Just thought I'd highlight an interesting trial carried out by Clarence Court to highlight British Egg Week.

The experiment involved attaching a tiny counter to the hen's leg and monitoring the results. They concluded an average hen's step is four inches and collated the results over a 16-hour period on hens which were free to roam in a 5-acre field.

The birds varied tremendously in the way they utilised their time and, as with people, there were sedentary and sporty types. The average bird, however, took more than 7,000 steps - nearly half a mile.

There were some health fanatics, however, who made an amazing 16,245 steps - a tremendous mile a day. This means, the researchers concluded, that a hen would take 54 days to walk between London and Brighton and 68 years to walk around the world!

I suppose it explains why it can prove challenging keeping ranges in tip top condition with birds clocking up all these miles.

our hens only walk around when its warm- if its cold and we let them out, they make a bee-line for the cow shed, where they stay, waiting for unsuspecting visitors to get some food out, then snatch it. yup, we've got thieves on the farm!

I think two of our Calder Rangers are definitely health fanatics. As soon as they are let out in the morning they are out of the field, over the fence and checking out the pig's breakfasts, any bread in there is quickly found. Then up to the sheep trough to see if any nuts are left before jumping over the workshop door to see what they can knock off (tins off shelves, tools off the bench). If they do lay that day it will be on top of a straw bale somewhere in the barn before coming down to the kitchen to peck at the window or fly over the stable door into the kitchen. We do give them ad lib layers pellets but they prefer to fend for themselves.

we normally give ours layers peelets, oyster shell, and corn feed two times a day. but they love vegetables, crisps, and bisicuits.you daren't leave the mess room door open, cos you'll most likely get mugged!. same goes for the ducks, only they've aquirred a taste for ewe nuts and creep feed- we thought that mice had got to the bags, only to find one of the buggers ripping a hole in the bag, and start eating its contents. we now keep the barn door closed at ALL times!