The new girls have been with us a few days, their combs are reddening up and they are starting to get use to their surroundings, but we’ve had a bit of an issue.

Little Eggatha is small and weak, she limps a bit and is very nervous. Dorothy, on the other hand, is large, strong and keen to assert her authority on the flock.

Poor Eggatha has been hiding in the nesting box away from the other and not coming out even for food and drink.

We have the ability to separate the flock, so Dorothy is spending her days in isolation, she can see the other girls, but not get to them.

The change in Eggatha has been immediate, she was happily pecking at the food with the other girls and wandering around investigating her new home within minutes of Dorothy being removed.

She’s not out of the woods, but she’s happy and feels safe which is a great start.

It’s really important to make sure you surround your self with people who are on your side and support you. Steer clear from toxic individuals who make you feel bad, life’s too short!

Cruella has had a few weeks in isolation getting over a very bad respiratory infection. I have to say, she hasn’t been the best of patients, she likes to be out and about, and particularly hates having liquid dropped down her throat, and is very vocal about it (luckily I have lovely neighbours).

But last week she told me she was feeling much better. How? By laying me an egg.

From the day she fell ill all her resources have been directed towards fighting the illness, she didn’t have anything spare to give to egg production.

As soon as her little body started to heal itself, naturally her egg production recommenced.

That’s how it should be, in order to provide for others you need to make sure you are in the best health possible. You can’t (and shouldn’t try to) pour from an empty cup. The least selfish thing you can do for your loved ones is to care for yourself.

Cruella is almost back to full strength now, certainly well enough to be back with her flock.

Its been a stressful couple of days here at Cluckingham Palace, on Monday morning we woke to a very ill hen. Poor Cruella was gasping for every breathe when I went to let the littles out of their coop.

A quick call to the vets and they could see her at lunchtime, so we isolated her from the others immediately and kept her as quiet as possible.

Thankfully we have caught a respiratory infection quickly. She’s separated from the others, but safe and warm, taking her medicine and seems to be on the road to recovery.

After a couple of days in the sick bay (giant dog crate in our garden) I let her out for a wander yesterday afternoon.

She immediately found a spot in the sun to do a bit of basking.

Even chickens know that the sun has healing properties, if you are feeling under the weather try and get out into the fresh air, sit with the sun on you face for a few minutes and drink it in.

The littles have been with us a full week now. They are settling in brilliantly and I’m already learning their individual characters.

Yolko, although small, takes the leadership position, they are a tight knit group and tend to stick together.Karhen is the most inquisitive, regularly joined on her chicken adventures with her trusty sidekick Cruella.

Together they are slowly exploring further and further away from the run. (Even into next doors garden and along the lane by our house).

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It’s important to keep pushing your boundaries, moving slowly but surely, little by little, out of your comfort zone. You don’t need to go on a global expedition, just try to do something every day that moves you a bit further on your journey, something that takes you a bit further from the comfort of your coop. Who knows what you might discover?

So, the new girls arrived yesterday morning, they were rescued by a lovely family back in May, but complaints from the neighbours necessitated a rehome, so Karhen, Cruella de Quill and Yolko Oh No (collectively “the littles” because they are much smaller than my older girls) have come to live with us.

The girls are already fully feathered and beautifully tame, they are a joy to be around and have been looked after so well. So you can imagine my concern when Karhen (the small dark chicken, and already my favourite) emerged from the coop this morning with a still full crop.

Chickens fill their crop with food and small stones during the day then over night the food is ground down and digested. A full crop in the morning is a sign that all is not well.

I sat Karhen on my knee and checked her over, she was more than happy to let me poke and prod whilst she sat patiently, if slightly bemused about what was happening.

I think with the change of environment and an acre of woods to explore she’s overdone it on eating grass. Literally bitten off more than she can chew!

Its something I do too, get overenthusiastic about a goal or a project, agree to take things on and then find i just can’t fit it all in. It’s time like these that I prescribe myself the same treatment as I have for Karhen. Which is some quiet time in the run with my nearest and dearest just relaxing and being at peace.

Everything else can wait, and people will understand if you have to take some time out. When you’re feeling overwhelmed it’s okay to stop, say enough, and take some time to heal yourself. It’s what Karhen and I are both doing this weekend.

Henrietta Chicken Bottom arrived on my birthday in May 2019. She was a rescue, and ex commercial hen who had been been using for egg laying and at 17 months was deemed “uneconomical to keep”, so discarded by the commercial farmer.

She had a pronounced limp (which never went away) and a wonky beak, she definitely wouldn’t have won any prettiest hen contests, she wasn’t the most adventurous of the girls, and to begin with she was quite suspicious of humans.

