Peace Reigns

Annie is still to lamb.She isn't due until Saturday but from her behaviour on Monday and the fact that she was 5 days early last year I thought lambs were imminent. I don't know about her but I'm weary !

Peace seems to have reigned over the rest of the camp.The new hens are settling in with the rest of the flock. They established an immediate friendship with the Legbars and the four of them together are brave enough to stand up to the original four.They are still to roost in the same house at night though. At present the younger four prefer to sleep in the smaller ark, as this is not a problem I am happy to leave it as such for now.The older hens are finally coming back into lay and at least one of the younger ones is thinking about giving it a go.

It is early days for the eggs in the incubator. Having never used the incubator for hens eggs and having bought the eggs from an unknown source I am not sure what the outcome will be.I think I will need a few hatches to get use to the incubator, temperature, humidity etc.

The paddock geese have settled into a somewhat unconventional relationship, but it seems to work for them .
At night the original goose and gander sleep together in their house. During the day the goose pairs off with one of last year's ganders, leaving her partner on the perimeter of the flock, he seems quite content with this. The other young gander ...well he's just friends with everyone, trying to keep the peace. Everyone apart from my husband, that is !!

The orchard geese have become a nice little family group. Last year's goose is, so far, being a brilliant broody. Sitting tight, just getting off for the occasional break, while the other two stand guard. I am not too sure if the older goose has stopped laying as it has been a while since I have found an egg. The last one was the one she tried laying in the nest with disastrous results.