, you have little knowledge, need some assurance as well as advice & info......and need only three hens!

It is not only the beginner who has experienced this. I've had more than my fair share of this response in a number of areas.......Not only in the distant past, but in the recent weeks ......the very recent weeks !

(Unanswered emails and telephone messages..... are they really all so busy they can't respond to a simple query ?.......We always do......and nearly always respond within 24 hours.)

So the list and comments below might be a wee reminder to myself and others, as well as yourself, that might be worth considering over, when making your first point of contact with your potential, poultry provider.

( A DOZEN....not in any particular order of importance)

1) do they listen.

2) answer you questions.

3) offer advice& help.

4) show patience.

5) pressure you to buy.

6) sound knowledgeable.

7) show real interest.

8) sound experienced & enthusiastic.

9) offer a full service.

10) put the customer before the sale.

11) friendly, respectful, polite.

12) and make you feel comfortable.

The points mentioned above could relate to a query about any product, or sevice.. They are only some guidelines But it may help you focus on what is reasonable. The response you receive to the first point of contact, is the important one. And it is more than likely your own "gut reaction"in the first few seconds will tell you all you need to know.

You should certainly not feel intimidated, because of your lack of knowledge....(that is in part the reason you made contact). You should feel more knowledgeable and informed afterwards. If you don't, it is probably the fault of the supplier....and cerainly, not yours.

If your potential supplier knows all the answers, you have to make up your own mind.....is he/she very knowledgeable?....(or maybe just focused on the "Sale", to someone who knows little about poultry). 

If, when you mention, "only three hens", your supplier shows lack of interest.....maybe you should too !

From my own past experience, many customers first question, is around the price....and that is ok. But you should as well give your supplier the opportunity to explain what is on offer.

Our own "Isa Warren (pol) Layers", are sold with a " Personal Guarantee" (30 day, unconditional sale or return)....a "Full Vaccination Programme Certificate" (if requested)....and a "Certificate of Authenticity".

We know our birds will do what we promise.

So the main question you might like to consider is....... not only the price, but is the person offering value for money?

Wherever you approach someone to buy your first hens dont be nervous, or worse, intimidated, by your own initial lack of knowledge.....you, and your family will be "old hands" by the time your first, fresh, eggs come along.......and up until then....and for as long as you need it it, "free advice and support" should always be available. 

Keeping in mind what has been mentioned above, your own first general impressions will probably not be far off the mark, so go along with that.

A personal recommendation from a trusted friend wil help yu to decide......and thankfully from our own pont of view, much of our own business comes from "word of mouth" as well as from "Testimonials" etc. on our website.

Finally 99% of visitors reading this will not be from our area and as such, we will never get to know as customers. But I really would be interested if anyone visiting our website found this "new section" , (or in fact any part of our website) helpful.......and I would be really, really interested in your own comments and experiences, when first buying poultry.

What would be really useful for us, and people new to poultry, would be for those of you, who have read this, to email me with comments and suggestions to improve this section.....the general text and specifically the list above......to add, or take out. 

Your comments may not be included, (but it is more likey they will). However  insignificant, or even "daft" they might at first appear to be to you, I am sure they will help others....and they wil be considered.

Your wee tips or extra wee bits of advice may be all that is needed for our new poultry keeper to take that first step. So with regard to this, or any other poultry related topics, why not email us through our "contact" page".

"HEN PARTIES"

"HEN PARTIES"..........July '08.

With the growing interest in the concept of keeping a few laying hens in the garden, more and more people are looking for some simple information with regard to........ "what does keeping hens entail, how complicated is it....and can we do it"?

SOME PEOPLE NEW TO THE IDEA have asked me, "ALL MY FAMILY LOVE FRESH EGGS.....BUT WILL THE HENS ATTACK AND EAT MY BAIRNS, WHEN I AM NOT LOOKING?.........(nobody really asked me that, I just made that bit up.......But in case that is a real concern, the answer is "no")

But it is the case, it is a totaly new idea for many people quite rightly, they want to know as much information as possible to help them decide if it is for them. 

Throughout our website we have tried to include a general flavour of the fun of poultry keeping, as well as some information for newcomers to poultry. Above we have also included some very basic information to get you started.

