| 1 |
I was mortified when I stood on Pepper's foot today as she rushed right in
front of me in a race to the door. However, she didn't seem to mind,
no squawk or anything, obviously a case of no sense, no feeling.
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| 2 |
There was a big pheasant in chicken run earlier, eating the layers
pellets. I'm sure he doesn't want to lay eggs!
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| 3 |
We've got a pair of bold moorhens this year, visiting the garden while the
chicks are out and swimming in the pond quite freely.
|
| 4 |
We have a very bossy Aggie today. For some reason she's chasing Salt
& Pepper about and pecking them around the neck and head. She
really looks like she means business. Must be her age..... doesn't it
seem that we all get more cranky as we get older?
|
| 5 |
Crow was not amused when five chicks were happily grazing on the back lawn
with a rabbit! He thinks they should chase rabbits away.
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| 6 |
It's snowing again but there's none on the ground. As I write, Aggie,
Salt & Pepper are wandering around, Tat's in the nest but Clover &
Lacey are sheltering in the carport.
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| 7 |
Poor Lacey got chased by the moorhen. I think it may be guarding
chicks hidden under the pampas grass.
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| 8 |
Tat was so engrossed looking up at me, or more to the point the bagel in my
hand, that she fell off the garden step.
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| 9 |
Aggie's spending a night in the nest and I was just wondering when she might
turn broody as it will be a month on 11th since she started laying.
Last year she always had a little broody spell after each month's laying
period.
|
| 10 |
10:00 Oh dear, Aggie was still in the nest so I lifted her out and she
stood and let me stroke her - definitely a broody sign. With a little
encouragement she went out to feed with the others then shortly after
sprinted back to the nest.
13:00 Aggie emerged of her own accord and has laid an egg, but she's
fluffing up her feathers and she fed from my hand, so I still think
broodiness is on the way.
17:00 Clover laid a late egg and emerged from the nest, Aggie tried to
fool me by hiding in the nest before food time and sat on Clover's egg, then
Clover followed her back into the nest. Both were turfed out (in the
gentlest way, of course), then Clover spent ages squawking and making a fuss
about it! Might have two broody chicks on the way.
|
| 11 |
12:00 I hauled a broody Aggie out of the nest for food and she let me
hold her on my lap for ages whilst Crow fed her corn and bread. She
stayed out for a dirt bath but then was nestbound again. I don't like
to put her in the broody pen until she's had a day without laying (which may
be today).
15:00 Well, blow me - the other hens had finished laying so I got
Aggie out again and she's only laid another egg, thereby stalling the broody
pen for another day. Yet she nestled in my arms quite happily until I
chose to put her down which most definitely only happens when she's
broody. One mixed up hen?
|
| 12 |
No Aggie egg today and another big cuddle, so it's off into the broody pen
tomorrow.
|
| 13 |
We cleaned out the chicken pen, cleaned Salt's bottom (again!). This
time I had to cut away the rock solid lumps around her vent. So Salt's
a bit upset with us and poor Aggie is in the broody pen.
|
| 14 |
The pond has been a centre of activity. First I spotted our big
pheasant drinking there, then later Salt & Pepper were drinking from the
pond with Clover trying to follow their lead. Not sure she got a drink
before she thankfully wandered off. Don't want her falling in there
again!
|
| 15 |
Aggie spent some time with the "crowd" but then quite a bit of
time alone on the top perch of the run before being returned to the broody
pen.
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| 16 |
Clover was a bit of a loner today then she was missing at bedtime. I
searched all around the garden, calling & shaking the oat bag to no
avail. Usually Clover is easy to find because she can't keep
quiet. I was just getting into a panic when I came in to get my coat
and she appeared from nowhere, thank goodness.
|
| 17 |
How's Aggie doing? Well, she still dives for the nest if it is made
available but she roamed around with the others today whereas yesterday she
still sat alone on the top perch. So, a slight improvement, I think.
|
| 18 |
Our chicks were a bit frightened this morning as we had men in to do quite a
lot of tree cutting. It was very noisy with chainsaws and industrial
shredders on the go. Crow had to let Aggie out of the broody pen and
in with the others, as she was extremely agitated. Salt & Pepper
paraded around the run but the other four took shelter in the nest. I
was very glad when the guys left and we could set our chickies free for a
while.
When we let them out, I had to lift Aggie and Clover out of the nest.
Clover had laid and Lacey was laying. We closed the pen to stop Aggie
going back in. When Crow let Lacey out, