Book Review: Hens in the Garden, Eggs in the Kitchen by Charlotte Popescu

Although we only have a small suburban back garden, I have kept hens for five years now. I had grown up around chickens as my grandad always had at least a dozen bantams, so I knew the basics - but before I launched into chicken keeping I decided to get a couple of books on the subject. This book has been the one I have turned to most often, and I have recommended it to quite a few novice hen keepers along the way!

The book is based almost entirely on the author's own personal experiences of keeping chickens, so is written from a practical, ‘hands on' point of view. It is a comprehensive volume, which covers almost every possible aspect of the subject, without being too long or ‘wordy'.

A brief introduction to the origins of domestic hen keeping is followed by a chapter outlining many useful facts which a prospective hen owner will find invaluable, such as where to get hens from, and how to sell eggs on a small scale. Further chapters add considered advice on subjects such as hen housing, feeding, egg laying, and which breeds are more suited to the domestic situation.

I started my little flock with two light Sussex bantams and two black Pekin bantams, chosen more for their cuteness than for any practical value (although both the Sussex hens turned out to be great little layers). Once I had real hens living in my garden the chapter in the book entitled ‘Characteristics, Behaviour and Habits' really came into its own. At one point I seemed to be referring to it almost every day to check on such crucial matters as whether it really is normal for hens to lie down and stretch out their wings, eyes closed in apparent bliss when they feel the sun on their backs (it is!), or how the ‘pecking order' is established.

A couple of years later I decided to adopt three ex-battery hens from a wonderful charity called the Battery Hen Welfare Trust. Marigold, Marmalade and Buttercup were very sorry specimens indeed when they first arrived, and I spent many anxious hours poring over the chapter outlining some of the common pests and diseases. Fortunately all three girls recovered amazingly well from the unspeakable start they had endured, and went on to live happy and productive lives eating my baby lettuces and beans!

The real bonus, though, was that I was suddenly presented with a regular supply of beautiful free-range eggs. Fortunately, the second half of the book consists of a comprehensive list of egg recipes, both savoury and sweet, which proved to be a useful addition to my usual repertoire of boiled and scrambled.

As I write, only the two black Pekins from the original flock, plus Marigold, the last of the three ‘ex-batts', are still with us. I've recently started looking at the BHWT website for local ‘adoption' dates, and am hoping that a new trio of girls will shortly be joining the assault on my veg patch. No doubt they will present their own questions and problems, and I am certain that my copy of Hens in the Garden will be as invaluable as ever in providing all the help and guidance I will need.

Rachel

Note: What a great idea for a Christmas present for a prospective hen keeper! Just imagine reading this curled up in front of the fire and making plans for your chickens in the spring! And remember, buy through one of our affiliates and the BGI benefits too.

Egg photo (c) Jilly Graham 2009

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