Happy hens

The hens have just about everything they could want. A good big run, a cosy shed, lots of greenery, branches to climb on and places to scratch and dust bath. 

They do, however, have a friendly rabbit that one of the hennies has trained to nibble through the plastic netting so she can escape and go to lay her eggs in the base of a NZ flax plant! 

As soon as I sew or block up a hole, the wretched rabbit nibbles another one! The bold hen goes out, lays her egg then waits for me to lift her back over the net.  She's desperate to get back to her friends, but would rather not use the best boxes provided, preferring the shelter of the huge flax plants. 

They are very entertaining to watch.  Lottie and I can sit for ages watching them.  It's not taken long to get them used to us either. And it's lovely to get three little eggs a day - if I manage to find them!