Birthday Secret Egg Stash

Lydia went away for a long weekend in early October and the

hens suddenly went off the lay. On Lydia's birthday, she

found a secret stash of eggs in a hideaway nest in the garden!

Frenchy laid the 4 darker brown speckled eggs

and Speckles laid the 2 creamy coloured eggs.

Speckles stands in front of the secret hideaway

nest in a ground-creeper vine in the backyard.

Coco Goes Broody in Spring

Every spring, Coco goes broody and this October was no exception.

We didn't want to give Coco fertile eggs and have baby chicks,

so we put up with her broody behaviour for a few weeks. 

Coco goes flighty when she's broody.

Here she is standing on top of the A-frame coop with Frenchy

and Lexi sitting on the ground in the background.

Coco is locked out of the Taj Mahal coop so she sits on top of the

external nesting box roof, flat as a pancake and not impressed. 

Coco is all fluffed up and broody.

Close up photo of Coco.

Coco is extra affectionate and cuddly when she's broody.

She's definitely a "mummy's girl".

Three Hens in a Nest

You know it's cold when the hens cuddle up in the Taj Mahal coop!

Frenchy sits in the nesting box by herself on the left.

Speckles and Lexi are squished in together in the other

nesting box, with Coco perched on front of the box.

A close-up photo of 3 hens in a nest.

Half-sisters Frenchy and Speckles share a nest in the Taj Mahal coop.

Lexi and Speckles sit in the nest together whilst 

Frenchy sits by herself in the nest on the left. 

Winter Weeds

We've had a wet winter with lots of rain, making the weeds grow fast.

Coco and Speckles walk through the weeds.

Lexi stands in the green weeds which she likes to eat.

Left to Right: Speckles, Lexi and Frenchy. Triple trouble!

Coco is no where to be seen. 

Hanging Out in the A-Frame Coop

The 4 happy hens hang out in the A-frame coop on a Sunday afternoon.

Coco is comfortable sitting in the right hand side nesting box.

Lexi the white leghorn hen stands in the background whilst

half-sisters Speckles and Frenchy sit together.

Frenchy and Speckles were nearly 6.5 years old when this photo was taken.

They are our oldest surviving pet chickens.

Where's My Breakfast?

Lydia opens the back door to find 3 hungry hens,

waiting for their daily lettuce breakfast.

(Left to right) Lexi, Speckles, and Coco look hungry whilst

Frenchy stands in the background looking away.

Speckles turned 6 years old last month and she's just finished moulting.

Here comes Lexi the white leghorn.

Here comes Frenchy, the French Wheaten Maran

hen who turned 6 years old last month.

Frenchy is Speckles half sister.

Frenchy loves food. You've never seen a chicken eat so much food in all your life!

She is ALWAYS hungry.

Lexi and Frenchy stand at the back door.

Here comes Coco.

Coco and Lexi go for a morning stroll past the back door, waiting to be fed.

Christmas 2023 Memories

The happy hens are excited to see Lydia on Christmas day morning 2023.

It's breakfast time with lots of lettuce.

Lexi the leghorn stands tall.

Don't you think Lexi's big red floppy comb looks like Santa's hat?!

 Frenchy (left), Speckles (right) and Lexi (rear) chill out after

Christmas breakfast and sit under the grapevine in the pen.

The 3 happy hens sit together. Where's Coco?

Coco's in the nesting box, preparing to lay an egg on Christmas day.

Coco is approximately 4 years old.

Hoorary! An egg on Christmas day! Thanks Coco.