I often rabbit on about Chicken World, but thus far I haven't really shown you it. It isn't what you would call an attractive feature in the garden; the chickens see to that! This time last year the whole area was covered in grass, now the soil is exposed and was apt to turn into a quagmire during the torrential rains of April and early May.

Today, it is bathed in sunshine, the fruit trees I planted are positively verdant, and so much fruit has set on the pears, apples, cherries and plums, I suspect they will need some thinning before to long.  The run in between the two coops  which we refer to as 'the bus shelter' offers the Girls protection from both rain and sun. We gave it the name of bus shelter, because they look exactly like disgruntled passengers waiting for a bus that is late when they are in there - especially in heavy rain.

The girls have recently been moved to the smaller of the two coops which houses 4 hens easily. The larger coop has being scrubbed down and poultry shielded in readiness for its new residents.  It houses 8 hens comfortably, but I shall limit myself to 6 - although I am seriously tempted to get a few Bantams and another small coop too as the Bantams were I keep my bees are adorable and barely bigger than a handful! I shall go and get the new hens next week. I am still torn between getting some pure breeds for their beauty, or hybrids for their egg producing qualities.  Left to my own devices, I'd buy them all!

I have plans to plant lots of chicken friendly, but not fodder wildflower plants in the area too - but the weather has prohibited any such schemes this year, and the few  I put in last Autumn curled up their toes and died this Spring.

I'll keep you posted on the arrival of the new Girls, hate to think how my current Girls will react.