Darren [00:15]
On this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, I am speaking with Katriona Shovlin of Hen Weekend. Katriona runs a hen boarding hotel. I’ll say that again, because you may not have heard it correctly: a hen boarding hotel. It’s where you place your hens when you go on holiday or you’re doing something in your home. I mean, it makes sense. You need to place your dogs and cats somewhere, so why would you not need to place your hens?
Katriona was on the most recent series of Dragon’s Den looking for investment, where she asked for £40,000 in exchange for 20% of her business. I will be speaking to Katriona about her hen hotel, what her business is doing, her plans to franchise, and of course, what her experience was like on Dragon’s Den.
Your business is a little bit on the unusual side, if that’s one way to describe it. Give me a brief summary of what it is and how you would talk to other people about it.
Katriona [01:41]
So I would describe it as a five-star hotel for hens and ducks. For anyone that says, “Oh, what does that mean?” I would describe it as—you can take a dog to a kennel and a cat to a cattery—so I describe it as a hennel. So it’s like a kennel, but for hens.
Darren [02:12]
Okay, that is very random. What made you come up with the idea of a hennel?
Katriona [02:19]
So I’ve always had birds. Well, I’ve always had a wide variety of animals, but when I started keeping poultry, when I booked a holiday it was just terrible trying to get anybody to look after them. I couldn’t find anybody that was confident with birds or knew anything about birds.
So I just thought, if I’m having this trouble, there must be other people out there that keep poultry like me and struggle. If you want a well-deserved family break, where do we go? We know where to put our dogs and our cats, and there’s even hotels for rabbits. So why don’t I start a hotel for hens?
Darren [03:10]
I suppose actually it makes perfect sense. A friend of mine had chickens—I think he has chickens again now—he went on holiday to Orlando for three or four weeks with his wife and three kids. He left his cleaner to feed his chickens while he was away, and she let them out of the chicken coop to run around in the garden, forgot she’d done that, and the fox helped himself to all of them.
Katriona [03:30]
Yes.
Darren [03:36]
So it’s a bit more intense than people probably imagine.
Katriona [03:42]
Back in the day, I think when people had chickens, it was a case of just letting them out, putting them back in, chucking some food on the ground and kind of letting them fend for themselves. Whereas now, we’re a nation of animal lovers.
You can take your dog to a groomer and your cat to spas and all sorts these days. So why should a hen hotel be weird? It should be normal. They’re our pets. I love my chickens. They’re my babies, and I want someone to look after them the way I do.
Darren [04:35]
How does it work from a logistical point of view? Dogs are relatively social animals—you put dogs in together to play, and they generally get on. Chickens are not sociable at all, are they, in terms of intruders or strangers coming in?
Katriona [04:48]
Hens can be a bit wary of new people, so it does take a little bit of time to gain their trust. From another social aspect, a flock is a flock. I could never just load up all these birds and mix them and expect them to get on. They’re very territorial.
If there’s an outsider bird that comes in, they will fight to the death. They can be very brutal. So I’m quite lucky in terms of space. I can space birds far enough away from each other that they’ll never see or hear another bird outside their flock.
Darren [05:39]
You’ve got that much space that you can separate them so they can’t even hear each other?
Katriona [05:41]
Yes, they won’t hear one another. I thought about it from that aspect and placed them strategically so nobody would be stressed. I’ve marketed it as a holiday. It’s a holiday for hens—and holidays are not stressful, we hope.
Darren [06:04]
How much space do you require for this, and how many individual flocks are you able to house at one time?
Katriona [06:09]
I’m quite lucky. I’ve got a couple of acres at home. I started with one hotel, which was a large hotel—a chicken coop and a huge chicken run which can fit a maximum of 20 birds.
When I first opened, that was fully booked. I realised I had demand and was gaining customers. But I still couldn’t fit everyone in, so I had to build another hotel, and then another one, and then another one.
I’ve got four or five hotels now. Some are bigger than others because some people have three birds and others have fifteen. I try to cater for all.
