One minute a hen or duck seems fine and the next they can keel over and die.  This morning the Maran hen and Silkie cockerel were up and outside and at lunchtime she was lying down, lifeless. Mr Silkie was guarding her body but now I have closed the dead Maran in the hen house and moved him to be with the other poultry.  The rest of the hens and cocks have chosen to stay indoors to keep out of the rain. When the rain stops, probably tomorrow, we will take the Maran and bury her in the vineyard.

Better news is that another Maran has gone broody and I managed to put two goose eggs under her.  It will be a long “sit” as they take five weeks to hatch and she is only on day one.