The Kitchen Garden

August/September

The school holidays are in full swing, and though mine no longer have to be entertained, a summer project for kids involving the history, purchase and keeping of a few pullets could be the introduction to a life-time hobby, and coincides with this season’s birds being ready for sale.

Hens make excellent pets. More interesting than all those other poor imprisoned creatures in tiny cages, keeping hens offers a plethora of learning opportunities for youngsters, provided they are supervised and taught early on the importance of hand washing and boot scraping, and the responsibilities of care, regular feeding and cleaning out.

I always recommend docile birds like Pekins, Silkies or Orpingtons for beginners, but a look through the British Poultry Standards book at the library will show the hundreds of descendants of the Red Jungle Fowl in all their glories – booted, crested, frizzled, silken, bare-necked and furbelowed of every hue, pattern and size imaginable.

Sourcing your birds can be fun, with visits to breeders, poultry centres, shows and of course the Kitchen Garden (open 10 till 5, Fridays and Saturdays). There are still places available on our Counting your Chickens Course on September 12th. Happy holidays!

Subscribe free today www.henkeepersassociation.co.uk

Enjoy Eglu weekends or breaks at Haguelands Farm and collect your own eggs for breakfast www.haguelandsfarm.co.uk