Darren [07:18]
How big is the market? You said there’s big demand, but how many people have chickens in the UK?
Katriona [07:25]
Over 1.2 million of us have hens in our back gardens in the UK.
Darren [07:30]
Really?
Katriona [07:32]
Yes. COVID was a big reason—people were getting lots of pets. The second reason is charities, like the British Hen Welfare Trust. They rescue hens from slaughter. Once the farmers are done with them at 18 months, they’d usually go to the slaughterhouse. The farmer gets a new crop of birds and starts over.
These charities come in and rescue them. People like you and I can put our names down and adopt them. That’s how they end up in our gardens.
Darren [08:22]
Why would they get rid of them after 18 months?
Katriona [08:28]
At 18 months, a hen is classed as mature. Their bodies typically start to slow down. In the egg industry, they’ll just start over again.
Darren [08:48]
Do they not lay eggs, or just lay less frequently?
Katriona [08:54]
They still lay eggs, but that’s also when they go into a moult. They lose feathers and regrow them, like most animals. During that time, egg production slows or stops altogether.
Darren [09:11]
So they’re thrown out, and people like you look to adopt them?
Katriona [09:17]
Yes, exactly.
Darren [09:24]
How long do they live after 18 months?
Katriona [09:31]
My eldest lived to ten years old. They’ve got a long life ahead of them. They’ve got lots of love to give. They really do brighten up your life.
Darren [10:02]
It seems horrible they’re sent to slaughter at 18 months when they could live for another eight and a half years.
Katriona [10:09]
It’s the harsh reality, I’m afraid.
Darren [10:15]
In terms of people who want hens in their garden, where’s the best place for them to look to actually acquire them?
Katriona [10:21]
If it’s rescue, which I would strongly encourage, then definitely the British Hen Welfare Trust. That’s the biggest hen charity in the UK that rescues them from slaughter.
Go on their website, and there’s a map that shows you the nearest collection point based on your area. You put your name down, and they’ll do some checks to make sure you’ve got the right equipment.
Darren [10:49]
So you need your chicken run and your chicken coop all set up and predator-proof?
Katriona [10:55]
Yes, exactly. Once you’ve sent those over, you can go and collect your hens when they have a rehoming day.
Darren [11:06]
So you just need to get one professionally made or buy one in and get photos of it to show it’s safe?
Katriona [11:12]
Yes, you do. It’s almost like rescuing a dog or cat—they’d do home checks, wouldn’t they? So they’re just checking that you’re taking them on responsibly.
Darren [11:20]
Dogs are obviously high maintenance depending on the breed. Some require a lot of walks. Cats are relatively low maintenance but still come with vet bills. What are chickens like to look after?
Katriona [11:44]
That’s a good question. I always think with animals, you get out what you put in. I spend a lot of time with mine because I enjoy it, and they are spoiled.
Not everyone has time, and that’s fine. Some people only spend time with them at the weekends. I would say they’re mid-maintenance—if that’s even a phrase.
Darren [12:15]
Mid-maintenance?
Katriona [12:16]
Yes. They still need cleaning out, a nice home to live in, appropriate food, and predator-proof housing.
There are things people might not think of—like how their food is stored. If it’s not stored properly, you’ll attract furry visitors like rats or mice. And if they get poorly, they do need to visit a vet.
They need an exotic vet, actually, because they’re classed as exotic species.
Darren [13:05]
Even though they’re one of the most common animals on the planet, they’re an exotic species?
Katriona [13:11]
Yes, they are. So they have to see an exotic vet. Like any animal, you’ve got to be responsible.
Darren [13:18]
And how expensive are they to look after?
Katriona [13:24]
I wouldn’t say they’re expensive, honestly. Bedding, food, treats, and a lot of love.
If you’re rescuing them from slaughter, all they really want is love, attention, and some nice space to roam. Even if you’re spoiling them and it becomes expensive, it’s 100% worth it.
