The old goose bath has been removed from the polytunnel in which the hens winter. It had been covered over with a piece of plywood but we were always in danger of putting our foot through the thin sheet of wood. Better safe than sorry. Chris has put a partition into the larger hen house to stop the birds laying their eggs in the farthest corner.

Every morning and afternoon one or other of us had to manoeuvre ourselves into the house (like an adult trying to get into a child’s Wendy house) to collect the eggs. No more bending and twisting, we hope. One of the hens has a large lump on her head. It looks like a tumour but just hope it is not going to make her ill. She seems bright at the moment.