Oops

In the spring of 2006, Pete and I had day jobs, and allotment, and two new chickens. By the following spring, all we had were the chickens. Hen Solo and Princess Layer had become much-loved pets and were on their way to becoming global celebrities :) They were beautiful chickens, and firm friends, although they had the occasional argument.

Henny died in the spring of 2010, and we didn’t take it well. We seriously considered rehoming Princess at that point, but she was an old lady and expressed a desire to live out her life in the garden. We brought home two new friends for her – Chewbucka and Cluck Skywalker. To begin with she did not approve of their youthful antics, but in the end they worked out their differences and the new girls came to love Aunty Princess and she showed them all the good things about living in the Cooper Coop.

When Princess died that autumn, Cluck and Chewie had each other and life carried on as normal. They were the best of friends, with never a cross word between them. Princess’ death hit us harder; when my parents arrived for Christmas, Pete warned them not to bring her up.

By spring 2011 Pete felt the need for a few more hens, and so we brought home Bluebell, Daisy and Buttercup. They are all gorgeous, healthy hens, although perhaps not the brightest creatures ever born…. That’s them in the picture above, taken last year. They look the same now, just a bit bigger perhaps.

Losing Chewie this winter has been another blow. Chickens aren’t long-lived animals (particularly hybrid layers, bred as egg-laying machines), but Chewie’s poor health meant a short life. Cluck is adjusting to life without her; at the moment Cluck lives separately, but we’re hoping to reintegrate her with the other three just as soon as Cluck’s moult is over and she’s back to her normal, feisty self.

This spring we will have been hen keepers for six years. I can honestly say that – for the most part – they have been a joy. Our egg basket has always been overflowing and friends and neighbours have benefited from their largesse. They have added a great deal to the garden – and not just their poo and pest control expertise ;)

But our life has changed beyond all recognition, and the plan is for it to continue doing so. We want to move, although we still have no timescale for that. It has become apparent that we’re too soft-hearted to cope with many more losses. And so we have decided that the time has come to rehome our girls and live chicken-free, and I am beginning the process of finding them a nice place to live.

We are looking for someone within striking distance of Oxfordshire who would like to rehome 4 hens (Bluebell, Daisy and Buttercup are about a year old; Cluck is 2). They’re all good layers and reasonably well-trained, although they’re not super-friendly lap hens. Cluck lays pure white eggs; the other three lay slightly different brown eggs, although we’ve never managed to work out which one lays which eggs. The difference is entirely cosmetic, of course. I am not selling my girls, I am simply looking for a good home for them. There are likely to be supplies of food, corn and sundries that can go with them. Links to their bios can be found at the top of the sidebar.

Once the girls have moved on we will have two eglus to sell, both still in good condition, and with a couple of run extensions for anyone who has the space.

Updated 11th January 2011
The chickens have found a lovely new home a few miles down the road. Once they settle in they will be allowed to free range, and will have the attentions of a cockerel! All under the watchful eye of Jude, who has 10 years hen-keeping experience. We have packed them off this afternoon, and they will wake up to a new life tomorrow :)