Six years ago, we brought four hens home to our suburban back garden. Getting hens was a small move in a big world, but it signalled a change in our lives.
The hens connected us to our food, made us think about how we want to treat farmed animals, and to the ebb and flow of the seasons.
Keeping chickens transforms an egg from a store cupboard basic to a simple, precious pleasure.
Looking after animals still embedded in the natural world has reconnected us with the food on our plates and to the world around us.
Cracking frozen drinking water on a chilled December morning, the first egg as the days stretch out in early spring, to the hens scratching around dewy grass and frosted apples, has enriched our lives.
Now our scraps go out to hens, and their waste is composted down into rich, dark compost which we use to grow fruit and vegetables. Chicken shit is a good thing.
In our modern world of TVs and laptops, horror stories of animal abuse and processed food are many. Here, in our small back garden, there are good things happening.
wildlife friendly gardening and beekeeping in Manchester 
My brother-in-law now has chickens on his allotment. The eggs are REAL eggs. Big yellow yolks like I was brought up with. I’m not sure about the delights of breaking the drinking water but then I do the same for the wild birds if our ponds freeze over so I suppose I would actually get the same sense of satisfaction. Long may your chickens lay (and shit!).
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Are they going and laying well? We love ours, you will have to visit them sometime! Thank you for your feedback John, it’s very appreciated. Perhaps mine will go international like yours one day!
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He has five hens – all different breeds and all were laying in no time. Jo and I would love to visit yours some time.
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John you and PWLT would be most welcome! Im in Bristol for a new job now but ill message you when I’m back to see if we can have a chicken meet
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