Darren [13:59]
Are they a loving animal? I’m a big dog lover—they’re obviously loving. Cats I don’t really like. I find them cold and distant. What are chickens like as pets? Do they recognise you? Do they come to you? Are they loving?
Katriona [14:12]
Yes, they do. When my car pulls onto the drive, they all come running over.
They know when I’m home. Every time the door opens, they come running over. Some even recognise their names. They’re very social animals.
I’ve got one particular hen that’s super friendly. I take her into nurseries and nursing homes. She loves being cuddled and goes to sleep in children’s arms.
Darren [15:00]
Really?
Katriona [15:01]
Yes. I’ve got customers with hens that sit in the living room watching Jaws.
Darren [15:06]
That’s random.
Katriona [15:08]
Apparently that’s her favourite film. But yes, they’re really loving, very sociable creatures, and very smart.
People think chickens are stupid. They’re not. I’ve got lots of toys for them—little footballs with treats in. They peck at them to get the treats out. They’re clever.
Darren [15:40]
How does this work as a business for you? How do you make money with your chicken hotels?
Katriona [15:47]
I charge per bird per day. Obviously, the bigger the flock, the more money it is.
It’s not just for holidays. I’ve had hens stay because their owners were moving house or renovating. I’ve got hens that have been with me since October because the house move fell through.
Darren [16:26]
Right.
Katriona [16:27]
And like I mentioned, I’m doing other things—nurseries, schools, and recently, prisons.
Darren [16:31]
From what started as a hotel?
Katriona [16:32]
Yes, it’s taken me down completely different avenues I’d never have thought of.
Darren [16:38]
What prison have you been into?
Katriona [16:50]
I go into my local prisons. It’s more of a hen therapy. Some prisons have their own hens in the gardens, and the gardens are beautiful.
It’s mainly for prisoners with mental health issues. Sitting with the hens or working with them helps them get through prison. For some it’s a lifeline, and for others, it’s what they aspire to when they leave—they want to get a house and have hens.
Darren [17:44]
Are these open prisons?
Katriona [17:46]
No, they’re not open prisons.
Darren [17:52]
Wow.
Katriona [17:53]
It really opened my eyes. The gardens are beautiful, and it’s lovely to see how hens can help people in different situations.
Darren [18:11]
And with the schools, how many are you into? What sort of age groups?
Katriona [18:21]
Anything from nurseries to universities.
In nurseries, it’s more touch and feel—basic facts. Many children haven’t ever come into contact with a hen. They might have seen them on a farm, but chickens just walk off.
As they get older, we go more in-depth—about commercial settings: caged hens, barn hens, free-range, organic. We talk about the egg industry, what happens after, what difference consumers can make, better choices in shops.
Darren [19:29]
They really enjoy it?
Katriona [19:30]
Yes, definitely.
Darren [19:36]
Going back to that—when people adopt hens that would otherwise go to slaughter, my friend was buying eggs and hatching them. Presumably that’s like buying a puppy instead of adopting a dog. Is it better to adopt 18-month hens or hatch eggs?
Katriona [20:06]
Ethically, it’s better to adopt.
I’m trying to steer people away from hatching projects. I don’t agree with them. The male-to-female ratio is skewed—more males are born, and nobody wants males.
Darren [20:50]
Really?
Katriona [20:51]
Yes. Nobody wants cockerels. They do a fantastic job, but nobody wants early morning wake-up calls.
Some say they’re the friendliest bird ever—and they may well be—but I don’t have one. I try to steer people away from hatching, because it’s unethical.
The males end up with a sad fate—often just killed and given to reptile places as food.
Darren [21:46]
So you’d always encourage adoption over hatching?
Katriona [21:52]
Always. Not just chickens—cats, dogs—please rescue.
Darren [22:04]
It is horrible, isn’t it? I saw an episode of QI years ago where they talked about chicken sexers—people who can identify the gender within a second. They just grab the chick, and if it’s female, it goes one way. If it’s male, it goes the other.
It’s deciding the fate of something that’s just been born so quickly—it’s devastating.
