Well, I haven't updated our chicken story recently so here goes..
Our original four girls - Charlotte, Maggie, Jeannie and Joey - were doing a sterling job laying lovely eggs. We'd given away lots to friends and neighbours and then decided to try putting the occasional excess eggs outside the gate with an honesty box.
We were a victim of our own success, especially in the summer when visitors <south and Shetland> were about and some people were saying they weren't able to get eggs. So, in November Susan, Brenda, Fifi and Kathleen joined the throng. <or flock>
There was definitely a pecking order in those early days! I wasn't sure whether it was the old girls just keeping the youngeens in their place or whether there was a bit of envy, as the youngsters were wearing 'hen bling' from Harbro when they met.
Anway, the main reason for writing is to thank all the folks who've bought eggs and also for returning the boxes. Much appreciated. One or two folk have left anonymous messages which is great. There has been the odd 'Nice eggs!' but the message left yesterday <Sunday> was egg-ceptional and truly fantastic!
It was typed meticulously in pink ink <to match the box> and pasted inside the egg box lid. Made a lovely surprise! I've copied it below and added my reply afterwards.
The author was rather concerned about the fate of four of the girls, as there names weren't on some of the labels. Simple answer. I continued to use the labels with the four 'old girls' on until they ran out, and then printed new ones with all eight girls on. So there are a mixture of labels in circulation..
Egg-ceptional Layers…Charlotte and Maggie, Jeannie and Joey,
Those names is quite common and not at all showy;
So now, may I ask the one question that begs,
Why is it, that they lay such
uncommon eggs?
Enormous and brown, each with bright orange yolk,
Just
laying those monsters, can’t be any joke!
A strenuous effort! A jolly good show!
So to each of the girls, my compliments go!
Now I come to the saddest part of my rhyme:
For those other four girls, has the Umpire called “Time!”?
Poor Susan and Brenda, Fifi and Kathleen,
Why is it that their names are no longer seen?
Have they spread out their wings and fluttered on high,
To celestial hen-runs, up there in the sky?
Should that be the reason, I offer my prayers
For the souls of those four egg-ceptional layers!
In Reply...Charlotte and Maggie, Jeannie and Joey,
(Whose names is quite common and not at all showy)
Say thanks for the wishes and glad you enjoy ‘em.
(They were all a-flutter when I read them your poem.)
Those gigantic eggs, each day they will drop,
Increasing in girth, until they go “Pop!”
A ten-ton monster could be their demise
Unless the girls can control the size
Of their eggs, (all done with no cocks)
Otherwise we’ll be needing a larger egg box!
Fear not! You can tell I’m fibbing and jesting.
The girls are quite happy, a-laying and nesting.
If truth be told, the girls there are eight,
Sue, Brenda, Kath, Fifi are not at all “late”,
They are alive and kicking, clucking and happy
And living in hope of meeting the chappy
Who wrote them an ode, inside a pink box.
(As long as their fan isn’t a wily old fox…)
Charlotte and Maggie, Jeannie and Joey,
(Who aren’t at all common and not at all showy)
Old stalwarts, the girls who gave their permissions
To welcome aboard the four new additions.