Egg-cellent hens

THE key to a happy hen: Give them plenty to do and allow them to roam freely.

That's the philosophy of Rachel Rivers (pictured), who farms Colombian Blacktail hens from Lawn Farm in Wiltshire to produce organic eggs exclusively for her former employers, Waitrose.

Rachel was a Partner at the food shop until April this year, before deciding to manage the farm full-time and develop it further for landowner and local vicar, Reverend Gerald Osborne.

“I make sure the hens have plenty of tree trunks to peck at as the bark is a rich source of bugs for them and I throw wheat on the ground to give them something to search for to keep them active,” says Rachel.

“They are a native British breed of hen that thrive outdoors and are prolific egg layers.” The hens are protected from predators by five Alpacas who, despite towering over them, live with them in the fields and seem content to share the open space.

Rachel's 4,000 hens are divided equally into two flocks, each of which are provided with many hectares of grass field – more than the amount defined by the Soil Association's guidelines for free-range hens.

“We use mobile laying huts to enable the hens to graze in different areas.

They are powered by solar panels and windmills to minimise the impact on the environment.

These provide sufficient energy to light the interior and drive the feed track, which circulates around the shed nine times a day.” explains Rachel.

“Because the sheds are designed to allow the chickens to fulfill their natural instincts, they are able to lead as contented and healthy a life as possible.

Although, the hens are free to wander from dawn to dusk, at night time they are housed safely in purpose- built henhouses.” On visiting the farm you discover a new appreciation of the simple egg and one thing becomes extremely evident: Rachel's philosophy is working.