The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

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11 August 2012

Comments from the Coop

We haven't heard much from the girls lately.  Well, all is tickety boo down in the Hennery.  Even the Henclosure has had a major tidy up.  The girls enjoyed our company whilst their Bamboos and Miscanthus had a trim.  It had got to the stage when a machete was needed just to collect the eggs.
Lulu climbs their ladder

Lulu posing

Tosca (in foreground) Lulu & Poppy

Black Betty
June saw the second anniversary of our hens.      We have had to say goodbye to Bluebelle, Priscilla and Amelia over their 2 year occupation but at present, these four are settled and content.  Black Betty is the only original making her the oldest.  From June to June we collected a total of 1281 eggs and I reckon that's pretty good going by anyone's standards.  After all, we only have 4 girls.  The current residents are Lulu (O.I.C. Pecking order) Black Betty, Poppy and Tosca.  Tosca is the biggest but as the youngest is definitely bottom of the Pecking Order.  Lulu is the the most tame and also the most talkative.  When eggs are collected and their newspapers changed, she often comes into the house to supervise the daily mucking out.

Eggsess (sorry!) eggs sell quickly and, at £1 for 6, they're a bargain.  Profits from sales pay for mash, corn, layers pellets and also treats like meal worms.  Half a dozen eggs labelled and tied with rafffia or ribbon make ideal presents and are nice to take to a dinner party.  Sales for 1 year totalled a surprising £71.00!  6 disappeared without payment but maybe some one forgot to put their pound in the piggy bank.

Feed consumption for a year is approximately 3 bags of corn, 2 mash and 1 bag of layers pellets.  All 3 cost about £8 per bag and of late we've been buying from Dodson and Horrell and taking advantage of their free delivery on orders exceeding £40.  That means we're well in pocket and any profits go into the garden - especially vegetable seeds.

June 2011 - June 2012
Total Eggs:  1281
Total Sales: £71.00

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