Thankyou for your suggestions - I tried checking for a bound egg last night and suspect that was the case. i did as suggested and we were planning to go to the vets today but sadly when i went to her house this morning she was lying dead in the doorway. I buried her this morning behing our cherry tree, and planted a sorrel plant, which she had a particualr fondness for eating, on top.

We're both distraught but I genuinely feel I tried my best and i know for sure that while she was alive, she had a jolly nice life. We're wondering how the two bantams we have react to this. One of them was seemingly really looking after her last night when she was ill. They're rootling in the hedge at the moment, apparently unfazed, but we'll keep an eye on them.

Other freinds have said that keeping chickens is a learning experience, which it certainly has been, and we'll recognise this next time. We do want to get more - prehaps two ex-battery hens (we've emailed the trust) if the waiting list isn;t too long.

Thanks again for your help
James and Caro