wow - Verity was correct with her prediction
And it's made me chuckle (on another bad day where I am feeling really down - one nightmare teenager! ) that the filter has removed the name of Jimbo's farmyard animals
I know but if they don't, they get mucky bums, which makes for mucky eggs! Even muckier than they get by being "artistically arranged" by mucky chicken feet! And I know eggs have a protective coating on them to prevent bacteria getting through the shell, which is why you aren't supposed to wash them until immediately before use, and then wash in warm water as cold draws bacteria in. But still I'd rather avoid as much dirt getting on them in the first place as possible!They don't actually have to perch, Lady A. So long as they are off the ground and vermin can't get in, they'll be fine.
Sorry. Our ark had slatted wood floor, so it was an inch or so off the grass, plus three laying boxes. Never had mucky bums or dirty eggs. Always understood raised perches were to keep vermin at bay. The ark was moved every day/ two days depending on how many hens were in it.
You could grow a lot in growbags or pots! I put peas in a flowerbed this year, simply because there's a railing behind it, so they can climb up that. Saves me putting supports in the veg garden for them.I totally agree, I'd love them but we have a tiny ( about 10 feet x 14 feet at its widest) patio, including the border with shrubs and pots and a bird feeder and a bird bath. We have a communal grass behind our houses but the fox uses it as a thoroughfare nightly.....so no chance of hens there either! Get the occasional hedgehog passing through too.
We go in for communal tomato plants in our close. Our neighbour starts them off then anyone and everyone gets plants to pot on. If we could have had hens too we could have had lovely eggymarto sarnies ( know here as seaside sarnies 'cos that's what we had for picnics at the coast in our childhood).
At least your Darling Philip will get lush egg custards and scrambled eggs and eggy bread.....
How are you and Fred?
Crying here listening to this. Sending you a tight warm hug, LadyA. x
Happy Birthday, William. I hope you've preened your wings and are flying specially close with Lady A today