What can be more relaxing than a few hens clucking around the garden? Fenton Blues, Amber Links and Brown links have all had their place and have paid their way in eggs. It is true that they absolutely destroy anything green within a matter of days (or weeks at best) and so they are only allowed to roam free in the garden occasionally but it's so lovely having the girls strutting about the place as you work or relax outside. They had plenty of space even in their own enclosure though - and they soon wrecked that!

My first hens were all named after Puritan virtues, with names such as Verity, Felicity, Prudence, Constance and Charity. Some years later my next set of hens were named after a more realistic theme - they were all named after Agatha Christie victims. Mrs McGuinty, Agatha and Murgatroyd all met a sticky end!

We never had a cockerel (except a stone ornament named Rocky after 'Chicken Run' and also the material it was made from) as I felt that this would disrupt the calm atmosphere. A friend of mine had a cockrel and it was more fierce than a guard dog!