In Praise of: Chickens.
BY SARAH HELLEN
Photo by Department TwoChickens. They’re everywhere. No, seriously!
As least twice a day I get up from my desk and head outside to wave my arms around in a fashion similar to tai-chi in attempt to usher chickens safely back into The Walled Garden.
Xanthe’s chickens really are the epitome of free range, and they clearly love it. I just worry that my labrador may one day love it, too.
Our feathered friends bring us so much joy. Whether we’re watching them make a bath in the sand on a hot day or dipping hot buttery bread into a big yellow yolk.
I asked friends and co-workers about their own chickens.
Sarah Sheldon, Shop Manager Hawarden Estate Farm Shop
How many chickens do you have?
We have 9 chickens.
How long have you had the chickens?
We got them from Shropshire pig and poultry centre as rescues on 6th Feb as a wedding anniversary present! Some people want diamonds or champagne, I was thrilled with my ladies!
What made you want to keep chickens?
We live on a small holding and do our best to live as self-sufficient and sustainably as possible. We have some sheep and chickens were a great addition. I’ve always loved chickens but I also love knowing exactly where my food comes from be that lamb, a potato or an egg.
What are your three top tips for keeping happy hens?
Free range as much as possible.
Safe and big enough pen.
Chickens are social and love a little chat and a varied diet including fruit and veg.
These seem like complete basics but the difference in my chickens now to when we got them is amazing. If nothing else convinces you to eat free range images of battery chickens should.
How do you like your eggs in the morning?
I love two scrambled eggs with butter and sourdough toast. YUM!
Xanthe Gladstone, Director of Food and Sustainability in Hawarden and Glen Dye
How many chickens do you have?
20.
How long have you had the chickens?
I've had the hens for just over a year now.
Where did they come from?
A handful of them came from a commercial farm, so they are quite boisterous, and the rest came from a couple of different local farms near Wrexham.
What made you want to keep chickens?
I love the idea of knowing exactly where my food comes from, and eggs were one of the missing pieces of the puzzle for me, so it made sense for me to get them. There's nothing more I love than picking some veg from the garden, collecting an egg from my hens, and having them both on a fresh piece of homemade sourdough toast.
What are your three top tips for keeping happy hens?
Good quality food if possible, this makes such a difference to the taste of the eggs. I always feed my chickens organic layers pellets.
Make sure their nesting boxes are clean. It could probably go without saying, but it's not good for them to be sitting on their poop while laying eggs.
Make sure they have somewhere to dust bathe, this should be plain soil or dry mud. Dust bathing is really important for them, it helps them get rid of any bugs, mites, or fleas, and also helps their feathers and skin keep in good condition.
How do you like your eggs in the morning?
Eggs and soldiers all the way. Never gets old. Try Tenderstem broccoli alongside the soldiers to dip, that's a winner too. Poaching technique: make sure the whirlpool in the water continues where the egg has gone on.
Audrey Dykes, Head of Guest Experience at Glen Dye and Caroline Gladstone, Owner of Glen Dye
How many chickens do you have?
We have 10 hens.
How long have you had the chickens?
The some of the chickens arrived in the autumn of 2019 and the rest came last summer.
Where did they come from?
Half our hens are rescued ex-battery hens and the other half were all bred locally.
What made you want to keep chickens?
We wanted to keep chickens initially to offer a home to the ex-batts then to offer fresh eggs to our guests. Some of our hens lay lovely coloured eggs including dark brown, blue and olive green.
What are your three top tips for keeping happy hens?
Give them something to eat every time they see you as they always think they are hungry!
During the cold winter months give them something like a lettuce or some broccoli as they enjoy eating greens. And if they don’t have access to grass they love it as a treat.
Make sure they always have access to an area of dry soil as they love having dust baths.
How do you like your eggs in the morning?
My favourite eggs are perfectly boiled (white solid but yolk runny) and always with toast soldiers!
I poach my eggs by putting a splash of vinegar into boiling water the stir it around then drop the eggs into the moving water. I then take the pan off the heat and leave them to quietly cook. Again the egg whites must be solid but the yolks runny!