Well no actually…..but a very welcome surprise anyway.

You may well have seen photos of our hens – both David and I have published pics of them during 2003. In fact, the US Government’s Agriculture Department has published a calendar with one of our hens in it as an example of a beautiful, well looked after hen. She was captured by David earlier this year, published on PBASE and the US Govt contacted him to request permission to use the photo. Apparently hens in the US can have a bad time of it and the government are trying to encourage better care for these wonderful creatures.

Because they’re bantams, they don’t lay all year like the ‘industrial’ breeds. They stopped laying in October when we were having to treat all four for lice after Molly, one of the two Welsummers, was so broody she didn’t come out of a nesting box for three months and her ‘personal hygiene’ suffered as a consequence!

When they’re not laying, their combs shrink and go pale. I noticed a few days ago that Sherri, one of the two Light Sussexs was showing signs of her comb growing and darkening again and hoped that would mean an egg soon. This will sound really spoiled but shop-bought eggs just are not the same as home-laid. They’re pale yolked, often stale when you buy them and flavourless….and I only buy organic free-range eggs so who knows what the mainstream ones are like.

Today, I was working in the garden (now there is devotion – it’s not got above 3 degrees centigrade all day) when I heard the joyful sound of mad clucking indicating one is about to lay. It’s as if they all gather round the layer and shout encouragement. Honestly! It’s an absolutely wonderful sound. Really fab.

I looked over to the group and sure enough, one was missing. Being careful not to disturb the delivery of my precious food parcel, I carried on working while looking around to see if I could spot where she was laying. I spotted a beak poking out from under a giant ornamental grass that I’m afraid I don’t know the name of (I’m ashamed to admit I bought it un-marked from a village fete and thought it was a day lily – oops!) . I left her to it and when she emerged I poked my head into the grass and saw this wonderful sight – er, so that means you’ve all been laying for days then….nice of you to let us know.

Now all I need to do is work out which are fresh enough to eat by putting them in a big bowl of water and we can look forward to our supply being renewed.

BTW – there is no possibility of these eggs actually being the start of a life as I don’t have a cockerel – my girls have to make do with the ones next door calling to them!