Katriona [22:34]
It is awful.
Katriona [22:36]
I remember last year I was actually in a Catholic school with one of my rescue hens who’d been saved from slaughter, and they were hatching at the same time. I just thought it was absolutely bizarre.
There are companies now that go around schools with incubators. They provide the incubator and the eggs, you hatch them, and two weeks later they come and collect them.
Darren [23:10]
And the teachers and students believe they’re all going back to a lovely farm?
Katriona [23:16]
Yes. Unfortunately, for the males, that’s not the case.
Darren [23:29]
They’re going to be destroyed?
Katriona [23:31]
Yes. The majority of them. It’s really sad.
I just don’t think we have the right, as humans, to keep hatching or breeding things just to destroy them.
Darren [23:50]
It raises horrific moral questions when you’re basically eradicating one half of a species just because you don’t want it.
Katriona [23:57]
Exactly.
Darren [24:04]
Well, you know, men have got to get a bad rap for something. They’ve got the advantages in everything else—it’s chickens where all the bad luck’s gone into the male species. And spiders, of course, because they get eaten. We won’t go into that.
Dragon’s Den.
You were on the last series with your business. How was the application process? Did you apply, or did they reach out to you?
Katriona [24:31]
They reached out to me. I had this random number keep calling, and I thought, what is this?
We’re in that age now where we Google a number instead of answering it.
Darren [24:48]
I do that.
Katriona [24:49]
So I Googled it. It kept coming up as BBC. I was doing a lot of radio shows at the time, so I thought maybe it was just another one.
Then I went on LinkedIn and saw that someone from the Dragon’s Den production team had been looking at me. Turned out the person calling was a producer.
When I finally spoke to him, he said, “How about coming on?” I said, “Absolutely not. Why would I do that?”
Darren [25:30]
[Laughing]
Katriona [25:31]
But then I thought maybe I could use it positively—not just for the business. Even starting this business wasn’t just about making money.
It was about supporting people with hens, raising awareness of hens as pets, and welfare. I wanted to see more hens rescued from slaughter. So I thought maybe I could use Dragon’s Den as a platform—and that’s what I did.
Darren [26:12]
Was there a lot of paperwork?
Katriona [26:13]
Yes, loads. Due diligence. Anything you claim, you have to prove. Even the fact I went to university—I hadn’t looked at my degree in years, it was in the loft somewhere.
But anything you say on the BBC must be proven.
Darren [26:41]
Wow. Were you even slightly looking for funding before they got in touch?
Katriona [26:46]
No. Not at all.
Darren [26:52]
Not at all?
Katriona [26:53]
It hadn’t even crossed my mind. I was just plodding along. It was a business, but it was also a hobby.
I’d never had a business before, so it was all new. I knew what I was doing with hens, but with business? Not a clue.
Darren [27:19]
It was an interesting pitch. What did you ask for in terms of funding and percentage?
Katriona [27:53]
£40,000 in exchange for 20% of the business.
Darren [28:00]
That’s a low ask and a generous percentage. Were you happy to give away 20%?
Katriona [28:05]
Yes, I think I would have been—purely for their expertise. They could have changed my life with their knowledge.
I didn’t get investment, but I came out buzzing from the advice and the points they gave.
Darren [28:33]
Unfortunately, we only see ten minutes of what was well over an hour, right?
Katriona [28:47]
Yes. That’s the only downside. But I have to remember it’s TV—they’ll cut and edit to make it look how they want.
Darren [29:05]
They can make you look as good or bad as they like in the edit.
Katriona [29:08]
Absolutely.
Darren [29:12]
One bit of advice—or criticism—that I recall was about your plan to franchise. They said there’s nothing to protect. Anyone could copy it.
Have you addressed that since?
Katriona [29:36]
I’d say I’m protected in terms of trademarking. No one could copy me in that way. But I hadn’t thought about someone just pitching up a coop and run and calling it a chicken hotel.
That was their point: why you?
Darren [30:07]
Why you, yes.
