Check out our Brood

This week I thought we could have a hen featurette. I have uploaded a picture of each of our four hens, or egg production operatives, as we affectionately know them. We have sold another dozen eggs during the week. Six were sold to the Thatcher who is currently replacing the ridge on the roof, he even bought his own box bless him - what a nice chap. Joanna's boss (and also friend) Margaret visited on Friday to discuss Joanna's forthcoming promotion to Business Development Manager. Joanna is obviously the best salesperson that they have because not only has she been promoted but she also managed to sell Margaret six eggs while she was here - brilliant!

This inquisitive little madam is Biscuit. She is a Rhode Island Red. She was named by Katherine and is the most friendly of our brood. She had a sniffle when we bought her which developed over a few weeks into some kind of debilitating disease that threatened to take her from us. Being the kind hearted animal lovers that we are we took her to the vet. They said she was unlikely to survive but we could leave her in a they would see how she got on. We had a word with our inside vet reception executive (Allie) who made sure they didn't just leave her to die. A couple of days later she was returned to us with a course of injections that Allie administered and now she is as right as rain which has made us all very happy as we would have missed her dearly - even if the vets bill was £99! and she only cost £13 in the first place!! But we love her see, cos she's one of the family so we dont mind a bit.



This beautiful Blue Maran is Chucky Egg. Named so by Joanna who many years ago used to have a cockatiel by the same name and wanted to relive her youth through her newfound feathered friend. I'll be she wishes she was back in her youth in those sunny days when she didnt have to feed four hens, a cat , a husband , children, one Bearded Dragon, ducks, moorhens, two lots of fish and anyone else who comes knocking! Anyway, Chucky Egg is very sweet and also pecks at anything given half a chance.





This rather grumpy looking White Sussex is the ruler of our roost and goes by the name of Sunday Roast. A name that was not without controversy at the time but has grown to suit her personality and general demeanour. She is very feisty and does not like anyone going anywhere near her. She is the only one that won't eat out of your hand. Nevertheless we love them all equally, although admitedly some more equally than others.





This is Shelly. She was named by Brodie rather cleverly and is a "Speckeldy" although I am not exactly sure that that is even a proper type of hen. Regardless here she is in her muddy glory. She will peck at absolutely anything, your wellies, your wedding ring, your finger, anything!

Today the Thatcher finished the front part of the house which is the part that passing public see. I think he was very proud of his work and very pleased that Joanna told him how good it looked. Allie said he had done a better job than the previous thatcher and a neighbour bought round an old newspaper cutting of the house when it was last rethatched in 1997 so we could see how it compared. I must say it does look fantastic even though I have only seen a picture on Joanna's phone because this morning when I drove off I completely failed to notice a thing! Most days it is pitch black when I leave but today I dropped Brodie to the bus stop so it was light but I still didn't notice the beautiful roof because I was too busy waving to my beautiful wife in the kitchen window. There is only so much beauty you can take in in one go you know.

Well that is a good look at our hens for you. They are living in a quagmire so we need to try and sort the drainage out. No Father I have not dug that ditch yet!

Next time a picture of the thatch progress I think and then maybe a featurette on Moochie the cat.

Thank you for reading and sorry for the trouble finding the blog. It was because I had to change the name because an extra "f" had appeared on the blog address. Nobody noticed of course except father, but once he had pointed it out I couldn't abide with it and had to remove it which completely changed the address and resulted in the blog not being where it should be!

That is what happens, dear boy, when you tell someone to get the "f" off. Lesson learned all round