The First of Our Own Livestock on The Farm

We've kept hens since we moved to The Vicarage in 1996. The previous owner left hers behind, with our agreement, as she hadn't space in her new place. We had a few assorted hens (including Jack, who only had one eye) and over the years we added to, and twice replaced when Mr Fox wiped out our entire flock. We've also hatched eggs in an electric incubator, and had hens raise their own clutch. 

So poultry was the obvious first choice for livestock on The Farm. We have a small incubator, but as it only holds 7 eggs we decided to approach a commercial hatchery to hatch a larger number on our behalf. Jack of Mount Bank Farm hatched us 12 chicks on 24 May, and we collected them from his farm, near Osmotherley, on 26 May. 

The Gentleman Farmer rigged up a pen for them in the barn undercroft. A heat lamp kept them warm, and we closed the barn door overnight to protect them from local wildlife. They are fed on chick-crumb, which they'll stay on until they're about 8 weeks old. 

On 24 June, at about 4 weeks old, we moved them into an outside run and small house, which Master W built when we lived in Yorkshire. 

The run is located in a small area fenced off from the main field, so that the lambs can't play top-lamb on it. The chicks weren't impressed sufficiently to explore the outside world before they had to be shut in for the night, so we've been encouraging them outside today.