New Arrivals at Willows Farm Village

New arrivals ruffle feathers at Willows Farm Village

A batch of rare 'april stultus' chickens has been ruffling feathers in St Albans by coming home to roost at Willows Farm Village.

Four hens and one cockerel have joined Willows to celebrate the start of its Easter Eggstravaganza event which takes place between the 31st March – 15th April.

A first for the Farm Village, the eggs of april stultus chickens are famed for their strong, chocolatey flavour and rich, glossy brown shells, which make them easily distinguishable from the eggs of regular farmyard hens, despite the birds looking very similar in appearance once they are fully grown.

Enjoying a mixed diet of raw cocoa beans and corn, the april stultus chickens are being housed in carefully cooled conditions in order to retain the integrity of their eggs.

Hen-pecked farmer Andrew Wolfe said: "Our new feathered friends certainly have us walking on eggshells here at Willows! We're giving them round the clock attention to ensure that the hens are happy and that the delicate laying process goes undisturbed.

"We weren't sure at first that the eggs would be all they were cracked up to be, but they really do have a rich chocolatey taste which is of course perfect for Easter!"

Willows has remained in close consultation with a variety of rare fowl experts, including Herts-based egghead Prof. E.G. Benedict who said: "The april stultus breed is usually found living around the equator, but the mild winter has seen them thrive in the UK.  This is certainly a first for Hertfordshire.

"The composition of the eggs will differ greatly according to diet, and as this particular batch have been feeding on raw, dark cocoa beans and corn, their eggs have a distinctly darker shell than others I've seen. For example, when living in their native Brazil, april stultus chickens can have anything from a pure white to marble-effect shell depending on the types of beans they are able to forage."

The rare fowls are sweet-natured but extremely private, but visitors to Willows might be "clucky" enough to catch sight of the male april stultus' mating call, which only happens once a year – usually on April the 1st. It is this fascinating display which earned the chickens their Latin name.

For more information about Willows Farm Village and how visitors can enjoy their Easter Egg hunt with real chocolate treats, visit www.willowsfarmvillage.com or call 0870 129 9718.

Willows Farm Village used to be a working farm but is now one of the biggest leisure attractions in Hertfordshire.

Visitors to Willows can enjoy entertainment, education and fun for the whole family.  (Note some animal attractions and outdoor activities are seasonal).

Animal attractions include; Farmyard Favourites, Falconry Centre, reindeer and wallabies. 

Outdoor activities include; JCB Young Drivers Zone, Woolly’s Workout Agility Play Trail, Build ‘n’ Play sandpit, Tristan the Runaway Tractor, Panning for Gold, Country Fun Fair Rides, Inflatable Bouncy Haystacks and Super Slide, Tree House adventure, Leaping Lily Pads Trampolines, under 5’s play area and Lakeside Walks.

Indoor activities include; Woolly Jumpers (play barn featuring ball pools, slides and active play), Woolly's Showtime Theatre which hosts children’s shows and Captain Chicken’s Egg Dodge and Young Chicks Activity Area.

The Farmhouse Restaurant and Woolly Jumpers Coffee Shop offer a wide range of food for visitors.

Willows Farm Shop, on the same site as the Farm Village, works with local and British producers to provide a wide range of goods with its own butchery counter, delicatessen, fresh fruit and vegetables, breads, cakes and drinks.