Hello and welcome to The Compost Bin. I'm Compostwoman and I live with my family in rural Herefordshire. We have nearly four acres of garden and woodland, all managed organically and to Permaculture principles, which we share with Chickens, Cats and assorted wildlife. We also grow a lot of our own food, run courses in all sorts of things and make a lot of compost!

I am a Master Composter and have spent more than a decade as a volunteer Community Compost adviser with Garden Organic and my local Council.
I'm a self employed Environmental Educator so I run workshops and events where I talk about compost, veg growing, chicken keeping, cooking, preserving and sustainable living. I also run crafts workshops and Forest School/outdoor play sessions in our wood.

We try to live a more self sufficient lifestyle here, as best we can, while still having a comfortable life and lots of fun.


To learn more about us click on the About Compostwoman tab and remember to click on the photos to make them full size!


Saturday 10 August 2013

Nutmeg update.

So, with Nutmeg very firmly ensconced on The Eggs, my morning routine has had to change a bit.

I now go out and open the door of the Brody Ark where Nutmeg greets me with a frenzied crescendo of
 " bock bock bock" while I carefully pick her up off the eggs and put her outside.



I have already put her food and water bowl nearby, so she has to move towards it, rather than turning round and going straight back inside to The Eggs.



 here they are - two French Copper Blacks (dark brown) a Dorking x French Wheaten (pale) and a Cream Legbar x French Wheaten ( Blue)

 I quickly shut the doors so Nutmeg can't get back in until she has eaten, drunk



 and eliminated. Broody hens only poo once a day and do huge, very smelly ones. Like this.


While I guard her eggs, Nutmeg eats a bit of grass, does a few stretches and flaps her wings. Then with a huge "squaarrrk" she heads back to the Broody Ark and I let her in.

I do this before I let any of  the other hens out and I shut the others in at night a bit earlier than normal so I can let Nutmeg out again last thing at night for more food and drink.


If I didn't do this I don't think she would bother - I have seen a broody hen turn to skin and bone, rather than leave her eggs and I do not want that for Nutmeg.

Fingers crossed, so far, so good.




4 comments:

  1. Is that shredded paper in with her nesting material ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, and straw. The paper is actually from a bale of torn ( rather than shredded) unused newsprint, which is much easier to compost with poo on than Aubiose or woodchip.

      Delete
  2. It is fun to hear stories about caring for a broody hen. I do everything in my power to keep the Buff Orpingtons from going broody. Maybe I'll let her sit and hatch out my chickens for next year!

    ReplyDelete
  3. How wonderful to hear about someone supporting their brooding hen. I do everything in my power to keep my Buff Orpingtons from going broody. Maybe I'll take advantage of her passion for sitting and have her hatch out next year's hens! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete

Hello! Thank you for reading my blog and for commenting. I try to reply as quickly as I can and I really appreciate your interest in my life and doings here in The Compost Bin.

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