It’s almost Christmas and the seasons have changed!
Unfortunately poultry ‘lockdowns’ seem to be an annual winter occurrence, with APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) announcing mandatory housing measures for most poultry in a bid to reduce the transmission of avian influenza from wild birds to domestic birds. These regulations make little difference to the majority of poultry in the UK, as according to Compassion in World Farming, most are now sadly already kept enclosed full-time in large ‘factory farms’.
However, it can be very difficult for traditional keepers like ourselves who have chosen to keep our birds in a way closer to what nature intended – and for our free-range flocks, who are used to better things. At the drop of a hat we have to be able to bring them in from the fields and house them, often for extended periods of time.
This is not the way we want to keep our birds – we ideally want them outside on pasture and in the fresh air, but until regulations are lifted, we have no choice. Roll on spring!
Incredible Eggs branch manager Michael has been preparing for this time of year and the likely return of a winter ‘lockdown’ since spring. Firstly an enormous poly tunnel was put up, where the birds could be housed if/when they had to be brought in from their 16 acre field.
Michael then built not just one, not just two, but THREE of these amazing, super-spacious mobile chicken coops, which he can move around the fields with his tractor when regulations are not in place, or use to house birds when they are. The birds are regularly moved on to fresh pasture, which is great for their health – and their droppings naturally fertilise the land as they go, which is great for the health of the soil. It’s an all round win-win and a fabulous example of a traditional, old-school farming method.
Here are the birds (and sheep!) also enjoying the shade they provided in the height of summer this year.
Now ‘lockdowns’ are upon us once again, the birds at least have a familiar space, with good levels of natural light, perches and cosy nest boxes.
All the birds seen in this video were hatched in schools, nurseries and care homes – and they will be providing some of our hatching kit eggs next year! They are a breed called Light Sussex and you can find out more about them here.
Bookings for 2026 are coming in thick and fast and popular dates are becoming full, so please do book soon, especially if you have a particular date in mind.
We’d like to wish everyone a marvellous Christmas and a very happy New Year!
From all at Incredible Eggs 🙂