We are now considering taking this a step further with arranged "small group beginners sessions".. They will tell you all you need to know and how to get started. They will be in a relaxed setting in our home...... informal, but informative.....And we would expect the sessions to last around one hour, but more likely around an hour and a half.

This is still at a very early stage and it will depend on the demand and possibly other considerations. But if these plans do materialise, rest assured you will enjoy them. Keeping poultry is fun....and this aspect will not be forgotten in these sessions. ( I would come myself just to taste "Margaret's home baking" )

We are trying to arrange these, "hen parties" in conjunction with the company "Omlet". And general details around the pricing and structure of their "Hen Parties" are available on their site at, www.omlet.co.uk 

During these group sessions we will of course be showing and displaying their houses..."the Eglu"with run, and their "NEW Larger Cube House" We will also show you, and speak about he many qualities of our "New Isa Warren Layers".

But never at any time will you be put under pressure to order.

As far as we are concerned, our main mission, as enthusiasic poultry keepers, will be to bring this same enthusiasm to yourselves. We will advise and answer your questions if we can.  Share some of the fun and experiences of keeping poultry. Maybe help you decide if poultry is for you.

We would not expect you to order a house and hens at this time. In fact we would much prefer if you took a few days to consider.

If after this time you felt this was for you, or you had some further queries, you should contact directly "Omlet", where you could place an order for their houses.

At the same time, if you required our layers, you could order these through them I would think. They would pass on your order to us. Or if it was easier you could contact us directly by telephone, or email, to order our prolific, friendly layers.

Although we emphasise again, you are under no obligation whatsoever to buy either the house or the hens, we must advise in both cases, because of high demand, there will be a waiting time and early notice will assist you and us. 

(wee text break..below from "testimonials")

Dear Gerald and Margaret at Happy Hen Hoose, Thank you for helping us get started with the hens. Our visit was welcoming by yourselves and the chickens, which you told us loads of information and good advice about. All the birds are enjoying their new home.

Garry, Glenda and co. INVERURIE. 

"BITS & PIECES"......"GARDEN BITTIES"

08:08:08.......We have been harvesting our new potatoes from the polytunnel over the past few weeks.

I use the word "harvesting" just to impress you.....In truth, collecting more than wee bucket of tatties from the range of all the types planted, would be more like the truth.

I put this down in part, to the excessive heat in the polytunnel......but more likely to my general incompotence and neglectful approach, of not watering enough and allowing the weeds and nettles to take over. Now even with that competition I have got to mention "the kestrels".....they produced a huge crop of really big potatoes......if you have not yet tried these.....you should...marvellous!!

From the garden bittie, the potatoe crop is grand...thriving....good crop... even with the nettles and weeds, which are determined to take hold.

(WE HAVE ADDED AN UPDATE July 2008 to follow the entry below)

I will make a start with the first contribution.......(dated, Sep.' 07)

2007 was an excellent year for the hens to demolish what was left of our front garden (THEY HAD ALREADY TAKEN OVER THE VEG. GARDEN, GREENHOUSES, KEDER HOUSE AND POLYTUNNEL)

IN THE "BITS" WE MANAGED TO FENCE OFF, THE LARGE HARVEST THIS YEAR CONSISTED EXCLUSIVELY OF WEEDS....MAINLY THE COMMON KIND....BUT LIKE OUR POULTRY, SOME REAL RARE ONES AMONGST THEM!!

SPRING 2008 WE EXPECT TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS IN OUR GARDEN.

WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED

Is it just me, or does anybody else feel the garden catalogues are arriving earlier?

In the past four weeks I have had three 2008 garden catalogues fom three of the main suppliers pop through the letter box.

Who,s daft enough to order next years seeds and plants in AUG/ SEPT. the year before?

.........well actually , I did !!!!! 

This is the garden update JULY ' 08....TOTAL FAILURE ON THE "SOWING SEED FRONT" GENERALLY.....but also lots of good news too.

BIG RANGE of TOMATO SEEDS grown on to healthy plants with tomatoes colouring now.....excellent crop. Also experimented with huge range of early potatoes in garden and polytunnel and the polytunnel crop is really good. Our rose bushes in the front garden and planted in the  autumn of last year, which we thought  the wandering hens (in their "digging up mode") had totally destroyed have now come on real healthy.....once we turned them all back to "the right way up" !! The new rasberry canes are also taking hold if the coastal winds do not destroy them....AND THAT IS IT!!