The Kitchen Garden

January/Februay 2005

Chatting to a customer recently over her Christmas order, she told me she had re-located to France and taken her beloved collection of poultry with her. Obviously, it would be more sensible to leave your flock insitu for the new owners, and re-stock abroad, but I too would have difficulty leaving my girls behind - so, I've been checking out the ways and means.

So, for those wanting new beginnings ...

First, inevitably you'll need to contact the local branch of DEFRA, who will send out a large information pack. You can take 20 birds per person within Europe and, with the ream of necessary papers and certificates proving your flock has no salmonella under your belt, find a transporter through your removals company. Contact Worldcare Pet Transport on 0870 0133 883 or Airpets on 01753 685571. Within the British Isles, Graham Francis on 01691 860459 is a poultry carrier par excellence.

For those looking for Elevateurs de Volailles D'Ornament (breeders) in their local directory, why not check out French Races Pures (breeds): Faverolles, Crevecoeurs, Marans, Gauloises, Coucou de Rennes and even Cou-nus, in Poule (standard) or Naines (bantam) for your poulailler.

Bonne chance.

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