Hennage!

We are now in possession of three beautiful new hens!  YD and I went to see Margaret at Durham Hens this morning with the intention of coming home with two... one Exchequer Leghorn and one ginger hen (to replace Poppy).  I chose a beautiful young Exchequer pullet, now Christened 'Pongo'.  Margaret didn't have any Columbian Blacktails, Columbines or Goldlines, so we had no choice but to go for a Buff Orpington pullet, which I fear will grow to the size of a turkey.  She has been (un)originally named, Poppy II.  I had been tempted with the idea of another White Leghorn, to replace our old 'Head Chook' that died last summer... they lay beautiful china-white eggs prolifically... but Margaret only had one in stock.  She explained that this was an older hen, about a year old, whose elderly owner had been forced to give up his animals due to ill health.  She was definitely mature, Margaret estimated a little over a year old.  On closer inspection, I also noticed that she was moulting and looked just about oven-ready.  Margaret continued, that although she wasn't for sale, she was 'free to a good home' and that we could have her if we wanted her.  Well, the prospect of a laying hen was too much for me to resist and Daisy II is now part of the family. 

Daisy II and Poppy II

Pongo

I told Margaret about our egg 'famine' and she threw in a tray of 30 freshly laid eggs as well! So if you're ever in the market for some poultry, you know where to go...