The Ark Breeders and Stockists of Poultry, Waterfowl and Bee Keeping Supplies in Kent

Our small family run business has grown from our own personal interests and way of life. We are passionate about what we do and we are extremely pleased that we have been told by our Visitors and returning customers that we are by far the best supplier of hens that they have visited in Kent; in respect of the quality of the hens supplied, the beautiful setting that the hens free range in and the high level of personal attention and advice that we offer when they come to choose hens.

FOR OUR CUSTOMERS FOR THE "BIRDS" SIDE OF OUR BUSINESS - WE OFFER:-

HYBRID HENS

We stock a wide range of high quality, pre-vaccinated point of lay hens all year round. There are a variety of colours to choose from. see Hybrid Hens page - point of lay hens are always in stock.

This year, we are proud to include the well known Godmersham Park Establishment as one of our valued "bird" customers.

PURE BRED DUCKS & GEESE

We currently have pairs of quality pure bred Giant Dewlap Exhibition Toulouse growers  for sale please call us or email us for more details. Also see our Ducks and Geese for sale page.

Our hens, geese and ducks are allowed to free range in our orchard, woods and pastures. Our stock are happy, healthy and are inspected and wormed regularly.

We are the only supplier in Kent to be able to offer a "One Stop Shop" for all your poultry and beekeeping needs.

POULTRY EQUIPMENT & HYGIENE

We supply a range of different sized drinkers, feeders and general husbandry equipment including disinfectants, parasite and disease preventatives.

POULTRY HEALTHCARE

We stock wormers, louse powder, medicines and a whole range of poultry healthcare items, which are essential for keeping your hens in optimum health. We only use the best products for our hens and we are pleased to be stockists of the leading suppliers of poultry healthcare;- Net-Tex, Barrier and Verm-X.

BOOKS

We have a number of books which are packed full of information and helpful illustrations for those people who are new to keeping hens, ducks, turkeys and bees. We also have a smallholder range.

FEED

We supply quality farm animal feeds for poultry and waterfowl from chick to laying hen, through to sheep, pigs, horses at very competetive prices. 

HATCHING EGGS

We offer quality hatching eggs seasonally from a variety of pure breed chickens, which can be posted throughout the UK and Europe in special, safe, purpose made poly boxes. Please see Hatching Eggs page.

EX-BATTERY HENS

Once a year, from April to June we also rehabilitate and rehome a number of ex-battery hens. This year we hope to rehome in excess of 100 hens. Sorry we have closed our waitlist for the remainder of this year. See ex-battery hens page.

HEN COUPS & HOUSING

We stock sturdy and quality hen coups, which are able to house up to 10 hens at very competetive prices. These can be purchased either flat packed or assembled. We can also deliver at an additional cost. See our Housing page

STARTER KITS FOR THE FIRST TIME HEN OWNER

If you are new to keeping hens, Starter kits are an excellent way of buying all you need to get you started as first time chicken owners. They make excellent Wedding, Annivesary or Birthday gifts and can even be supplied with a personal engraved message. They are competetively priced and comprise of a coup, drinker and feeder kit, feed, book and more importantly - the hens! See Starter Pack Page for details.

If you wish to book an appointment please contact us. Details as per the Contact Us Page.

BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

We stock a wide range of high quality Beekeeping Equipment, Clothing and Accessories ranging from:-

Hive components, tools, protective clothing, medicines & feed

Honey processing equipment, tools, containers & jars

Beekeeping educational items including books.

Honey processing equipment available for hire. Desposit required. Alternatively, we can process, jar and label your honey for you. Please enquire for details.

This year, we are pleased to have supplied bee livestock, tuition and equipment to well known Kent establishments including:-

Godmersham Park, Ashford, Kent

Hever Castle & Hever Golf Club, Edenbridge Kent

BEEKEEPING TUITION & BEGINNERS COURSES

We offer one to one beekeeping tuition in our working Apiary, protective clothing is provided. A good opportunity to have a taster of what it would be like to keep bees without the commitment of having your own hive and to see for yourself whether or not beekeeping is for you.

Do you have a phobia of bees? Why not  face your fears and overcome your phobia of bees in a safe and supervised environment.

