Besties

Just catching up, this post is actually from summer 2023

It’s a beautiful sunny summer Sunday morning here in Barnsley and the girls are out and about free ranging and sunbathing in the fresh air.

I have a very mixed flock now, only Princess Layer from the first girls, Holly and Mistletoe from the Berry birds, Kar-hen and Yolko Ono who arrived together from a lovely home who just couldn’t keep them, Boo, Cobweb and Pumpkin from last October and the new girls Eggatha, Dorothy and Jane.

All the girls arrive in a small group, which I keep together for a couple of weeks in isolation whilst they get used to life away from commercial intensive farming. (It also keeps from spreading any potential disease to the main flock). Even after many months all together as part of the main flock the girls will maintain these closer groups when they are out and about.

I know I can always find Mistletoe sticking close beside her much smaller, but more confident best friend Holly. And whilst Eggatha had her challenges with Dorothy and Jane, they cluster in a little group when grasing on the fresh summer grass.

The October girls have been best friends from day 1, never a cross word (squark?) between them, they are my 3 little Muskerhens.

Yolko-Ono and Kar-hen arrived already bonded together, and they are never apart, even snuggle up together in the coop at night, they have such a sweet relationship, they are just like sisters.

And Princess? Well she’s in charge, so keeps an eye on all her flock, but when she’s happy that they’re all okay, she comes and settles next to me.

Having a large friendship group is great, but having that small group of trusted friends you can rely on is absolutely priceless.