Hen Pal

A trial involving residents at a nursing home on the east coast of Australia

has produced evidence that a hen can be a best friend.

https://www.facebook.com/7NewsMelbourne/videos/10153826006254301/?theater

Chickadee is a 'lap chicken' and would love being a

'hen pal' being patted by the 'hen-sioners', sorry pensioners!

Nestle would probably get jealous!

One Year With Chickadee

 One year ago today, on 7th December 2014, we said goodbye to

Chilli and welcomed baby Chickadee to the 2 Happy Hens.

 Chickadee was only a little 8 week old

Rhode Island Red hen this time last year.

Here she is drinking water from "Wet-a-Chook" feeding station. 

What a difference a year can make!

Chickadee is now a large adult hen who's pictured eating seed

from the custom made "Dine-a-Chook" feeding station next to Nestle.

Chickadee's gone broody after laying an egg a day, 21 days in a row!

Nestle is the hungry boss and kicks Chickadee out of the feeder.

Chickadee looks like a turkey fluffing herself up and bowing down.

Broody 14 month old Chickadee strikes a pose for the camera.

Nestle loves drinking water from Wet-a-Chook.

Nestle may be smaller in size, but she's still the boss of the 2 Happy Hens!

Hail on Hens

On 2nd November 2015, the 2 Happy Hens experienced a sudden

local hail storm. A large black cloud dumped a lot of rain and

hail stones in a freak storm that lasted approximately 10 minutes.

People who lived only 5 kilometres away did not experience hail.

The backyard got flooded.

The 2 Happy Hens refused to take shelter and got wet.

Soggy Chickadee does not look impressed.

Nestle cautiously strides through the water flooding the backyard.

The 2 Happy Hens preen water off their wet feathers after the storm passed.

The sun shone brightly after the storm.

 Rain, hail or shine, Nestle always loves a cuddle!

She was warm and dry under her wings.

Nestle's not sure of the white hail stones?

The hail almost looks like snow on the grass!

 Chicken on ice!

Chickadee walks over the hail stones that were
expelled from the downpipe during the storm.

It is Chickadee's first hail storm experience.

Nestle stands in the sun.

You can see a line of hail stones at the base of the

air conditioning compressor on the verandah.

 The hail stones were about 5mm diameter

and took over an hour to melt after the storm.
Nestle is not fond of wet weather.

Chickadee pecks the wet ground under a tree.
Chickadee is the same colour as the tree trunk!

Chickadee Turns 1 Year Old

 Happy hatch day!

Chickadee turns one year old mid October 2015.

Chickadee's profile picture.

Chickadee loves eating green clover.

Chickadee has grown into a large Rhode Island Red hen.

We didn't expect her to grow so big!

The 2 Happy Hens. Chickadee is 1 year old and Nestle is 3.

2 Sleeping Beauties

Nestle sleeps with her head under her wing whilst Chickadee watches on. 

2 sleeping beauties.

Chickadee looks sleepy.

Sitting next to the yellow owl metal garden ornament

 is one of Chickadee's favourite resting places.

A close up of Nestle having a lunch time siesta.

The 2 Happy Hens asleep.

Spring Eggs

Spring has sprung in Australia and the

 2 Happy Hens are laying lots of eggs.

Chickadee sits in the nesting box as she

prepares to lay an egg in the coop.

Nestle looks on as Chickadee stands up after laying an egg. 

Nice egg Chickadee!

 Nestle takes a closer look at the egg.

Chickadee stands over the freshly laid egg

 for a while waiting for the egg shell to set.

 Nestle is getting clucky and inspects the nesting box.

Nestle perches ready to jump into the nesting box.

Nestle sits on Chickadee's egg. 

 Nestle has an egg coming.

Nestle relaxes in the nesting box.

Can see her fat breast resting on the wooden box?

 Nestle has a little sleep in the nesting box

whilst waiting to lay an egg. 

 Chickadee is hungry after laying her egg.

Chickadee munches on laying pallets and has plenty of white shell grit available.

Chickadee stands at the custom built feeding station

 "Dine-a-Chook" located in the shade behind the coop.

The 2 Happy Hens can choose from a seed mix,

laying pallets and fresh water 24/7.

 Chickadee sticks her head under the feeding

 station to eat her favourite seed mix.

Chickadee drinks water from "Wet-a-Chook".

Did you know that chicken eggs are composed of over 50% water?

Chickadee's First Egg

The 2 Happy Hens woke Lydia up at 6.15am Saturday morning.

Nestle and Chickadee were hanging around the chicken coop sooking.

Surprise! Chickadee laid her first egg!

Can you see a white egg in the right hand nesting box? 

Chickadee laid her first egg in the nesting box.

A perfect 64 gram egg laid by Chickadee on 8th August 2015.

The 2 Happy Hens are hungry and thirsty

after the early morning egg-laying excitment!

Nestle pecks the ground for food in the coop

and Chickadee drinks water from the blue bowl.

Chickadee inspects her egg. Did I do that?

Chickadee is proud of her first egg.

Now it's Nestle's turn to inspect the egg.

Nestle poses next to the egg.

 10 month old Chickadee is now an egg laying pullet.

 Chickadee is a stunning Rhode Island Red hen.