Billy and the girls hit the town!

Billy and the girls strutted out and hit the town on the other side of the fence this weekend. Full story further down the blog - revealing what the celebration is all about - it's crackin' news.

Has Henny hit the rocks?

Henrietta, ruler of the roost and head hen pecker was looking a sorry sight this weekend, especially next to Billy who boasted a whole new fluff of feathers. Rumours were rife in the coop that the old bird has been walking on eggshells for sometime and finally got herself scrambled. But we can exclusively reveal that the old bird is taking some time off laying and is officially in a moult, meaning her feathers will drop out before being replaced with a shiny new set. During this time she won't lay and will take a break. The old girl will be 5 next year, most hens are considered 'spent' after just 18 months by Tesco and find themselves in a pie. Watch this space when the all new Henrietta will strut her stuff. Bring on the eggs old girl, our omelets will be a yolk without yours!

Lovely with a bit of fresh cauli

Lookin' bootiful

Billy's ready for her close up!

Ex bat Billy, who has remained pretty scraggy and featherless since her rescue in August 08, was finally ready to step out in front of the camera today wearing her new feathers. And what a sight for sore eyes! Doesn't she look lovely - even in a roasting tin, we hardly recognise the former inmate. Fellow ex-bat Mandy grew new feathers within weeks, but our Billy never showed signs of feathery recovery, although her mental and physical health pecked up pretty quick after the rescue. We managed to poach a few words from her and she said "It feels clukin' great to be one of the beautiful birds at last".

The rest of the girls and Billy hit the town this afternoon on the other side of the fence. Chick out the blog for more exclusive pictures.

BILLY SHOWING SIGNS OF FEATHER GROWTH!

Great News Fellow Hen Fanciers....we have yet to provide photographic evidence, but it seems our Billy's feathers are finally starting to grow! The ex-bat has never properly recovered in the feather department from her days behind bars, but in recent weeks we can report that she is starting to look a bit fluffy.

Having made a full recovery health wise from the confines of the cage, Billy has not been that bothered about her lack of locks; and has enjoyed preening what little she has with the rest of the girls, stretching out her rather scabby looking wings in the summer sunshine. When asked about her new growth the perky pecker said "I am eggcited about it".

We've arranged a photo shoot and full photos will be available soon.

Summer 2009 - Holidaying down at Ourgate.

The Girls packed their cases, deserted their perches and enjoyed a summer break this month, spending a little quality time just sunbathing in the sweet long grass down at Ourgate. "We didn't bother unpacking" said Minnie, "We just got ourselves a quiet corner and nodded off. It was hen-heaven". Lottie spent time pottering around to make sure her fellow peckers had everything they needed.

Horror at the hen house door!

Stop Press! The girls faced potential horror tonight as the hen house door was accidentally locked SHUT before the girls had gone to roost!

Unable to roost safely away from Mr Fox, the girls took refuge tonight on the garden bench, with Mandy opting for a plant pot and Billy taking refuge under the garden shed!

"We thought we were abandoned" said Henrietta - Head Hen of the coop, "we were relieved when our leader opened the door and we were able to roost on the perch inside!".

AUBREY FATHERS 19 BABY CHICKS!

We've some eggciting news to share tonight! We've just heard Aubrey is proud father to no less than 19 chicks, all doing very well. He's been a busy boy since he left and will be taking the month of August off to re-coop.

That's my boy!!

Lined up and ready for bed, but where's our Lots?

Lined up and ready for bed, but where's our Lots?

Perfect fit

Surely Mr Fox won't notice me now

A night out might make a change

Has Lottie gone dotty?

Has our Lottie finally gone dotty? Does she think Mr Fox might not notice her roosting on the fence post? For the last two nights our lovely little Lottie has tried to look discreet and unnoticed - perched on the post. Sorry Lottie Love, even tonight using the bush as a disguise doesn't quite work, but keep trying we like your dotty style.

