And then there were 17. How did that happen? We left Essex nearly six years ago with our two beloved cats, Marmite and Freddie, but little did we know we'd end up with 17 chickens, two dogs, four cats, a rabbit, two snakes and an axolotl called Squirty Benson Wilberforce III.
We started with two chooks, dear little golden Pekin Bantams called Charlie and Lola (our two girls were quite young at the time, hence the names relating to their much loved TV programme and books of the same name). Charlie is still going strong but Lola went to chooky heaven in the winter. They were closely followed by Hermione and Luna, our absolutely hilarious Polish bantams. Luna is top chook with her beautiful bouffant, while Hermione looks like a punk rocker with only a few feathers on her head. Luna's favourite food is bread or pasta and she runs around the chicken enclosure clucking to the others excitedly when she has a piece of bread/spaghetti in her beak 'you can't catch me, it's all mine!'
Our next pair were Bluebell and Bracken, two blue-laced Wyandottes, the noisiest hens I've ever come across, who told the whole neighbourhood if they were laying an egg. Bracken has sadly joined Lola but Bluebell is going strong although cross-eyed with broodiness and guards the eggs in the large Eglu, fondly known as 'Pondside Lodge' as it has a lovely view of our garden pond. I take Bluebell off the nest every so often so she can remember to eat and drink but she always looks bewildered and waddles back up the steps to her nice warm straw and clutch of eggs. What I love about the eggs is that they're all different sizes and colours.
Next we have our big girls - Hedwig (notice a theme developing here? my girls are just wild about Harry!) yes you've guessed she's big and white. Then we have Princess Elizabeth Banana (don't ask, oh okay do ask, named by my wonderful eldest daughter Phoebe (who also named Squirty the axolotl), Esther, Delia and Sister Wesley.
Our wonderful Little Hen Rescue girls from 2009 are no longer with us, having all passed away happily in the nest box over the years after a very happy retirement. We remember Ginny, Cho, Portia and Titania fondly. Ginny was almost completely bald when she came to us but had the most beautiful reddish brown glossy feathers in no time at all. At around the same time our 2009 ladies passed away, our lovely big black and white chook Delilah also died. RIP girls.
Our 2011 rescue girls are doing well and include Lady Gaga and Lady Luigi (yes, also named by Phoebe), along with Molly and Lily (named by my adorable Rachel, slightly more sensible in her nature).
This weekend's rescue ladies are real sweeties, welcome to the Gee house Miranda (wearing a tabard with sheep on it, bless), Aphrodite, Poppy and Bella. They are living in Bush House, the smaller Eglu, and seem very happy, developing a passion for Marmite sandwiches and pearl barley already.
Night, night ladies, can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
