Looks like the green hen's eggs are all infertile. Most of my other hens are not in condition or when they meet the cock birds, just fight! Not the best of years this one! Patience and perseverance are called for!

Third egg laid yesterday. I have said that if this pair alone breed this year, I will be delighted.

Along with Bluebell's second egg laid today, one of the yellow hens has laid but that egg looks very fragile shelled and is unlikely to be able to carry a chick. Interestingly I noticed this week a huge increase in the little green hen's water consumption and the yellow hen who laid today has the same pattern of behaviour. Clearly increased water consumption is indicative of imminent laying. It makes sense when you think about it. I had just not noticed before.

 

Great news - the little green hen - "Bluebell" - has laid her first egg.

My original pair are progressing with their nest. The hen is even looking "pregnant" - hopefully we may yet see eggs. She is in the foreground of this picture.

In a week she has constructed so, so carefully this warm and comforting looking nest.

In 2011, when  I bought this pair, they had several clutches with fertile eggs and even had one live chick which died at 8 days. I hadn't realised that the room was too hot for them and the hen had problems laying as a consequence of the room temperature being too high. Last year neither of them came into breeding condition so I am hopeful that I am getting a second chance to breed this pair. Regular viewers of these pages will know that the cock bird won Best Novice Flighted at the Scots Fancy Specialist Club show last November so if none of the other birds breed this year but this pair, I will still be delighted!  

I was delighted to notice last night that my original pair are starting to nest build. They did not come into condition last year and I would love this pair to breed successfully as the male is such a good example of the variety.

Some new pictures. I have placed the hens in breeding cages and their proposed mates in the adjoining cages. There is then a gap in the slider between the cages so they can get to know one another. The hens are not yet ready to breed. The winter has been too dark and the light won't get to optimum for breeding here this far north until about May.

In the top cage, the white hen laid four eggs in March - all infertile. She laid today but I am not sure that she and her mate are yet a couple!

In other sets up we have Elizabeth - I hope she may breed with the white cockbird.

And Number 9 I hope may breed with Elizabeth's sister

And finally Scott (No1) and little hen Number 2

Fingers crossed for success in May for them all.