For the past couple of years we both dreamed of having a sweet little chicken house with a few hens. We finally decided just to go for it and couldn't be happier! Choosing a chicken coop that would match the exterior and feel of our home was important as from the house we look straight into the backyard - no daggy tin shed like I used to have as a child would do unfortunately!
We ended up purchasing the Penthouse from Backyard Chickens. It's delivered in boxes and all the pieces are numbered so hubby and I spent quite a few weeks painting it all in classic black and white for a classic Hampton style vibe. As we also have two little doggies who would probably think these hens are dinner so hubby also built a matching fence run around the coop with a gate to keep them safe.
The Penthouse from Backyard Chickens - grass is very yellow due to winter :) |
Initially we planned just to get a couple of Isa Browns from a local market but we decided to get four Hy line Browns from Talking Hens. This bread is a great egg layer ( up to 360 eggs per year) and are some of the friendliest and sweet chicken breeds.
We drove out to Red Hill and picked up our girls who we named Matilda, Amelia, Coco and Annabelle. They each have a different coloured ring on their leg so we know who they are. We can pick them up and they are so gorgeous! Within 2 weeks all girls have been laying an egg each! I can't even begin to tell you what a difference it makes having fresh farm eggs. I've always bought free range eggs from the supermarket but our eggs have been amazing - bright orange and so fresh!