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Spring is on it's way

7/3/2014

March already, so much for me writing at least one post a month. February seems to have come and gone unnoticed whilst all focus was on the daily struggle created by the endless storms.
However we are now entering the second week of March, the winds have died down and the forecast is for a few dry days. Today the sun is out, it is even quite warm, the daffodils, crocuses and primroses have made an appearance, the snowdrops have been and gone, nature is on course.
The first chicks of the season are now 5 weeks old, they are fully feathered and ready to be moved out of the brooder to a larger area - the stable. At 2 weeks of age the second hatch are thriving and before we know it they too will be ready to move on.
As I type the incubator is heating up ready for the next set of eggs to go in on Sunday.Soon hopefully it will be replaced by broody hens.

Light Sussex chicks just a few hours old.

To see more photos and to keep up to date with the daily comings and goings of Bellecross Hens click on the F button on the top right hand corner of the page.You don't have to join Facebook to see the page but if you are a member why not like and follow my page.

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A New Venture

23/9/2013

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It seems appropriate that my first post on this, my new website should be about a new venture. A venture into the world of hybrids. In the past I have always championed the traditional breeds of poultry, believing it important to maintain the various gene pools, to keep to breed standards yet preserve their purpose - be it egg laying or meat production.

This weekend, however I became the proud owner of a small flock of brown hybrid layers. I had considered long and hard before making the decision to buy in pol hens, as for the past few years I have maintained a closed flock. Not only were they to be brought in but they were also vaccinated, but with my list of regular customers for fresh eggs growing and my own birds going off lay during their moult it made commerical / financial sense.

Before ordering the birds, I researched into different breeders, bought a lovely new shed and fenced an area of the paddock, away from my established flock.

On Saturday they arrived bright eyed, healthy, alert and in super feather condition. They had been litter reared but will now free range. On arrival we left them in the shed with food and water. After a couple of hours we opened the pop hole and one by one over the afternoon they ventured out but stayed close to the shelter / safety of the hedge. At first they were reluctant to step onto the grass, it wasn't long however before they started to peck at it and decided it was good to eat. They were nervous of anything flying overhead and on each occassion darted back to the safety of their house. At dusk natural instinct kicked in and many of the birds flew into the trees to roost, as impressed as I am on how strong natural instinct is, getting birds down from trees in the dark and wet is losing it's appeal. However by the end of the week they will, hopefully see the shed as their home and roost there at night instead and possibly within the next few weeks start to lay.

I do have a few of these birds for sale - see my 'Sale' page for further details

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Spring is on it's way

A New Venture

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