Funny Hen Names, a Chicken Made of Eggshells and a Competition for Cats...
The Easy Way to Keep Chickens
Spring is the perfect time of the year to start keeping chickens and Omlet's Eglu and delivery service makes it easier than ever to introduce a flock of hens to your garden. Order your Eglu today and if you are within our delivery area we will deliver your Eglu and chickens, set it all up for you and give you a lesson in looking after your new pets. Our friendly driver will show you how the Eglu works, and even demonstrate how to click your chickens' wings.
If you're not in our delivery area don't worry, because you can still order an Eglu to be delivered by courier. You'll need to set it up yourself, but that won't be a problem with our easy to follow instruction manual and chicken keeping guide.
Order your Eglu today and we will throw in a bag of our Organic Chicken Feed for free! To claim your freebie just enter this promotional code: CHICKENFEED1 This applies to any Eglu Go, Classic or Cube and is valid until next Wednesday!
Easter Competition Results
Thanks to everyone that entered our double Easter competition. We really henjoyed reading through the entries to the caption competition, especially, and the results are as follows... Claire Wray won the mug competition, by correctly guessing that the egg was hidden in the Nessie Mug, and the winner of the caption competition was Marian Lund. You can see her creative caption below!
Don't worry if you didn't win this time...read on for this week's competition!
I know there's a water shortage, but you're not laying frogspawn in my nest!
The Buzz Club
Not a day goes by without there being a bit of a buzz about bees in the news, and we were excited to read about a new bee project in Sunday's Telegraph. The article called 'A Hive of Activity for the Young' featured a very special farm in Islington. Freightliners Farm has been running since 1978 and it has animals from pigs to chickens to an aviary of exotic birds...all very impressive considering Islington has the least green space of any London borough. And now they have been lucky enough to add thousands of bees to the menagerie, after receiving a £10,000 donation from the Green Insurance Company.
The money was donated to fund the farm's latest venture 'Buzz Club' – a beekeeping group for young people. An apiary was built, bees were installed, and the club officially launched at the weekend, with a buzzing day of bee-related activities, including making beeswax candles. Local school children volunteer weekly at the farm, looking after the bees and other animals, some of them hoping to work there in the future.
The launch of 'Buzz Club' coincides with the launch a new campaign by Friends of the Earth, called 'Bee Cause'. This campaign aims to reverse the decline of the bee population. They will giving away bee-friendly seeds, encouraging people to go on bee walks and teaching children the relationship between bees and the food chain. The good news is that bees are flourishing in urban environments so kids in the country and city can learn.
The article also features five of the best products for beekeeping beginners, with the Beehaus coming in at number 1. Perfect for gardens in the country or city, the Telegraph calls it “the most stylish urban beehive on the market, for rooftops or garden, by the makers of the cult product, Eglu.”
Eggshell Sculpture
What do you do with your broken eggshells? Some people crush them up and feed them back to their chickens, some put them on their compost heap, and some just throw them away without a thought. But one man has done something rather different with his eggshells, in fact, you might call it speggtacular! He has created a sculpture of a chicken!
Kyle Bean, Brighton-based designer, has come up with some eggstraordinary works of art over the last few years, including portraits made from pencil shavings, a tube map built of drinking straws and a hand grenade made of jelly. We think the beautiful chicken made from eggshell pieces has to be his finest piece of work yet though. So great, in fact, that it features in a German food themed calendar, alongside other artists and designers.
Inspired? We would love to see your eggshell creations. In fact, we might start building something here at Omlet HQ!
Naming Hens
It seems that Omlet is not only the place to buy an Eglu and other hen keeping accessories, it is also the place to find chicken names! Eglu owner Jennifer Trueland has mentioned us as a great source of chicken names in her comical article 'On the Naming of Hens', featured in the Caledonian Mercury. She took inspiration from other Eglu Owners on the Omlet Club, impressed by the originality of some names, including Scaramouche, Princess Layer and Korma (that's the chickens, not the owners), facing the tough task of naming her own new hens. After much deliberation, Jennifer settled on Muriel, Jane and Agatha, after her favourite authors.
