darty and pike: Little Pip has a Best Friend

At last, no longer alone. Little Pip has a friend and her name is Milky Legs.

She has this unusual name because when she first arrived her legs were almost anaemically white. Now, 5 weeks later she's got yellowy mottled legs which have grown long.

I got Milky Legs so that she would be a friend to Little Pip who spent most of her time alone. The other four hens are older and have pair bonded so there was no room for Pip to join in, even with her mother Simone.

Their first encounter, in the trailer, was not auspicious. Both were terrified of the other and even after three hours of confinement together they had chosen separate ends of the trailer. However, gradually they have begun to spend more and more time together.

Here they look like they are talking over the possibility of being friends and deciding what is ok and what is not.

They are the youngest of the flock and both get picked on and pecked on by the others. Circumstances and events have thrown them together.

They are now such firm friends that Milky Legs sits patiently next to Little Pip when she's laying her egg. Milky Legs is about 8 weeks away from egg laying but she's been watching Pip's every move. She'll be an expert when she starts.