Well, I feel like I have made a little step forward!
I have been without hens for just over a year, since the last lot had to be despatched. They were elderly, not laying, and had got into the habit of egg eating. I've been saying I would get more, but their pen and run needed repairs and I ......just haven't! It was one of those things I just kept putting off. But yesterday, I made a start on the repairs! So, getting more hens is on the horizon. Yesterday's work also was good for me in that it involved getting out the heavy electric drill/driver, because the cordless wasn't strong enough to deal with some screws that needed to be taken out. Fifty meter extension cord, and away with me, and got it done! Yay, me! Hate power tools, which is one of the reasons I haven't done this work!
Then I started fixing the floor where rats had done some tunnelling under the pavers, filled in a few gaps where full paving stones wouldn't fit with some small bricks, and I'm off now to get some more of those to hopfully finish the job. Then a few repairs to the wire, and that should do it. So, hopefully, another couple of weeks, and I should be able to have hens again. It's not economically worth it to me to keep them, but there's nothing like knowing where your eggs came from, and how the hens are kept. And to be honest, taking care of them will give my day some structure. They will have to be fed, watered, and their house kept clean. Let out in the morning, early, and shut in at night. part of me doesn't want that. Doesn't want the bother. But I think it will be very good for me. And of course, very fresh organic eggs can't be beaten! So, I'm off now to get back to work, while the weather holds, as we're promised more showers later!