In April we had a serious problem with crows or magpies stealing eggs from one of the hen houses. So out of desperation and a desire not to put a net over the whole run (33m x 16m) I decided to recycle some old clothes. As a friend said “that’s really scary but not the best scarecrow I’ve seen.” Sadly the crows agreed with her and I then resorted to using a radio tuned to BBC radio 4.  That stopped their thieving activities!

Mike has made some houses with plywood but then decided to make a ‘pretty’ one and this is it. The hens have been underwhelmed but are gradually getting used to it. It is designed for large hens and we have used it for our pure breed hens (Welsommers, Light Sussex and Cream Legbars), although the smaller Ludlow Legbar hybrids like laying their eggs in it even though it’s not their house. They even fly over the fencing to get to it, so it has an appeal that eludes us.