Our hill billy chickens are settling in well. It’s only been a few days but each day they seem to get braver and make themselves more at home.

Yesterday I caught them preening themselves in the corner making a nice hollow in which to wallow. George our rooster continues to make light work of the feeder and has started to make his traditional morning calls!

Fortunately the bassets have also made friends. After the initial barking and then woofing (more like a rasperry than a bark) it’s now just hard stares and the occasional squeak. They love to sit and watch and get overly excited when the chooks come to the fence. I’m sure that before long they’ll be bedding down together as best of friends. Or maybe not, given that Fortnum and Mason’s breakfast comprises three lovely chicken necks!