12 January

I have been back home for three days now, and the hens are getting used to having little outings beyond the coop.  They venture out a little more boldly now and go a little further afield, though they haven't yet headed up towards the house or over the bridge into the forest and every now and then something will startle one of them and they will all rush back into the coop, running with their wings flapping.  Goldie is still the most independent, quite happy to go off on her own finding her own routes through the garden, while Mabel likes to keep a close eye on where Maude is going.  Maude keeps a close eye on the others as well, rushing over, wings flapping, if she suspects them of having found something she should take off them, every insect in the garden being rightfully hers.  Wilma looks more like part of the flock when the four of them are in the garden, though I did see her hanging out with her blackbird again this morning in the coop.