It's not been the best of starts to the season! My old hen, who was mother to my big winning bird, 3/12 also known as Elizabeth, died yesterday while sitting on 4 fertile eggs. I've fostered the eggs out to other hens but we may lose them all. Time will tell over the next few days.

The Elizabeth herself built too high a nest and two of her eggs rolled out so are also fostered out.I took steps yesterday to take her nest down, remove the surplus material and re-set it  - she was back immediately sitting so again, hope springs eternal.

I also managed to pair together two sets of two hens! All have now settled with new cock partners so we may yet have chicks.

And we do have chicks - fully three weeks earlier than last year. Two nests but all my own bred birds so I am delighted. Some pictures of the room today and the babies.