The only survivor after just over seven years is Elvis, our amazing Silkie hen.
Elvis just loves to sit on eggs and likes nothing better than to care for a young family. It doesn't really matter whether they are chickens, ducks or even guinea fowl.
For the last couple of years we have used Elvis to raise clutches of Muscovy Ducks. But Elvis is slowing down a little. There was a time when she would happily raise three broods a year. Sit for three or four weeks. Raise for about 7 weeks. Sit again. From Spring till Autumn.
But her feathers are tinged brown these days (the Silkie equivalent of grey hair) and one brood a year is enough to keep her happy.
It is now over two years since the last of the other inherited chickens went to the big chicken run in the sky, so we have to face the fact that Elvis will not keep going forever.
And so at the back end of last year we purchased three silkie hens. Elvis is actually a Silkie cross, with more obvious feathering than a true Silkie whose feathers more resemble hair.
We didn't intend to get another three hens, but one came free so it seemed rude to say no. Two of our new Silkie hens are black, one is a dinky little brown thing, known as Partridge. They laid their first eggs at the turn of the year and already they are displaying some classic Silkie behaviour. In fact, Partridge has been firmly plonked in her nest box for several weeks now. She does not budge except for brief forays for food, drink and ablutions. Try to retireve an egg from under her and she just clucks and purrs, pecks a little and then tries to settle down on your hand.
But now the little broody house where they live has become home to three broody hens. They spend all day being clucky together, squeezed into the tiniest space. They have not even laid an egg for several days now, yet still they sit.
Taking a photo is not the easiest task though, as all I keep getting is a bundle of furry feather!
