Pearl
Pearl is a marans and will one day lay chocolate-coloured eggs. She is also an expert on the balance beam.
Read MoreSophie Naps
She has the right idea. We’ve been promised our first cold snap of the season tomorrow. Best to find a warm spot and snooze through it.
Read MoreAn Odd View
Paw through double-paned glass.
Read MorePoultry Drama
On Monday, one of our lovely hens tried to crow. She’d had a red face, wattles, and comb for some time, but hadn’t laid any eggs. Yesterday morning, we spotted the beginnings of spurs on her legs. After a quick trip to a breeder nearby, our fears were confirmed — our beautiful buff Orpington hen…
Read MoreViolet
Meet Violet, aka ‘Violent’, ‘The Poo Poo’, ‘Meanie’, and ‘Bossy Butt’. She’s a Dutch partridge bantam and the smallest girl in our flock. She’s also the fiercest little bird you’ll ever meet. Next to June, Violet is commander in chief. She keeps the other hens and bantams in line by chasing, biting, and pulling their…
Read MoreSam
Sam is a silver duck-winged Welsummer. She came to us with that wonky toe. It doesn’t seem to bother her at all, and she gets around just fine. Sam lays beautiful terracotta-coloured eggs. She’s a lovely little bird.
Read MoreSam’s First Egg
One of our new girls laid her first egg yesterday. Sam — a silver duck-winged welsummer — laid a tiny egg. It’s the same size as a bantam egg.
Read MoreJune Jumps
There is nothing tastier than a freshly-plucked leaf from an elderberry tree, and it’s even nicer if you pick it yourself. June the Light Sussex hen will jump again and again for her favourite treat. She’s nearly ready for a place in the WNBA.
Read MoreEli the Cat
Eli in a rare moment of calm. I love him to bits, but he’s a terrible brat – and if he’s awake, he’s usually running about the house crazy, terrorising our little Sophie cat, or knocking something off a high shelf. Nature makes cats cute for a reason.
Read MoreFeeling Better
It’s been a tough few days, but we’re gradually getting back to normal. I miss my girls a lot, but at least the horrid raw feeling is gone. Two hens survived the attack. June was untouched. Olive was badly shaken, but she’s doing much better. She’s been laying, too, which is an excellent sign. We…
Read MoreSad Day
We awoke yesterday to find our beautiful flock of hens wiped out by a fox. I’ll be taking some time off from photos and blogging.
Read MoreEli Pulls a Face
I’m quite sure he wanted me to chase him up the stairs.
Read MoreSomeone’s at the Door
We often hear knocking at the back door as the hens love to peck at the glass. I’m not sure if they can see their reflection or if they’re trying to say hello to the cats who are often lounging at the back of the house. From left to right: Ruby, Nella, and Olive. June…
Read MoreThis handsome fellow lives at the animal park in a nearby village. He’s a Scots Dumpy rooster, and he was quite happy to take the dandelion leaves I picked for him and his many girlfriends. Scots Dumpies are beautiful birds. They have short little legs so they waddle like ducks when they walk.
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