This morning.......

This morning the sun rose slowly over the farm, casting an eerie pink light over everything.

Chicken World seemed strange in this pinkish light, a couple of quiet 'cock a doodle doos' signalled that they were ready to start the day.

As usual I let the four boys out first, they still live in the Eglu as I don't want any fights with top cockerel Caldwell.   They rush to the feeders, with many a minor skirmish as they set themselves up for the day.  'Junior' is head cockerel of this little group and looks exactly like his Dad.

Next I let out all the rest of the chickens, Caldwell and the girl Lavender Pekin Bantams now all live in the big henhouses with the Layers.  This has been done in time for Winter so that they can all enjoy the body heat of the others and keep warmer as the temperatures start dipping at night.

The Hylines rush to check out my boots as usual before I go over to clean out the houses.

Once the papers have been lifted the girls start coming back into the houses to find their place in the nesting boxes.

My reward.

Little Lucy takes her chicks straight to their old Broody house to make sure they get their fill of Chick Crumb, once they have had their breakfast I close the door to it, to protect the food from the big girls.

Then they spend a happy five minutes playing around (see the little film below) .....

... before cuddling up together for a warm in the old crate. 

She is being a brilliant Mum and constantly 'talks' to her babies, and they to her, so they always know they are close.  She rushes to their aid if the big girls turn nasty and always makes sure they have enough food, water and warmth, if for any reason she is seperated from them Caldwell dashes over and stands guard until she returns.  A lovely little family unit.

Now the pinkish tinge has left the farm and the sun is shining brightly,  the wind is blowing coldly from the east but I don't have to worry, today is an indoor job day with hoovering to be done and the carpets to be cleaned......oooh.....lucky me!!

A special message for Fern and Iris.....  do you think you could think of two names for the 2 little chicks they are both 8 weeks old, although one of them is smaller as she hatched out of her egg 3 days later than her sister.  Thank you.

Sue xx