Winter Updates. A Holiday for Hens

Winter is upon us. More time is spent enjoying the warmth of the indoors with fluffy socks, hot drinks and thick blankets. It's also a time for the ladies to have a well deserved break from laying. Eggs are such wonderful things; full of protein and many other goodies. But it is healthy to regularly take time to recharge. The ladies don't seem to enjoy the dull days but when the sun does shine, they seek it out like sunflowers and sprawl themselves out to soak up every ray. Great photo opportunities and you can't help smiling at their relaxed bliss. Dottie- is off the lay and is happily brooding in the nesting box on absolutely nothing! She is well feathered after her moult and is lovely to look at. Annie- my last to stop laying, finished up last week. So she should with the amount she lays. Bev- didn't come back on the lay after a particularly heavy moult. Penny - Is looking better and better everyday. The tail has improved dramatically. She's a very nice docile girl. Molly - entered a local show and achieved 1st place Pekin AOL which was nice. She does have a nice shape and cleans up nicely. I'm hoping I may be able to get her a nice black cockerel one day. Pearl- a new addition, a bantam Australorp. A very outgoing pretty pullet with big round black eyes. She established her place in the pecking order very easily post quarantine. She isn't put off by larger birds :) Dandy- has hatched out three large RIR and is in seventh heaven being a mother again. She is so wonderful at it. Totally non aggressive -unless you are another chicken. Her eggs also won 1st place and best eggs in show. It's nice to know the judges liked her polished tinted eggs. Hattie- another new addition. She was was purchased based on temperament to replace Lady the Langshan. Very calm and gentle. Another Pekin! Does this mean I've found my breed? Im not sure yet. Perhaps if a cockerel arrives in the next few months;-) Cadbury and Quackers are doing well and are very attractive to look at. I can't wait to try their eggs in Spring. Cadbury is a lovely boy who tolerates a cuddle and a scratch behind the head. It's so difficult for a duck to reach those places. Spring may mean ducklings too :) Cheryl x