Finally after a lot planning, reading, designing, building and rebuilding (well a girl can change her mind can't she?) we have a wonderful chicken house, run and 4 hens.
It always amazes me just how fortunate my life is with many things just 'working out' and getting chickens was one of these times. A friend gave us all the materials for constructing the coop, some straw as well as grit and the first phone call I made about buying chickens resulted in us getting 4 free hens. Yes, you read correctly that was FREE!!! Now some of you reading this may think 'hmmm, free must equal knackered' and to be honest there was some doubt in our minds. However going with my friend's words of wisdom that 'a free chicken is a good chicken' we collected our little brood.
The kids had already picked names (Bony and Kapohutukawa), as had we under duress (Twistie and Daphne), and were desperate to get their chickens home and checked in. We had read as much as possible on the net and from the one book available at the library (seems everyone is getting hens at the same time) about care and food only to be left more confused that before. Back to plan A which is a diet of weeds, leftovers, grit and wheat (sprouted for maximum nutrition). This is still under scrutiny however and will undoubtedly be revised and revisited at regular intervals. After a flurry of feathers we popped them in the coop, filled the water and retreated to watch from the step.
They slowly emerged from the coop, drank and all seemed to settle in well. So far so good. Having been told that they would be off the lay while adjusting to the move we didn't expect any eggs and were quite happy to watch them scratching around. Our newly acquired friends had other ideas however and gifted us 3 eggs on their first day here! Another 3 the next 4 days and then 4 eggs on their 6th day here. Officially they have well and truly paid for their keep and are now under no pressure to produce. That is, until we run out of eggs.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
What's in a name
Being a vegetarian who eats fish I often get questions (actually more like drilled) about why I don't eat normally - that is meat and three veg type meals. I'm not really one for labels and mostly either don't mention it or just say I don't eat meat. People are always quick to find out whether I'm vegan, vegetarian or have some allergies and now I have found the answers!
Couldn't resist putting this on here. They made me laugh at how far people will go just to have a label to be able to pigeon hole you with.
Vegan: A person who doesn't eat meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, or dairy. They usually avoid honey and foods processed with animal products like gelatin, lanolin. Often, vegans avoid wearing animal products like leather, silk, down feathers, and wool. Vegans are sometimes called "strict vegetarians."
Vegetarian: A person who doesn't eat meat, poultry, or fish, but does eat dairy products and/or eggs.
Pescatarian: A person who doesn't eat meat or poultry, but does eat fish; they may or may not eat dairy products and/or eggs.
Pollotarian: A person who doesn't eat red meat or fish, but does eat chicken; they may or may not eat dairy products and/or eggs.
Lacto-ovo Vegetarian: Someone who eats eggs and milk products, but is otherwise a vegan.
Lacto Vegetarian: Someone who eats milk products, but not eggs, and is otherwise a vegan.
Beegan: A vegan who eats honey. Sometimes this is because they don't truly believe it to be an animal product.
Dietary vegan: Someone whose diet is vegan, but who doesn't avoid all non-food animal products, like for clothing and toiletries.
Flexitarian: Someone who primarily eats vegetarian food, but allows for exceptions occasionally.
Lessetarian: A person who tries to reduce their consumption of animal products, but doesn't necessarily eliminate them.
Hopefully that gave you a smile for the day too!
Couldn't resist putting this on here. They made me laugh at how far people will go just to have a label to be able to pigeon hole you with.
Vegan: A person who doesn't eat meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, or dairy. They usually avoid honey and foods processed with animal products like gelatin, lanolin. Often, vegans avoid wearing animal products like leather, silk, down feathers, and wool. Vegans are sometimes called "strict vegetarians."
Vegetarian: A person who doesn't eat meat, poultry, or fish, but does eat dairy products and/or eggs.
Pescatarian: A person who doesn't eat meat or poultry, but does eat fish; they may or may not eat dairy products and/or eggs.
Pollotarian: A person who doesn't eat red meat or fish, but does eat chicken; they may or may not eat dairy products and/or eggs.
Lacto-ovo Vegetarian: Someone who eats eggs and milk products, but is otherwise a vegan.
Lacto Vegetarian: Someone who eats milk products, but not eggs, and is otherwise a vegan.
Beegan: A vegan who eats honey. Sometimes this is because they don't truly believe it to be an animal product.
Dietary vegan: Someone whose diet is vegan, but who doesn't avoid all non-food animal products, like for clothing and toiletries.
Flexitarian: Someone who primarily eats vegetarian food, but allows for exceptions occasionally.
Lessetarian: A person who tries to reduce their consumption of animal products, but doesn't necessarily eliminate them.
Hopefully that gave you a smile for the day too!
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