The hens in the flock began to show their frustration at the morning wake up, as did our neighbours (which also prompted some absurd questions about bird flu), so off to the farm we went. Packed up and ready to start their new lives as breeding cocks, we felt proud at the enormous elegance of the birds.

As we arrived at Perfect Poultry, the size and splendour of our young males paled in comparison to the grandeur of some of the elderly gentlemen, who were to become their new peers. We sent the boys off to meet their fate and they were faced with a barrage of pecks and punches. My boyfriend watched the look of horror on my face and we both began to wonder if we had done the right thing.

After an hour of viewing with our hearts in our stomachs, all slowly seemed to smooth itself out. The boys showed their loyalty, protecting each other and as we left them they were cuddled up together in a show of solidarity. Despite our concerns we knew we had done the right thing. The size and volume cockerels embody is far better suited to a farm with land, space and certainly more freedom than we could provide.

Next, our thoughts turned to part two of our adventure. We had always aimed for six hens but had been left with four.

Beautiful Bessie

So, there was room for two new additions to our flock. We headed over the hen house to admire the variety of breeds on offer. With our hearts already set on two Silkie hens, we selected a beautiful little partridge girl – which we named The Ram – and a ball of white fluff, Bessie.

Back in Leytonstone, we decided to dive straight into the introductions process and let the birds out to free range with our flock (covered in a coating of anti-peck spray). Already disgruntled to be parted from their friends and after a long journey in the back of a minibus, the Silkies did not look best pleased.

Whilst we had been away, the pecking order in our existing flock had already recalibrated. Keen to secure her place in the ranks, Captain Jack Sparrow launched the first attack. The Ram lived up to her name and retaliated with some success but poor Bessie spent the next day cowering in the corner.

The Ram

A few days have now passed and the Silkies are beginning to become accepted. A reluctance to join the girls at bedtime leads us to believe they’re not yet fully integrated, but for us the introduction process has gone fairly smoothly. With careful monitoring and a lot of love and attention a flock can be expanded without too much disruption. Never the less, stay tuned, as I’m sure the tales of Bessie the lady and Ram the wrestler have only just begun.

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