I just paddled up to check them out and at least they look dried out and happy and were clucking gently. Their house was dry and warm, so I know they are alright - even if it does look a mess. Sorry girls! 
There was of course the 'ahhh' factor with these two cute alpacas which we had just missed being shorn. Their wool is used for all the usual knitting items, hats, scarves, bedsocks etc. and is very soft.
Lots of ideas of how to use foraged food. We have used samphire, but not sea beet. I have tasted lava bread, but not found it to my taste.
This is a member of the pig-racing team! I don't know what position he ended up in!
This is a half-breed peregrine - so we were told. I don't know what the other half was! He was just starting to look a little bedraggled as it began to rain.
We bought two citrus trees last year but lost them both during the exceptionally cold, snowy, frosty icy weather at the beginning of the year. Luckily they were still under guarantee and so were replaced by these two, which seem to be thriving. But, how do I keep the fruits going? Will they really turn into edible oranges and lemons this year, or will they take until next year?
They arrived with their own blue fleeces to be put on during the winter and I don't know whether to just cover them up and wrap them (as I did last year, but still lost them), cover and wrap them up and put in the greenhouse (not a heated glass one, but a green plastic one), wrap them up etc and put in a garden shed with only a small window or wrap them up and put them in our conservatory (which can get pretty cold during the winter) or even bring them in to the house with central heating! Time to hit the internet I think.
Four lovely eggs today from four lovely 'girls', but which hen gave us which egg that is the question. The white one is Margot's, she is the white leghorn (her second egg was a double yolker!). The small white-speckled egg we presume is from one of the speckledys. The largest darker brown one we believe is from Bluebell (our Bluebelle) and the other brown egg is from Rosalind, our Gold Star first layer. Two others yet to start laying. 
A trip to Milford Haven this morning to the dentist. Exam, clean and filling.
Same shot, slightly different view.
I think the mice have been in here. I have watered them honest!
Not quite sure what this is. It is a purply colour. Should I talk to it more?
Well done Speckledy 1. (I'm sure you'll get a name soon.)
One of the speckledys keeps trying to come in the back door and even made it on one occasion in case there was corn laying about on the floor! Then she and Bluebell keep on chasing whoever is going up the path in case they have a titbit - even if I'm only going to water the tomatoes. They have us laughing out loud frequently. Only one egg from Rosalind today. Presumably Margot thought she was due for a rest after her effort yesterday.
Rosalind had laid her usual bog standard brown egg weighing about 45gms (note I am using grams and not ounces!). But Margot had laid a whopper (on the right) weighing 54gms - the one she laid yesterday (on the left) weighed only 40gms. We weren't there to hear if she let everyone know what she had done, but we are extremely pleased with her effort. In fact we just used the last of the commercially produced eggs up today, so its 'home produced - free-range' from now on. It's a great feeling to know exactly where and who the egg came from and what the hen has been fed on. We look forward to many more. Thank you girls!
Six laying hens - two of which have provided the above so far.
Two Speckledys. Neither laying yet, but I think one of them will do soon as her comb and wattles are getting more bright red by the day. No names for them yet as we cannot distinguish between them enough.
This is Sussex (a Sussex Star hen). Was always the first to 'fly'/jump over the electric fence if she got the chance. Hopefully Peter has made this too difficult by taking out a lot of the launching pads - logs! Not laying yet.
The stately Margot (Fonteyn) so named as she is a white leghorn described as a 'dainty ballerina'. She laid her first egg (pure white) last Sunday. Her second, at about 7.30 this morning was heralded by much noisy and pleased crowing! We hope she doesn't disturb the neighbours, but they may be placated with eggs!
Rosalind (Red Star) and Blubell (a Bluebelle). Rosalind was the first to lay and has so far given us 11 eggs! She started laying just before grandchildren came to visit and it was their great pleasure to be our 'egg collectors'.
~ The Girls! ~
'Bluebell' our Bluebelle hen. Her feathers are a most beautiful soft, bluey, lavender colour. I can't wait for her to have her full comb and wattles. She will be very handsome.
