December 2006

1 Muppet & Lacey sometimes sit in the nest together, but no sign of any eggs yet.....
2 Tat, bless her, is still laying!
3 Titfer goes into the hen house with Tat and sits in the next nest box, but only to keep her company, it seems.
4 I think Titfer is getting her appetite back again.
5 Aggie is still all over us, if we go into the run at nightfall.  She had a go on both Crow's & my arm today.  That allowed us to examine her as she has a couple of strange looking patches.  However, it just seems to be the "empty" feather marks where she is moulting.
6 I can't decide whether Titfer's bottom is not as red as it was or she just growing back fresh fluffy feathers which are hiding it.  I tried to look at Tat's bottom when she perched (the things I do!!) and I don't think it's as red as Titfer's.
7 A very windy and stormy day.  At dusk ALL of the hens went into the hen house for overnight roosting - new behaviour!
8 All five chicks seem to very happily hang around together now, when they are out & about in the garden.  There will always be occasional pecking - after all, Aggie still pecks Titfer. 
Muppet is so, so friendly.  She comes running when we appear or when we are working in the garden or topping up food and water in the chicken run and hangs around right under our feet.  She likes to be picked up for a good tickling & stroking.  We'll have to watch out otherwise one day, we'll tread on her!
9 Aggie, Titfer & Tat are perching outdoors as normal tonight, but Aggie still gives Titfer a few pecks as she tries to get onto the top perch.  Poor Titfer....
10 We were out today and didn't return until after dark.  At first glance, couldn't see any chicks on the perches so had to get a torch to check.  Found Aggie, Titfer & Tat in the henhouse, Aggie in the window seat, Titfer in the leftmost nesting box and Tat sat in front of Titfer, just outside of the nesting box.  Muppet & Lacey were outside on the top perch.  All change!!
11 I had three chicks on my arm tonight - Aggie, Muppet & Lacey.  Lacey was quite happy to settle there for the night - I think my nice fleecy coat sleeve is probably more attractive than a cold perch!
Tonight's final sleeping positions are Tat in the window seat, Titfer as yesterday with Aggie squeezed into the front of the leftmost box with her.  Very odd as Aggie & Titfer aren't usually that friendly.  Muppet & Lacey settled on the top perch at first, then Muppet changed her mind and went up the ladder to the hen house.  However, she wouldn't go in without Lacey.  Since a frosty night was forecast, we encouraged Lacey down from the perch so they both then perched in the hen house.
12 Poor Aggie is looking quite a state as she loses lots of neck feathers - scraggy Aggie seems to be her current & accurate nickname.
13 Two first's today - Muppet went into next door's garden and Lacey got quite frantic looking for her.

But, best of all, Lacey laid her first egg!!!  Here it is in the middle, above an Aggie egg (Tat egg to the left).  You can see it is almost as big as Aggie's egg which is pretty good for the first attempt from such a tiny hen!

14 I spend far too much time watching my chickens, but they do make me smile......
15 Lacey's becoming quite territorial about the garden and she chased away a green woodpecker this morning. 
17 Chickies locked up :-(( with lots of food :-) because we're off on holiday :-)), but I will miss them :-(((
19 I'm such a silly thing - had to text our chicken-sitter to see that everything was ok.
20 The reply was - one Tat egg and all chicks doing fine.
21 Another text about our chicks - Muppet is so nosy, there's another egg and it's daytime -1C with a very heavy frost.
22 After a week away in Portugal, I was upset when our flight was delayed and we were too late back to see the chicks.
23 Muppet was very funny today following Crow up & down the patio, again & again, as he walked back & forth.
24 Muppet & Lacey sat on my arm again before going to bed.
25 Muppet is anybody's!  Today she's been in Caroline's hands.
26 Big squabble in nest tonight with Titfer having such a go at Muppet & Lacey that they came running for cover on my arms and head.
27 Titfer laid an egg!  First one since 27 October.
29 I read today that it takes 14 hours of good daylight for a hen to produce an egg.
30 M&L on Crow's arms & shoulders.  Titfer laid again & eating to produce more eggs!
31 Scores on the doors this month: Tat 15, Titfer 2, Lacey 1
Keeping us going through the lean egg period.
eggs this month
eggs since 1 May 2006