The chicken shuffle

On Saturday, after the birds had gone to roost we set about re organising their groupings ready for this years breeding season. The birds are quite use to being moved between flocks and adapt readily.

The three Gold Duckwing Welsummer hens (hopefully this years new breeding line) were placed in the paddock flock This flock is headed by the younger of the Gold Duckwing Welsummer cockerels . The cockerel took to the new hens immediately and spent Sunday 'showing' them their new patch..The other hens making up the flock are a variety of heavy, traditional breeds (my broodies).


To balance the numbers, the two Marans from the paddock flock were placed in the house the Gold Duckwing Welsummers came from. This house now consists of the senior Gold Duckwing Welsummer cockerel and three Welsummer hens of partridge colouring but spilt for gold (the original breeding line), plus the aforementioned Marans.

The young trio of Partridge Welsummer and the Barnevelders, making up the third flock, were moved on mass to home.This group will remain together, the Barnevelders are my layers and the Welsummer trio are still quite young to breed from..They were moved as their grass run at the yard was becoming a little worn, where as at home the run is still in good condition., also I miss not having any birds at home, so if the truth be known this move was possibly more for my benefit.

Now all the birds are organised into their new groupings I can start to look forward to the new breeding season.