Are you looking for an interesting and practical gift for someone who is a keen gardener, who loves nature, photography, who wants to be part of helping conservation of our planet, or someone who is a smallholder and who may want to expand their produce to include keeping bees for honey? Why not buy them a voucher for an hours Beekeeping Tuition?

BEEKEEPING COURSES FOR BEGINNNERS

We run a number of beekeeping for beginners courses throughout the year. These have proved popular with people who already keep chickens and are looking to be more self sufficient, people and smallholders who are looking to make an extra income, those who want to help save our bee population and also gardeners who wish to maximise their pollination of flowers and vegetables.

Our courses are easy to follow, competetively priced and are packed with information on keeping bees for the first time, considerations, the equipment needed, costs involved, the benefits and pitfalls, in addition to the opportunity to come up and spend time with us in the apiary, for those who at the end of the course, decide to become beekeepers. The course also provides a chance to come and meet with likeminded people in order to share ideaas, swap stories and make lifelong friends.

Beekeeping for Beginners Course - 4 week course in Maidstone, Kent begins on Wednesday 04 August 2010 & continues every Wednesday for 4-weeks @ £70 per person for the whole course. Please contact us for more information or to reserve your space.

HONEY BEES - LIVESTOCK

At certain times during the year, we sell colonies of bees (nucleus). We can offer  practical support and advice to help guide you through your first year of beekeeping. Please contact us to discuss prices and availability, as these are often in high demand.

AND FINALLY FOR BOTH OUR BIRDS AND

 OUR BEES CUSTOMERS

GIFT VOUCHERS -  "A wonderful gift idea".

Vouchers can be redeemed against Beekeeping equipment, tuition, courses, poultry, books, feed, equipment, or healthcare items.(Does not cover livestock). Vouchers available £5, £10, £20, £50 & £100. Please email us with your requirements.

SEASONALLY RELATED PRODUCE & GIFTS

We have produce including fresh free range eggs, vegetables, fruit, honey, chutneys, jams, soaps, creams etc which are available seasonally, in additional to traditionally crafted and poultry related gifts. These will be for sale in our shop and also on our trade stands at local shows, fairs and farmers markets.

OTHER THINGS THAT WE GET INVOLVED IN

As a Husband and Wife team, we are both similarly passionate about animals and nature. We can often be found taking photographs and writing animal/ smallholding related stories and articles, that are based on our everyday life experiences, which have been published in well known magazines including BeeCraft & Country Smallholding Magazine.

We are both active members of the Ashford Beekeeping Association and as such, we have sponsored, created and manage the Ashford Beekeeping Association website. (www.ashfordbeekeepers.co.uk).

We also offer website design, creation and management to other local businesses and associations. If this is of interest to you, please contact us for more information by emailing the1ark@btinternet.com

DOG REHOMING

Family members of ours professionally train and assist in rehoming stray dogs. They are both well known and highly regarded by members and followers of the dog agility world throughout the UK and Europe. We often help their cause by adding details of any dogs needing homes on this website. If you know someone or are able to help rehome a stray dog, for no compulsary financial outlay, please refer them to this website.

BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH US

We pride ourselves on being able to offer our clients an unrivalled, quality, one to one and personalised service.

We both work, so to avoid disappointment, please do not just come looking for us, please ring us on: 0789 4833779 or 07515 595706. If you don't get a reply straight away, please leave a message and we will call you back as soon as we are able to.

We don't mean to make this list exhaustive, but because you are visiting our home please note the following:-

Please let us know if large groups are coming with you to choose your birds (more than 4 people)

If you are bringing children with you, please keep them with you at all times.

Please do not smoke on the premises.

Please bring appropriate footwear, as you will be walking alongside the hens.

We do not have toilet facilities here or refreshments available.

Please respect our privacy, if you are not with either of us, please stay in your vehicle and do not wander around the gardens or other areas. This is our home and we do not want to have to embarrass you when we have to ask you to leave private areas.

We are not open to the public and we do not allow pets or other livestock here.

If you email us at the1ark@btinternet.com we regularly check our emails and we will send you a reply. Alternatively, fill in a form on the enquiries page on this website.

 
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