The Kitchen Garden

May/June 2007

After a blistering April, we head into a wet May, and then – who knows – a snowy June, perhaps. Sadly, the unseasonably hot weather heralded the demise of the oldest Orpington hen, so we are now down to four, plus the cross-breed Nasty hen and next door's two Old English Game bantams, making a permanent home for themselves here, after their year long introduction.

Luckily, we have a broody hen, so tonight, as dusk falls, I shall go out and replace the china egg she is sitting on with three fertile eggs. I'll wear gloves to protect my hands and the eggs from aggressive pecks, remove the saddle she wears to protect her from the cockerel's spurs (see catalogue) and dust her with insecticide, to make her brooding period as comfortable as possible. She is a practiced mum, so I won't have to take her out every day to feed, water and encourage her to keep clean. Marking D Day in my diary, hopefully, in 21 days time, we shall produce next year's laying hen.

The garden is recovering with these welcome showers of rain, and the vegetables are protected under cages and cloches. Having had enough of the sorrel for this year – a welcome though limited veg, it has been left uncovered for the hens. The whole row has been stripped, but will grow up again if protected. It's worth remembering that unusually large portions of greenery can have a surprising effect on colour and consistency of droppings.

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