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[CLKD]

Oh that's great news!  Ours have an attitude when they go back just before dusk, very quietly like they don't want anyone to notice, I expect it's so predators don't follow them.

Make sure they have fresh water, grit and oyster shell, cabbage as well as layers mash.  They are Time Wasters, all of our 4 have different chickeny noises and the small speckeldy is a loner; the other 3 rush in and she stands back otherwise she gets pecked  I picked her up this morning, after I put her back on the ground she shook her feathers from head to tail as if to say 'oh I was touched' 

[CLKD]

We've had our original chicken since April 2007.  I thought it was longer than that!  It was a week later that I had my bad fall so sat and watched them doing chickeny things around the yard.

Saw honey bees, a bumble bee and a Tortoishell butterfly on Tuesday 

[Meggie]

We've already ascertained that this Henny-Penny stuff is addictive and I hope, therapeutic.  We've one who looks to be a cross Road Island Red - she's so calm and comes up to your feel, pecks your toes and lowers herself to the ground while she is stroked.  We've a white hen who, when a small bird flies past the enclosure and catches her eye, she has a spack attack, running this way and that,  so I think we'll call her Psycho !  The blue/grey fluff balls ...... have honoured us with 2 tiny eggs, so cute.  But you wouldn't believe this - We go to let them out first thing in the morning, there's a procession as they leave the coup, all 6 on the grass.  After our peck-talk we come back towards the house and they parade back up the steps, usually coming back out when we wander around the garden and they hear us.  Hubbys says they are a bunch of lightweights - no staying power !!   But they are only young - this is all new to them, isn't it?  At the moment there's one of them fast asleep on the perch - I reckon they had a party last night !!

Meggie

[CLKD]

Time Wasters!  I put a fresh cabbage in the run this morning for them to peck at, hanging in a 'big fat' wire hanger.  Turned over a corner of the earth for them, yesterday I was forking the garden and they were running up and down demented because they could see worms the 'wrong' side of the fence   ...... ours catch mice which they eat, they also chase of wild birds which are anywhere near their run ........

No spawn yet.  Did see a Brimstone butterfly yesterday 

[Meggie]

Just noticed that our lovely ginger brown hen is suffering.  She's struggling to keep her eye open, doesn't want to come outside and is sitting on the perch with her head under her wing.  We think that one of the others might have pecked her - we have 2 white/sussex cross breeds who seem to enjoy peckig at eyes - it may have been them !!  Got to keep an eye on her - hope she'll be OK.

Meggie

[CLKD]

Get some warm salty water and bathe it.  It may be a bug which has been brought in, contacting where you got them from for advice is important in case any of the remaining chickens have symptoms.  Birds with head under wing is not a good sign  .  I'm afraid that chickens can be cruel to each other 

[CLKD]

How is she today?   I have seen another Brimstone, the birds are singing, frogs are a-frogging, washing is blowing on the line in a northerly direction ..... blue sky so far.

[Meggie]

CLKD - After a worrying 24 hours our little brown hen has ventured outside to eat and drink, we did sneak food and water inside for her as we were worried though.  Although she still seems to close her right eye quite a lot, she seems to be improving so we think that "time will tell".  We had 2 eggs yesterday and 2 already today - wonder whether they'll make it to 3 today?  Other half has taken to sitting on a tree stump in the enclosure and our little black hen jumps up onto his knee and lets him stroke her.  We were in fits this morning when she stretched her legs and jumped up onto his shoulder and then proceeded to peck his head.  If you want confirmation that there's only wood in there .... this is it.  Probably tomorrow she'll go the whole hog and jump onto his head - ouch, those claws will hurt !!  As you said before TIME WASTERS.

Meggie

[CLKD]

Watch for the poo/pee routine on top of the head 

The novely of collecting eggs every day has not worn off in 3 and a half years! Hubby picked an 'ouch' egg out of the nest box this morning, hoping it's a double yolker.

I took a posy of freshly picked snowdrops, tete-a-tete daffs, winter honeysuckle and jasmine to his Mum today, she remembered the names of the flowers and appreciated that they are from our garden, I brought them back as they can't have flowers on the Ward in case emergency procedures need doing.  She kept picking up the vase for a sniff though 

Glad chookie is feeling brighter 

[Meggie]

CLKD

What a lovely gesture to take Spring Flowers to your Mum.  I think it's a strange rule about not leaving flowers in the ward, don't you?

Brown Chook much better.  Why is it that we make up their nest boxes almost every day with new straw and the little critters poo in them overnight when they sit on the perches.  We wouldn't poo on our comfy chair would we.  No decorum eh!

I think we'd be better putting wood shavings on the floor of the chook house instead of straw - it would be much easier to clean.

Meggie

[CLKD]

Chickens poo/pee in the night more than in the day.  I have sawdust in their boxes and newspaper under the perch, with the compost being next door to the hen house I lift out the soiled stuff and deposit into the compost.  Job Done!

4 eggs this morning including another 'ouch' size 

As for no flowers on the Ward well in an acute situation the nursing staff cannot have anything on the lockers in case they need to have all hands on deck to resucitate etc..  Equipment is kept close by, everything required as hanging on the wall behind Mum's bed.  Souley for the use of the patient using that bed.  When Staff move in an emergency they don't want hindreance by glassware, vases, flowers, books etc. as it makes extra work clearing up!

I have all the windows open to let the cool sunshine through ......... frog spawn++ too !

[Meggie]

Now I understand CLKD - the patients safety is paramount - that's the way it should be.

Only 1 egg yesterday and 1 this morning, so far.  I don't know how long before they are on full production !!

Gave "the girls" spaghetti yesterday - it was so funny.  One of the psycho birds (white/sussex cross) stood on the pile of food and snatched the "worm" out of another's mouth - nasty devil........so the grey one nipped her bum.  Serves her right.  Tonight the top up snack will be spread around - then she can't be in all of the places at the same time, can she?

Meggie

[CLKD]

They can move fast though  - it's when 2 get spaghetti and pull from each end 

Ours have tinned sweet corn once a week; TRILL occaisionally; mashed potatoes; they don't need it but they get it.  Try to give treats in the evening so that they eat their layers mash/grit/oyster shell first. 

Robin is carrying meal-worms away in his beak 

[CLKD]

I can hear birds singing through the rain.  A blackbird is close by ........ frogs are purring gently in the ponds ........

[CLKD]

Have half cleaned out the nest boxes then the black rock decided she wanted to lay an egg  so will go back later, put fresh sawdust and mite powder in the box ............. wren is whistling furiously outside the bathroom window