A quick update on activities at Fat Cat’s Patch. We have welcomed some fowl friends to our little smallholding. First to join us were five chickens. Four ex-battery hens and a cockerel. Followed shortly thereafter by a single duck a handsome drake.
Chickens make fowl friends.
We’ve kept chickens for many years and fought our battles with Mr Todd. But when we moved we left our fowl friends behind and have been without for nearly 3 months. In the past I’ve built chicken houses and runs but currently lack a workshop. So the expedient choice was to buy a chciken house and run this time. After a little research EmmCee settled back on FlyteSoFancy. Over the years we’ve bought door mechanisms and timers from them but never a house and run. Whilst they aren’t the cheapest the quality is good and the customer service has been excellent. We bought a 6 chicken coop with nest box and automatic door. It’s a well made and easy to assemble house and run and leaves us confident the hens are going to be safe
The hens are ex-commerical hens re-homed by Fresh Start For Hens a local charity. We donated to the charity and booked a slot picking them up one Saturday. They were in fairly good condition and have perked up in the week that they’ve been with us. EmmCee also collected a cockerel . I am not a fan. We’ve had one before and they are more trouble than they’re worth. We’ll see how we get on with him but watch this space Cooking With Monsters may yet be doing Coq Au Vin.
So far we’ve had 12 eggs in the first week so my diet will need to change a little to keep up. But as we’ve done in the past we’ll share our eggs with friends or sell them to colleagues at work.
What’s Up Duck
EmmCee and I have also been discussing getting ducks. But in one of those common husband and wife miscommunications I thought this was a general aspiration. EmmCee took this as sanction to order a duck house and reserve some ducks for re-homing.
Have I mentioneed what a tolerant and easy going husband I am 😀
So EmmCee spotted a duck that needed a new home because it was lonely. So off we went to collect another fowl friend. Much like my cockerill surprise I got a drake surprise. But at least he’s not as noisy and unpleasant. We have some lady ducks arriving soon so hopefully the chickens are sufficient company in the mean time.
Other than that life at our new home for Fat’s Cats Patch goes well we’re all settling in and getting to know this new part of the country.
