I paint quite a few of these egg money boxes

egg money box

They make lovely gifts for chicken owners (and, if truth be told, a lot of chicken owners treat themselves to one too).

Most of the time, people opt for a standard money box, with buff, brown or white chickens, but they can be personalised with names

personalised egg money box

and they can be personalised with your own chickens too!

egg moneybox

I had a request very recently from a customer asking for a Light Sussex hen and a Gold Laced Orpington on a moneybox.   When I started painting

painting the egg moneybox

it was funny to see Mary Jane hanging outside the studio door.  She’s the shyest and most nervous of my chickens, so it was unusual for her to be so close to the door.  

Mary Jane

I took this photo of her through the glass, because if I’d opened the door it would have sent her running and squalking madly down the garden.  Not one for human company is Mary Jane, although she will tolerate it when there’s food involved. 

So it was funny to see Mary Jane hanging around out there when I was painting a chicken to look just like her.  I wonder if she knew

egg moneybox - Mabel and Henrietta

Oh, and the finished moneybox? I had this email from the customer:

Hi Wendy

It’s arrived!  I’m over the moon – it’s perfect!  You’ve painted Henrietta & Mabel.

 Many thanks

It is always fabulous to get such enthusiastic feedback.  But I suspect one of those chickens on my customer’s monebox may actually be Mary Jane, who made such a perfect live model (even if she did stay the other side of the glass door!) and not Henrietta or Mabel. 

Mary Jane

You’ll find more information (including how to buy) by clicking here  if you’re looking for somewhere to put the money from selling your chickens’ eggs.