Yesterday I went to collect my chickens, and the plan had altered a little bit as one of my Welsummers had died for no apparent reason that the breeder could fanthom. However I am now the proud owner of 6 chickens:
2 Maran
2 Light Sussex
1 Welsummer
1 Portugese (black)

The Maran’s are certainly the bosses of the coop, followed by the sussex and the portugese and welsummer are working out who is definitely bottom – I think it’s the welsummer. Which is quite strange really as she is the third biggest! The sussex and portugese are all smaller than her…
On a nature v nurture point though, she was the only female in the welsummer hatch and was put in with the orpington chicks and grew up with them, so she may well think she’s an Orp! She’s certainly a very laid back chicken for a welsummer, that’s for sure.
Their first night went well, apart from not knowing where to sleep! The maran’s were perched on the roof of the coop, whilst the rest were in a heap in one corner of the run. All were carefully lifted into the coop, where the marans used the perch and the rest created another heap. A little roosting training is required for some – I’m sure they’ll get the hang of it though.
I’ve lost most of the morning watching them – they are all a bunch of (currently nameless) characters but all seem to love scratching around, chasing insects and having dust baths!