Since then the flock has changed and there is now a Tiramisu among the 11 hens... Click here to read more about Jennifer's chickens, and let us know if your pets have any unusual names!
City Cottage
Are you interested in growing your own fruit and veg, making your own cheese or sausages, keeping bees or cooking delicious recipes? Then why not take a peek at the City Cottage magazine!? Written and edited by author and garden eggstraordinare Paul Peacock, this online mag is fascinating and enjoyable for both the complete novice and the more eggsperienced at green living. And the best thing is, unlike other magazines, it's totally free!
Whether you want to get started with keeping a few chickens in your garden, try growing asparagus or learn how to bake a batch of macaroons, you'll find all the advice you need in City Cottage. It is packed with tips, tricks and brilliant photos that make self-sufficiency a little less daunting.
Paul has just published Issue 2 of City Cottage, which you can read by clicking here. Or why not start with Issue 1 and learn how to make your own ketchup!?
Competition for Cat Owners
A couple of months ago we launched a Dog Photo Competition to give you the chance to show off your pretty pooches and hilarious hounds. The response was brilliant and we had a great time looking through your funny and fabulous photos. We enjoyed it so much, in fact, that we thought we'd better do it all again...but this time...for cats!
Are you mad about moggies? Then get out the claw trimmers, the grooming brush and the camera and get snapping. Send a photo of your prized pet to stephanie@omlet.co.uk and you could win the following: Verm-X Herbal Crunchies for Cats, Bright Canvas Toy Mice, Anti Ant Stainless Steel Dish, Soft Protection Salon Brush and Feather Fleece Balls.
We have three prize bundles to give away to our favourite felines and the competition closes on the 1st of May.
Eglu Classic Chicken House
The eglu is a truly innovative chicken house designed specifically for the first time chicken keeper. Modern and stylish - it is the ideal way to keep 2 chickens. The eglu comes complete with everything you need to get started. The eglu has roosting bars and a discreet nesting box which can be filled with straw or shredded paper. You can collect freshly laid eggs through the eggport on the side of the house.
Order this week and get a free bag of chicken feed. Just enter this code at the checkout: CHICKENFEED1
Pink Flower Tea Set in Carry Case
This perfectly pretty, pink flower tea set comes in a carry case that's equally as pretty. It keeps the tea set safely stored away while not in use and is also very handy for carrying it to the bottom of the garden for an alfresco tea party with friends, dolls or teddies.
Made from tin it is dainty, traditional and long-lasting. Every little girl will love the floral design and they will enjoy sipping imaginary tea, and acting 'all grown up'.
Includes 1 tray, 1 teapot, 4 plates, 4 cups and 4 saucers, all in a stylish carry case. Case measures 29cm in length.
Two Faced Mug - Lips
"What a two faced mug!" It might sounds like nothing more than an insult, but in fact it is the only way to describe this comical kitchen accessory. With two different sides to this mug, you can choose a face to suit your mood. Hold the handle with your right hand and you'll have a pout to be proud of, or use your left hand for a seductive bite-of-the-lip that Miss Monroe herself would have been proud of.
With glossy red lips and a beauty spot, you'll look and feel glamorous whichever side you choose. Just don't spend too long posing or your coffee will go cold!
Made from stoneware, this is dishwasher and microwave safe.
Duo Sparrow House and Keyring Set
If you're not the only one living at home, the chances are you'll have at least two sets of keys in the house to keep safe. Not only will the Duo Sparrow House and Keyring Set keep your keys sade while you're at home, but you'll always know where to find them.
Each cute sparrow keyring will sit in the house perfectly, keeping your keys in one safe location. They double as a whistle which could come in very handy when out and about, to call for help or attention. Whilst in their love nest the sparrows will be happy to whistle sweet nothings to eachother. Perfect for every couple, this set will make life a little sweeter and easier!