Billy & Mandy chill out in the sunny sun

Billy and Mandy, who this time last year had never even seen natural daylight, have been soaking up the sunny sun. With wings outstretched, the girls have been sunbathing and enjoying every minute of life without bars. "We love it" they said. "We didn't know the sun even shined!".

It's over for our Fanny!

Finally, after 6 long weeks our Fanny finally called it a day and got off that nest!

Facing the harsh reality that mother-hen-hood was never going to happen, she wandered out the hen house.

Having lost over half her body weight with her comb and wattles a shade of pink paler than a baby's bum, the former big breasted beauty was a sorry sight.

But all is not doom and gloom for our Fanny, we overhead her boasting to the other girls "I'm a size zero you know, they'll never roast me now".

Keep your eyes poached for developments of Fanny's fitness plan back to full health - rumour has it she may be making a DVD.

The green greener grass of home!

The girls have got themselves a new carpet of luscious green grass!  We've just had the garden landscaped, and our old back lawn has transformed the hen house into a sweet land of luxury!

Fanny Mae gets all broody

Well since spring has sprung our Fanny has got herself all broody.  So far she's spent 4 days on the nest waiting for her eggs to hatch.  We keep trying to break the news that without our Aubrey there's not much chance of that.  We've lifted her off the nest every day, but all our Fanny wants to do is brood about all puffed up and then plonks herself back on.  Even Henrietta has tried to have a word "if you think you're going to hatch those eggs you must be yolking" said the old girl.  

The Girls Raise Money for Cancer Research!

I'm running a half marathon on 17 May and the girls have helped me raise over £70 for Cancer Research!

For every £1 donated I gave away one of the girls eggs!  Within the hour I had sold out!  So thanks girls, keep on laying, it's all for a cluckin' good cause!

  

You can teach an old hen new tricks!

Well, would you believe it!  Everyday this week old girl Henrietta has performed the most amazing balancing act. Quick to prove to the younger birds she can still shock and stun, the old girl has surprised us all.   Every morning an egg is waiting for us, but not in the nest!  It's perfectly balanced on the perch!    Well done old girl!  How do you do it??!!

Who's the culprit?

We've an investigation going on in the hen house.....one of the girls is burying her eggs! We've found 3 so far. 1 deep in the hen house sawdust, 1 in a dust bath hole under the garden bench, and 1 behind the shed in the loose soil. Whoever it is is trying hard to hide them by their desperate attempts to cover them up totally. So far it appears the yolks are on us, but rest assured the Hen News Team with crack it. Watch this space...

If you know why a hen will suddenly start burying her eggs, let us know.

Look at the size of that!

Feast your eyes on that beauty! We are still unsure who has laid it but the Hen News Team can confirm we 'heard' it being laid. Such was the noise and commotion in the hen house we rushed out to find out what was going on. All we found was the giant egg in the nest.

It came as no surprise the big beauty was a double yolker!

We're dotty about our Lottie!

Introducing our Lottie! and aren't we just lovin' her lots! She's Aubrey's little sister - a pure breed Buff Orpington, and she's settled right in with the other girls in the coop (although the pecking order was a bit fierce in the early days).

Already laying fresh eggs everyday, our Lottie is keeping up with the rent no problem, and I'm sure you'll agree we've a lorra lorra love for our Lots!

Make it a free range Easter

With Easter upon us make sure you do the right thing for all the Easter chicks who are suffering in cages right now, with no natural light or space to move. The only future our feathered friends deserve is organic, free-range or barn so they can lead a more natural life. Allowing them to have more space to exercise, forage, perch, nest and dust-bathe.

Battery farms are cruel - fact. However you might be surprised at how many good retailers and food manufactures there are out there who have already committed to making a better future for our hens by committing to only using free range eggs. See for youself at http://www.thegoodeggawards.com/ and help more hens have a free range future. Remember, if you can always offer an ex bat a home, and have your own eggs on tap everyday!

All is quiet without our Aubrey

It's been a week since our Aub left the coop and found himself Top Cock at Bill's. The Hen News Team have been informed he's having a cluckin' great time. With the sun on his back and the spring breeze in his feathers; his days are long and lazy whilst his new harem of beauties graze beside him in the long grass.

