The hens have already established a pecking order; LSS reports that when she gives them food in the mornings, the six older ones cluster around the pot and stuff their faces with determination, not allowing the younger ones to get a look-in! I suggested scattering the food around a bit; the six can’t guard everywhere at once. Because of the major decrease in egg-production recently (only 4 eggs per day from 10 hens) I’m in the process of making some proper nest-boxes to hopefully encourage them. Currently they have four hay-filled wooden fruit-trays on a table made from pallets. This seems to have been sufficient up until now, but perhaps a bit of separation between the nests would help. Also, once the plastic temporary fencing arrives, we can allow them out of their pen again.
Today was once again Haircut Day! This has certainly saved us a considerable amount of money over the years.
I haven’t mentioned the rabbits for a while. Not that there’s much news on that front; they are growing rapidly, but that’s not surprising considering how much they eat. So far they have not cost us a penny, as the “income” from the chickens has covered what little expenditure has been necessary. They are certainly getting a varied diet. Fresh grass and purslane from the garden, potato peels and other kitchen vegetable scraps, wheat, and of course bits of dry bread.