Badgers on the night of 21st March 2015 Hemsford is a place where despite being only 3 miles from Totnes, there is a wealth of wildlife always present. The badgers are frequent visitors to the hen run in the field next to the house, and visitors to our yurt camp are often treated to views of the badgers nightly walk across the lake field. Badgers will eat just about anything, including chickens, so I am always keen to make sure our hens are safely shut in their houses at dusk each night. About 2 weeks ago I placed 18 bantam eggs in our little incubator and are hopefully expecting them to hatch just in time for Easter. I normally have large fowl and we have a variety of breeds all free ranging together, including Buff Orpington, Speckled Sussex, Rhode Island Red, Copper Black Maran, Silver Sussex and a few hybrids as well. This will be the first time I have hatched bantams so I am really excited about seeing the tiny chicks. I have candled the eggs (passed a light throught them to ascertain fertility) and I am hoping for a good number to hatch on or around the 1st April. Chickens normally live around 5 years, however most of my free range flock are 6 and above now so I hope to renew them with the bantams. I may even try and hatch some exotic Ayam Cemani after this brood are done. Love chickens!
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