Our girls will never forget Aubrey "It's quiet around here now, but we keep ourselves busy" commented Henrietta who has resumed her place at the top of the pecking order and is keeping the girls in check daily.

Looks a bit woolly to me

Lots of people have been kind enough to send me a link from today's BBC News - it would seem the future is woolly for future ex bats.

Read more> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7947984.stm

Bootiful Boy

Farewell old Friend

Aubrey - it's curtains

Well, the votes came in, and have been counted and verified, and we have to announce that it was curtains for our Aub at the weekend.

The neighours claimed they loved to hear him crowing - but not a 5am. "We fear for the lighter mornings when the clocks go forward!" claimed one spokes person who wished to remain nameless. So, duty called and our Aub has been re-homed. It was a sad day, as we took time for a few last pictures in the hen house, and now all that's left is an air of silence disturbed only by the odd cluck from one of his old girls.

But all is not so grim for the cocky crower. Within 40 minutes we had arrived at Aubrey's new home from where he was first born. As soon as friendly Bill (Buff Oprington Breeder and fellow fancier) clapped eyes on our Aub and his magnificent comb; he immediately crowned him Top Cock! "By heck, you've done me proud raising him, he's show standard!" he claimed.

With many beautiful big breasted Buffs strutting around in Bill's back yard waiting for Mr Right, Aubrey couldn't believe his cluckin' luck and immediately started crowing like we've never heard him before. The young buff wasted no time getting to know his new harem of lovely ladies, even though his mum and dad watched in complete surprise as their prodigal son returned.

With spring just around the corner we know it won't be long before Aubrey hears the patter of tiny perched toes, and we've already got our hearts set on one of his daughters coming to joining us in the Autumn. In the meantime we gratefully took home Aubrey's little sister - Lottie.

Lulu finally pays the rent

Spring has sprung for our Lulu (fat bird left of picture) the old girl has finally started to lay. Weeks behind with the rent the Buff Oprington Beauty has been under an eggceeding amount of pressure to start laying - or it's curtains. Earlier today she was missing from the garden, only to be found sitting on the nest - well done girl, keep popping them out. we knew you could do it.

BREAKING NEWS....Tuesday 11 March...

.....live feed news flash 10.57am 11 March.......I have just received an urgent tip off...as I write Mandy and Minnie have been spotted in next door's garden pecking the heads off John's new shoots! The twosome have been spotted this morning! There is nothing I can do. Aubrey is frantic (not good for the survey.....).

Stay perched.

Just another day

Spring has very nearly sprung in the hen house as ex bat Mandy, Fanny Mae, and ex bat Billy enjoy a taste of spring sunshine whilst perched on an old garden bench. The one time lifers said "It sure beats life behind bars", Fanny Mae (in the middle) said "It's just another day".

Love the Double Yolker

We just loved the double yolker freshly laid this morning so we just had to share it before we popped it on toast!

Is Aubrey on the brink of Eggit?

Will the neighbours crack on Ashbrook Drive? Will Aubrey survive the vote? The crafty cockeral is perched to find out. A survey has been launched today to eggamine the plight of the early morning yodeler and we await the results, which could mean Aubrey's scambled and re-homing him is ineggitable. Keeping himself busy he's decided to crack a few jokes and was heard laughing and joking "Have you heard the one about the 2 eggs boiling in a pan? One said to the other, if you think it's hot in here wait till you get out...then they smash your head in!"

What do you think? Should Aubrey stay or is it the end of the egg production line?

Grass is greener for Ex Bat Mandy

Ex Bat Mandy, hatched an escape plan at the weekend that nearly proved a flight too far. She was soon spotted pecking at the greener grass on the other side of the fence, and was swiftly shooed back to the coop with the aid of a broom. Fellow former ex bat and cage mate Billy said: "she was hatching the plan the whole time we were inside, assuming the grass would always be greener, pecking at a lawn was something she's dreamed of".

