Hen-itentiary, Im-peck-able Presents, Bees and the Ivy & Be Kind

Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
18^th December 2021

Hen-itentiary

So in the midst of talking to people about the possibility of another lockdown here in Wales, it’s my hens that have actually been locked down.  They now have to ‘socially distance’ from wild birds, as a case of Avian Flu has been reported near Crickhowell.  Whilst I completely understand the need for them to be kept indoors and away from wild birds, which may carry and/or spread the virus, it’s obviously far from ideal.  After a bit of head scratching and a lot of anxiety, I have relocated them to my little ‘poly-house’, which is a cross between a greenhouse and polytunnel.  Initially, I was worried that it might be a bit too warm in there for them and had visions of them using it like a spa with me going in one morning and finding them all with fluffy white towels wrapped around themselves.

Thankfully they seem relatively settled and comfortable in there and are enjoying their Deliveroo-ed fresh grass and greens – like lettuce, carrot tops and cabbage.  I have also hung up whole sweetcorn cobs and a cabbage for them to ‘work’ a bit for. It helps keep them entertained during lockdown – in the absence of Hen-flix.

I’m not so sure other hens will be so lucky – most coops are quite small and don’t have any natural light.  So if you have had to bring in lockdown measures for your own chickens please ensure they have a supply of fresh greens, some light – even if it is a battery operated light during the day – and of course, plenty of fresh water.  It is also worth providing more than one drinking point if possible so that the dominant hen cannot guard the water – as they do. Add a bit of poultry grit to their food too, as they won’t be able to scratch about outside for it naturally.

I researched ‘hen treats’ (as you do) as I thought they would probably enjoy some mealworms, but it turns out that in 2014 DEFRA announced a ban on the feeding of mealworms to chickens. The ban is still not widely known by many poultry keepers – and can be confusing even if you do know about it – but basically it appears that most mealworms are imported and may have come into contact with, or been fed, animal protein which could then potentially pass on disease.  Got to love a bit of research – formalised curiosity.

Im-peck-able Presents

A few weeks ago I recommended a mealworm breeding kit, as a Christmas present, from www.wigglywigglers.com which will be a way around the DEFRA ban, but even better than that, I have discovered that the British Hen Welfare Trust have the most amazing online shop for ‘hen treats’.  It’s fab’luss.

You can buy Nature’s Grub Treat Mix, Chicken Treat Balls, a Boredom Buster Gift Set – and wait for it – Chicken Popcorn.  And it comes in two flavours – garlic or fruit.  I’m sooooo excited.  I love the thought of locked down hens being able to ‘henjoy’ a few treats.  And of course your feathered friends don’t have to be ‘self isolating’ to have treats – it is Christmas after all.  Click here to visit their shop.

One good thing about the poly-house is that I’m actually enjoying a bit of time in there with my four hens – Dora the Eggs-plorer, Hen Solo, Princess Layer and Attila the Hen (she’ll be the one protecting the water bowl). They are inquisitive, intelligent, comical (real comedi-hens) and far better company than a lot of people – so that’ll be my Christmas party sorted out then.

Bees and the Ivy

After helping Santa on to the giraffe in my garden – his reindeers were self-isolating – I cut and collected a bit of greenery from my garden to make Christmas wreaths for clients, friends and family.  I was amazed to see my honeybees still working on the ivy.  Incredible when you think it’s nearly the end of the year.  Honeybees are normally all cwtched up in their hives or nests at this time of year, keeping each other, and the Queen, warm.

Like penguins, they take it on turns to go on the outside of the group and then work their way to the centre, (and the Queen), before starting the cycle again.  And all the over-wintering honeybees are all female.  The drones, or male honeybees, are kicked out of the hives in late autumn, as they are ‘surplus to requirements’.

I watched my honeybees enjoying their late winter feed with a big grin on my face, as I spotted the little pollen baskets on the bees legs filled with orange ivy pollen.  I can’t tell you the amount of pleasure those little things bring me.  There is so much written about mindfulness and ‘being in the present’ these days, but I think my nan would have just called it ‘paying attention’.

The pollen basket, or corbicula, is part of the tibia (college A&P education kicking in) on the hind legs of honeybees and is how the worker bees carry it back to the hive or nest.

And yes, I did write ‘pollen baskets on bee’s legs’ and yes again – ivy pollen is indeed bright orange. You’re welcome.

Be Kind

This is my last column of 2021, I’ll be back at the start of a shiny, brand new year.  I always think a year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning really, but just a ‘going on’, or a continuation, albeit into a new numerical year.

To quote the American poet, Maya Angelou, “My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who you are, and to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness.”

So, Happy Christmas – try to spend some of it in nature and remember that the best Christmas gift of all is to realize and appreciate what you already have. x