She was however the Leader from the start, but my dear sweet girl was a very benign dictator. Once the initial pecking order was in place, she maintained it with just a look or a gesture. She was patient and gentle with her flock, she watched over them whilst they dust bathed, only relaxing if she knew I was there taking over the protective duties.

She was the first to welcome both sets of new girls when they arrived, checking them over, letting them know she was in charge firmly, but gently. Accepting them into the flock and shepherding them around with the other girls.

It took her a while to accept me, but over the last year she loved nothing more than sitting on my lap and softly singing her happy little song to me.

Henrietta proved to me that good Leaders don’t have to be the loudest, the bravest, the cleverest or the prettiest. What they do have to do is care about the ones they are responsible for. Henrietta protected her flock, she looked out for them and kept them safe. She passed away last night in her sleep at four years old, surrounded by her flock, exactly as she would have wanted.

They will miss her presence deeply, and so will I.

Little Ivy Berry bird sadly passed away this week. She was only with us since December last year and she’s never been 100%.

Her comb never stood up straight, and she was always slightly slower than the other girls. But do you know what, it didn’t make the slightest bit of difference to the enjoyment Ivy got out of life, and it didn’t make a difference to how much I loved her.

She adored treats, squealing with joy when I brought grapes out and I always knew to get my fingers out of the way (particularly if I had bright red nails).

She was always with her two best friends, Holly and Mistletoe, from the moment we packed the three of them into a box at the rescue centre they’ve never had a squabble, sticking together, learning together and exploring the world together.

When she slowed down more this week they flanked her on either side, sticking close so she knew they were near.

It really doesn’t matter if you aren’t perfect, (no-one is), if you find your flock, they’ll accept you and love you for who you are.

Fly high sweet Ivy, you were a precious soul and you were loved.

Over the last few months every day we’ve been getting one egg from the established birds and one egg from the new girls.

I’ve always assumed them to be produced by Queenie (the youngest of the older girls by a year or so) and Holly (who is still so busy producing eggs she hasn’t yet grown all her feathers back).

This morning when I came out to clean the run and give the girls their breakfast, Princess Layer was no-where to be seen. Despite knowing the run is fox proof this always give me concerns, and if they’re still in the coop that could be a sign that they are ill.

I opened up the coop and sure enough there was Princess cosied up in a nest box. I left her to it, for all I knew she was just having a lie in. But then she started singing an egg song! (If you haven’t heard one they are quite an event).

A couple of minutes later she popped out to greet me (and have her share of breakfast) and there in her nesting box was a very warm freshly laid egg.

We should never make assumptions about productivity or effort based on age, everyone has the ability to contribute, and even old birds have their uses!

The girls have been sharing the run for a couple of weeks now, albeit with a barrier between them to avoid any bullying between the established flock and the new girls (sorting out the pecking order can be a vicious process).

But its been long enough now, they’ve been free ranging together with minimal fuss (which is mainly around anyone getting between Princess and the food), they’ve had time to get used to being around one another, in the same proximity, without being too close.

So this weekend we’re taking down the barriers and joining the flocks. It won’t all be plain sailing, but I think they’ve reach a level of trust in one another to become one flock, (Henrietta, our “mother hen” has definitely accepted them, the others should follow).

Isn’t it the same with people? I started a new job some weeks ago, and I’ve been getting used to a new environment, new colleagues, a new team. Slowly but surely I’m letting my barriers down, as are they.

It might not all be plain sailing going forward, I’m sure there will be some misunderstandings and miscommunication as we learn each anothers ways, but with trust, honesty and openness at the heart of our relationships I’m starting to feel like part of the flock.

Sadly Sweetpea is ill again, it looks like the same issue as she’s suffered with previously, so she’s on antibiotics and some food supplements to build her back up. Hopefully she’ll be back to her usual self in a few days.

Unfortunately because chickens are prey birds they can turn on weaker members of the flock to maintain the strength of the group as a whole. Poor little Sweetie was being bullied by Princess and Henrietta this morning, so I separated her from them in the temporary hospital ward (otherwise known as the dog cage). Where she can eat, drink and rest without being disturbed.

Most of us have people in our lives that aren’t always supportive, its okay to put some distance between you, particularly if you aren’t feeling 100%. Protecting yourself from negativity is always a positive move. So if you have someone who creates negativity, but you can’t cut out of your life altogether, then reduce their impact. Unfollow on social media, restrict contact to when you’re feeling strong and in control, above all be kind to yourself.