Hen School

Courses for keeping chickens at home

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About Us
Our courses are run by Lesley Austin, who has had many years experience of keeping chickens since she was a child living on a farm in Yorkshire 
 
I started keeping chickens when I was a little girl. I loved their characters and would care for them if they were poorly. One hen called Matilda was savaged by a fox and I nursed her back to health, she used to sit on my lap on the swing and fall asleep.

I have a Pekin bantam who is over 15yrs old and a disabled Brahma bantam who has had a broken leg before I was given her.
 
I think you have to own hens to know what little characters they are, they all have different personalities, but have to say that the little ex battery girls are definitely the friendliest.I also love the Transylvanian naked neck bantam breed and have a small group of this peculiar looking bird.
 
I have worked in various veterinary practices since 1992 and have nursed many little pets and creatures back to good health. I currently work part-time at , Ryder-Davies vets in Ipswich and dearly love my job.
 
 I am also the Suffolk coordinator for the British Hen Welfare Trust, organising and running rescues which is very rewarding.
I  come home very tired, usually covered in chicken poo but feel great satisfaction that lots of these dear little creatures are now going to have the life they so deserve!
 
I love all animals and in the past was one of the top breeders of Rex guinea pigs, travelling all over the country showing the pigs and winning many awards. I also hand reared a Macaw parrot called Cracker, had bearded dragon lizards and four dogs, two cavalier king charles spaniels, a whippet and yorkie. Animals are my life and I could not imagine my life without them!.

I now have a cavalier spaniel called Indi and a pug puppy called Wilma, I love them to bits.
 

 
 
 
 

Customer testimonials
This is what people we have worked with in the past have to say about Lesley: -
 
Lesley has a great compassion for all animals, especially her chickens. She is a treasure trove of knowledge and should write a book. I am sure that it would be a best seller amongst us hen keepers. Linda Robinson - Suffolk
 
Lesley is known in the village as the 'chicken lady' and will help anyone with a hen problem. Jo Cook - Barking
 
Lesley adores her chickens. She is friendly, compassionate and very approachable. You'll find her really easy to speak to and her enthusiasm is infectious. Her cooking is lovely too!  Eleanor Woodward - VN Ipswich
 
 
Lesley AKA "Hen Woman". Every word from her mouth is hen related! If you're wanting to learn about hens and have a laugh too, then Lesley's your lass!  Katie Markham -  Ipswich
 
Lesley is a compassionate, sensitive person and a very knowledgeable, reliable veterinary nurse. She is very popular amongst her work colleagues and clients and  her work is highly commendable - Deidre Kearns MRCVS
 
I had a very enjoyable day! I cannot think of a single negative comment about Lesley's course, I am sure my 'girls' will benefit from my new learned expertise - Jenny Frederick - Ipswich
 
We had a super day, learning so much about hens, the lunch was divine and the chickens were great, especially Sheila! - Laura Nicholls - Kent