The feathered freedom finder was sentenced to both wings being clipped and offered a complimentary dust bath afterwards, she said "when I clapped eyes on the wing clipper in that stripey apron I thought I was about to get oven basted! I quite enjoyed being clipped I found it all rather therapeutic". Looking on Henrietta said "She's lucky, I'd have got a right poaching".

Aubrey's Eggfactor - Pancake Day

Today is Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday. It's the last day before the Christian festival Lent. Traditionally Christian's ate pancakes on Shrove Tuesday because this is the last chance to indulge and use up any foods that were forbidden during Lent; such as fat, butter and EGGS! So don't beat yourselves up, just get battered and enjoy an evening where you really can express your flipping skills; and show your friends what a professional tosser you really are!

We're pleased to launch the all new 'Aubrey's EggFactor!'

Eggs are one of the best protein sources around. One egg contains 5.5g protein, over 10% of your daily needs.

More more eggamples of how eggs can benefit you, stay perched. Chick next time for more from Aubrey's EggFactor.

THIS MONTH'S EGGCLUSIVE

Adverse weather brings chaos in the hen house

Also, in this issue:
BJL Breakfast Club

What's with Fanny Mae?

The girls join the WI

Smith cracks under egg boycotting allegations

Josie voted in!
Aubrey gets into a flap
Did you find love this valentine?

ADVERSE WEATHER BRINGS CHAOS IN THE HEN HOUSE

The onslaught of snow brought chaos into the hen house this month, leaving Aubrey with no choice other than to send Minnie out to check the conditions whilst he waited in the wings. She soon gave the all clear for him and his harem. Billy and Mandy however decided it was far too cold, so decided to stay perched for the day. They said: "We're used to central heating you know, it's just not on".

BJL Breakfast Club

The girls and Aubrey pecked their way through a BJL breakfast buffet this morning, so much cereal was donated by the lively lot in Sunlight House it looks like the breakfast club buffet will be a regular feature for the next few weeks!

What's witih Fanny Mae?

Our Fanny staggered out the hen house early this month and tumbled over! Whilst the girls (and me) looked on deeply alarmed, an egg plopped out of her bum and rolled towards my feet. "I was laying when the door opened and everyone rushed out" said the eager egg layer.

The Girls are welcomed by the WI!

Thanks to Judy - the nice lady across the road. The girls joined the WI this month and were welcomed with cream tea. 32 uneaten cream scones went down a treat amongst the perky peckers.

SMITH CRACKS UNDER EGG BOYCOTTING ALLEGATIONS

Richard Smith, 30 something of temporary address - after suspicious fire at his penthouse apartment in trendy city centre Manchester, cracked under egg boycotting allegations last month and admitted "I've got a new supplier, it's not my fault, blame Mark!" He tried to make light of his comments adding "the yolks are good, but not as good as Henriettas".

Josie voted in!

In respect of the US electing a new President, the girls thought it was time that they voted in a new spokes-hen themselves, and Josie received her augmentation earlier this month. Taking up office (in a plant pot), the girls gathered round, but only Fanny Mae paid any attention to her policies. The pot was quite comfty.

Aubrey gets into a flap

Aubrey got himself into a flap this week over rumours to oust him from the hen house following his repetitive dusky dawn chorus. News of the plans leaked out to the Doodle Do Gooder and sent a wave of worry to the early morning caller who shared his concerns with head honsho Henrietta, who, after much listening said "that's life that is, think on".

Did you find love this Valentines?

Did you find love this Valentines? If not you'll be guaranteed that warm and cuddly feeling if you sponsor a hen. The lovely people at the Battery Hen Welfare Trust have re-homed over 100,000 hens to lots of loving homes (just like mine) and would appreciate anything you can spare to help give these deserving girls a happy retirement. Please check out http://www.bhwt.co.uk/ and spread the love this Valentines to our feathered friends.

New Look Hen Blog!

I hope you have enjoyed the new look Hen News this month! If you have any comments we’d love to hear from you!
Lots of love
Christine, the girls and Aubrey
xx