Submitted by Rosemary Keynes

“Cottontail together with Flopsy, Mopsy and Peta came to stay in January, my first hens, and we have muddled along happily ever since learning from each other. Cottontail was always the one most reluctant to be touched and quickest to dart away after she got what she wanted from me.

“It was a special day when I was sitting in the garden paying no attention to her and suddenly, she landed in my lap! One of the things I like about my hens is that they encourage community engagement. They give me a topic of amusing conversation with neighbours and folk I meet at church and at the local community centre as well as having eggs to give away including to the cook to make cakes at the centre and to people I hardly know.

“They love the tales of the hens' naughty behaviour in my garden! People ask after them and also come to visit them – rather than me it sometimes seems! They always make people smile – a great gift they have. There should be more pet hens in this world.”