The Pecking Order

Speckles, with her characteristic fluffy face, is 'the boss'.

Speckles became the 'top hen' after Chickadee died in March 2020.

On 16/10/2021, Speckles and Coco fought for top spot in the pecking order.

Coco came off second best, even though she'd prefer to be the boss!

Lovely and large Lexi is a calm, cruisy hen in third place in the pecking order.

Lexi is quite independent and she doesn't like fuss and bother amongst the flock.

Frenchy has gone down two runs in the pecking order since

Lexi and Coco arrived. Frenchy is fourth in the pecking order.

Little, timid Bianco, who scares herself sometimes

she's that nervous, is at the bottom of the pecking order. 

Frenchy and Speckles Turn 4

Frenchy and Speckles on a hot summer's day in January,

just before they started moulting.

Speckles started moulting soon after she turned 4 years old this month.

You can hardly notice her feather loss.

Speckles lost her black tail feathers during moulting,

making her look a bit like a 'bob tail' hen.

        Speckles still has her characteristic cute fluffy face.

Speckles half-sister Frenchy is also moulting and looks scruffy.

Frenchy has lost most of her black tail feathers.

Four year old Frenchy stands on one leg and looks to the side.

Egg Jam

The Happy Hens had a day off laying eggs and the next morning,

three girls wanted to lay an egg at the same time. Coco is cranky

standing on the perch whilst Lexi sits in the nesting box.

Little Bianco jumps in the nesting box with Lexi.

Coco remains on the perch.

Bianco kicked Lexi out of the nesting box.

Look at Lexi's big fluffy white butt!

Bianco looks very cute and happy sitting alone.

There's two nesting boxes in the Taj Mahal coop,

but all the hens wanted to use the same box to lay their egg!

Coco on the Coop

Coco stands on top of the Taj Mahal coop at dusk.

Coco likes to cause trouble at bed time and she

is often the last hen to roost in the evening.

Coco thinks about jumping off the Taj Mahal coop as Lexi looks on.

Coco briefly goes inside the Taj Mahal coop,

only to jump out the side door.

Coco chooses to sleep on top of the coop, especially in hot weather.

Bad Coco fails her coop induction!

Lydia had to escort Coco so she slept inside the coop,

not on top of the coop, for her own safety.

Coco on the Christmas Tree

In late 2019, Lydia's friend Jen went on a holiday to Canada. Jen kindly gifted

Lydia a chicken decoration bought from a market to hang on the Christmas tree.

Little did we know that the hanging Christmas tree decoration looks like Coco! 

Coco came to live with us about two years after

Lydia received the decoration as a gift.

Merry Christmas from Coco and the 4 other happy hens.

Egg Peak Hour

Coco stands at the top of the ramp and looks inside the Taj Mahal Coop.

Lexi looks from ground level. Both hens have an egg coming. 

Coco stands on the perch inside the coop in front of Speckles

who's sitting in the nesting box. Lexi looks through the coop door.

Coco says, "Hello Speckles!" as she peeps over the nesting box dividing wall.

Lexi comes closer as all 3 hens are preparing to nest and lay an egg.

Four fresh eggs. Lexi's large white egg is pictured on the left;

the brown egg is from Speckles and the very pale green egg

(on the right) was laid by Coco. Bianco laid a small white egg later that day.

Have a Look Chook

Lydia was packing the car with handmade goods

to sell on a Christmas market stall the next day.

Lydia left the car door open and Lexi decides to jump in!

I think Lexi wants to go for a ride in the Holden Commodore?!

Have a look chook.

('chook' means 'chicken' in Australian slang language).