We have been letting Bantie Mum and her overgrown chicks out to play in the vegetable garden. Today they disappeared and we found that they had wandered onto the patio behind the house. I have rounded them up and put them back in their run where they can muse on taking advantage of their freedom and not abusing my trust!

Earlier this morning two ten year old girls came a calling. They had been out for a walk with their granny and had collected a lot of recyclable rubbish on their way. They popped it in my bin and then went to meet the Bantie and her chicks and gave the Mum some corn. She was reluctant to let them feed her although she is always happy to come to my hand. Another sign that chickens are smarter than we think and know their human partners.