Katriona [30:08]
It didn’t really come across on TV, but for me it’s personal—it’s about me, my expertise, and how I do things.
I still don’t really know the answer to that question. I’m not a businessperson. But I run my business with love and passion.
My business is priceless to me. I’m really glad I did it. It was a very positive experience.
Darren [31:02]
There was no negativity in the room?
Katriona [31:03]
None. It’s about animals and saving animals, and they were all really lovely.
I think Tuka was lovely. He comes across quite moody or rude on TV.
Darren [31:27]
Yeah.
Katriona [31:28]
But if anyone challenged me the most, it was Sara.
Darren [31:39]
Really? She’s the nicest on TV.
Katriona [31:41]
I know! I thought Deborah would grill me—she’s an animal person, has chickens, ducks, horses. But she was super lovely, really reassuring, kept nodding to calm me down.
Sara was more challenging.
And then I had the lovely Joe Wicks.
Darren [32:15]
You had Joe, didn’t you—the guest Dragon?
Katriona [32:16]
Yes. He was really lovely.
You don’t realise how much goes into making the show. I was having my hair and makeup done.
If I flicked my hair the other way, someone came over with a brush for continuity. I didn’t even know what that was.
Darren [32:52]
[Laughs]
Katriona [32:53]
And that lift? It’s not real.
Darren [33:04]
That lift isn’t real?
Katriona [33:05]
No. It doesn’t go up. The brickwork’s not even real. It’s wallpaper.
Darren [33:43]
What was the best advice you got from one of the Dragons?
Katriona [33:52]
Joe Wicks wanted to adopt… well, adopt hens.
Darren [33:59]
Adopt you?
Katriona [34:01]
I’d take that! But yes, he wants hens. He’s got a lovely family and is big on nutrition—fresh eggs make perfect sense.
Peter Jones already had chickens, which I didn’t know.
Darren [34:24]
Did he?
Katriona [34:25]
Yes. But the best advice was: keep going, keep being yourself, and it’s a lovely business.
Darren [34:37]
That’s all you needed to hear, isn’t it?
Katriona [34:38]
Yes. It worked out well for me.
Darren [34:45]
Were you disappointed not to get the investment?
Katriona [34:51]
Everyone goes in hoping someone will see something in them. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little deflated.
But I was just super nervous. You go in and tell six strangers your life story. You overshare. You hope something comes of it—and it didn’t. But that’s okay.
If you’re passionate, keep going and keep being yourself.
Darren [35:44]
Are you still looking for investment now, or was that it?
Katriona [35:50]
I think whatever happens, happens. If someone reaches out, I’m happy to listen.
Darren [36:04]
So if someone is listening and interested in investing, you’re open to conversations?
Katriona [36:11]
Yes, I am.
Darren [36:18]
Still £40,000 for 20%, or negotiable?
Katriona [36:25]
Negotiable.
Darren [36:31]
I’m channelling my inner Dragon now. What would you do with the £40,000?
Katriona [36:39]
I’d love to franchise.
Darren [36:42]
Still the plan?
Katriona [36:43]
Yes. I’m only solving the problem here in Kent. I’d love to see a hen hotel up in Scotland—more land up there and lots of rescues happening with no real caregivers for hens.
If I got investment, I’d also invest in schools—teaching children about animals, ethics, and consumer choices.
Darren [37:36]
So there are a few revenue streams to the business?
Katriona [37:39]
Yes, quite a few.
Darren [37:42]
Is it difficult to get into schools? Budgets are tight.
Katriona [37:47]
I always ask permission to take photos and videos. Once they see a video, it makes sense—especially with children with learning difficulties.
I remember one autistic child wouldn’t come near the hen while others crowded round. Once the group dispersed, I sat in a quiet corner with the hen and he came over, showed interest, came out of his shell.
It was lovely.
Darren [39:00]
One thing to look at is adults with learning difficulties. I’m a trustee for a charity called Wirral Mencap—there are Mencaps all over the UK. You could take your chickens into those as well.
