When the flock makes it out the group chat

It only took one message – and a very efficient brother-in-law.

Hannah is the next chicken keeper in our series “How Chickens Changed My Life.”

After spending time around her boyfriend’s parents’ chickens and visiting a café where hens wandered freely, Hannah floated the idea of getting some of her own in the family group chat. By the next day, five bantam chickens and a coop arrived on her doorstep, courtesy of her brother-in-law.

“I instantly fell in love with them.”

That moment marked the beginning of what has since become a full, thriving flock. Today, Hannah keeps eight chickens, including three chicks she hatched herself over the summer. Each has its own personality, but together they form a lively, ever-moving part of her daily routine.

Her hens – Nugget, Winnie, Eggatha and Henrietta – are, as Hannah describes them, “lovely happy girls.” Dave the rooster keeps a careful watch over the group while Nutty lives up to her name. “She literally runs around like a headless chicken.”

What started as a simple addition to the garden has quietly reshaped how Hannah spends her time.

With chickens to care for, the outdoors has become part of her everyday rhythm rather than something reserved for weekends or spare moments. “I have always been a lover of the countryside and the outdoors but now this gives me a reason to get outside, potter about and enjoy nature without feeling like I’m not doing anything productive.”

There’s a slower pace that comes with it – small, familiar tasks and daily routines that bring a sense of calm and continuity. “It has inspired me and brought me so much happiness, I didn’t realise what I was missing and now I’ve found something that brings me endless joy.”

Alongside that enjoyment has come a subtle shift in perspective. Caring for animals day to day naturally builds patience, consistency and an appreciation for things that develop over time. “The best things in life don’t happen instantly, and material things aren’t the key to happiness or a measure of success.”

As her time outdoors increased, so did her interests beyond the coop. 

That time spent outdoors has had a ripple effect, gradually expanding from the coop into the wider garden and into new, hands-on ways of living.“It started with 5 chickens and as I was spending more time outside, I started pottering in the garden and fell in love with gardening, which then led me to want to start growing my own vegetables and now I even bake my own bread!”

Sharing her journey has also connected her with a wider community. 

Through her online presence, Hannah has found herself part of a wider network of like-minded people, with opportunities to connect beyond her immediate surroundings. “It has opened opportunities for me, I was kindly invited to an Omlet event, and loved meeting lots of other like minded people who are also creators too!”

But among all the day-to-day moments, one stands out clearly. “My favourite chicken related memory has got to be the day my chicks hatched… It was so adorable.”

For anyone considering starting their own flock, Hannah’s advice is reassuringly simple. “You don’t need heaps of space, just a good coop and a couple of hens and you’re good to go! You can learn everything about chickens as you go.”

We asked Hannah to finish this sentence: “My life is better #BecauseOfTheChicken… “ It’s brought me a whole new meaning to life.”

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