Katriona [39:38]
Wow, that would be amazing. I hadn’t thought of that—definitely.
Darren [39:43]
So there’s lots of avenues for what you can actually do.
Katriona [39:46]
Yes, lots of avenues.
Darren [39:49]
Have you gone any further with the idea of franchising yet? Have you looked at what the next step would be?
Katriona [39:56]
I’ve thought about it, but no. Like I’ve said, I’m just a normal person. I’ve not got a real business head.
If anyone would love to advise me, I’m really open to advice and help. I’d love to, but I just don’t know how to get the ball rolling.
Darren [40:32]
Is this a full-time business for you now, or are you doing something else alongside it?
Katriona [40:38]
This is full-time. With school visits, universities, prison visits, and the hotels being booked up for the next two years—
Darren [40:49]
Two years? Seriously?
Katriona [40:51]
Yes. This is full-time. Especially during peak season in summer. Winter is a little quieter, but it’s still fully booked. It’s flat out.
Darren [41:08]
That is impressive. I’m going to ask a more personal question now—how well does it pay as a business? Can you tell us what you’re turning over and whether you’re paying yourself?
Katriona [41:18]
I am paying myself.
Darren [41:23]
Are you paying yourself well?
Katriona [41:25]
[Chuckles] Yes.
Darren [41:31]
That’s quite the cackle—that means yes.
Katriona [41:38]
Maybe.
Darren [41:39]
Not so sure now.
Katriona [41:40]
I don’t want to sound like too much of a prat.
Darren [41:44]
If it’s a full-time business and you’re living off it, then it’s doing all right.
In terms of franchising, you said you have two acres. Would someone getting into this need that kind of land?
Katriona [41:59]
Ideally, yes—or at least access to it. Otherwise, they’d need to buy or lease land.
Darren [42:06]
Do you need any kind of planning permission to create a chicken hotel?
Katriona [42:12]
You don’t need planning permission, but it’s always worth checking with your local council.
If you live in a new-build estate, there may be covenants that say you can’t have livestock or poultry.
DEFRA says you can’t have more than 50 birds on site at one time. If you do, you’re classed as a smallholder rather than a hobbyist.
I never have more than 50 birds here at once.
Darren [43:02]
So planning permission, no—but local rules may vary.
Katriona [43:08]
Yes. With DEFRA, it’s more about bird flu, biosecurity, and infection risk. All birds must now be registered—even if you only keep one. That changed late last year.
Darren [44:02]
So you need to register your birds by law now?
Katriona [44:03]
Yes. And any birds staying here—I need their flock number. I log everything professionally. DEFRA knows where the birds came from, how long they were here, and where they’ve gone.
If there was a bird flu outbreak, they’d have that information.
Darren [44:48]
And that would shut you down?
Katriona [44:54]
Yes. If there was an outbreak in Kent and I was in the restriction zone, it would close me down.
Darren [45:03]
How likely is that to happen? When was the last outbreak in the UK?
Katriona [45:10]
There are outbreaks at the moment, more up north. A lot of zones are being lifted now, but during restrictions, birds can’t be moved without a special licence and must stay in their run all day.
Darren [45:52]
Presumably to avoid contact with wild birds?
Katriona [45:55]
Yes. You don’t want wild birds flying in, eating the food, leaving droppings. That’s how it spreads—through dander, feathers, droppings, even sneezing.
Darren [46:18]
I’m genuinely thinking now that I’d quite like chickens.
Katriona [46:23]
Yes!
Darren [46:23]
My mate Chris has some. He’s got a cockerel, but it’s useless. Makes a pathetic sound.
How much space would I need to keep three or four chickens?
Katriona [46:51]
Legally, you need two square metres per bird in the run.
Darren [46:57]
That’s not much.
Katriona [46:58]
No. You don’t need two acres. You can have a normal back garden and keep a couple of chickens, get your fresh eggs, and enjoy them.
They’re funny. They’ve got a comedy factor.
Darren [47:32]
So I’m thinking of the chicken in Moana—Hei Hei. The stupidest character in Disney history. Are they that entertaining?
Katriona [47:38]
Some are! There are loads of breeds. Some have no common sense.
The Polish Frizzle, for example—glamorous but totally scatty.
Darren [48:02]
So if someone was thinking of getting chickens, would you recommend that breed?
Katriona [48:06]
I’d always say adopt. But yes, Polish Frizzles are very funny.
Darren [48:12]
How many eggs would you get per chicken, per day?
Katriona [48:17]
If you adopt ex-commercial hens, usually one a day—unless they’re moulting.
Fancy breeds vary. Bantams lay less.
If you want eggs, ex-commercials are best—and you’re saving them from slaughter.
Darren [49:50]
So they’re reliable?
Katriona [49:51]
Yes. I don’t like the word “reliable”, but yes.
If you’ve got a big family and eat lots of eggs—or go to the gym, like many of my customers—you’ll get good use.
Darren [50:17]
Joe Wicks again. Makes sense.
Do people keep ducks too?
Katriona [50:23]
Yes. I have ducks stay here too.
Darren [50:27]
How do you keep ducks? Chickens can’t fly, but ducks can.
Katriona [50:34]
Most ducks are clipped—they can catch a bit of flight but not fly off.
They’re heavy birds. I make adaptations for them—paddling pools for bathing. Chickens dust bathe; ducks need water.
Darren [51:44]
I’m renovating my house now and having a huge pond built with a 12-foot bridge. Could I keep ducks in that?
Katriona [51:52]
Yes, definitely!
Darren [52:16]
Would they eat the fish though?
Katriona [52:18]
I don’t think so.
Darren [52:24]
If I’ve got koi, that’s an expensive experiment.
Katriona [52:26]
Koi are big—probably too big to eat.
Darren [52:52]
If they don’t eat the fish, I want ducks. If they do, I can’t do it.
Katriona [53:00]
You can also save ducks from slaughter.
Darren [53:03]
Who’s slaughtering ducks?
Katriona [53:10]
The egg industry.
Darren [53:15]
But ducks can live in the wild. Chickens can’t. Can’t they just be released?
Katriona [53:21]
These are commercial ducks. You can buy duck eggs in shops—they come from duck farms.
Darren [53:33]
People never think about that—where duck or quail eggs come from. Ducks are beautiful creatures.
Katriona [53:46]
They are.
Darren [53:53]
Now you’ve upset me.
If they don’t eat the fish, I’m adopting ducks. If they do, I can’t do it.
Katriona [54:01]
Oh Darren… we’ll be signing you up. You’ll be at the adoption centre at the weekend.
Darren [54:07]
I want to know which bastard is slaughtering ducks. What a horrible job—duck slaughterer.
Katriona [54:13]
[Chuckles]
Darren [54:19]
British farming is good. Just don’t buy eggs from outside the UK.
Katriona [54:25]
Yes, support British farming.
Darren [54:31]
So duck eggs are okay if they’re British?
Katriona [54:36]
Yes. In the UK, welfare is better. EU welfare standards aren’t great.
I know people are on a budget, but just be mindful of where your eggs come from.
Darren [55:19]
Wise words. We’re just about out of time.
For anyone listening who wants to adopt chickens or ducks, speak to you, invest, or consider a franchise—what’s the best way to get in touch?
Katriona [55:43]
Best way is through Facebook: Hen Weekend Chicken Boarding. Or Instagram: Hen Weekend.
Darren [55:58]
Fantastic. I’ll put the links below the podcast—on YouTube, in the description. For Audible, iTunes, Spotify—check the episode description.
Katriona, thank you very much for being on the podcast. I’ve learned so much—and I’m going to find out now whether I can adopt ducks.
Katriona [56:23]
Thank you so much for having me. I really hope you get those ducks.
Darren [56:27]
I’ll let you know how I get on.
Katriona [56:29]
Yes, please do. Thank you.
[Music]
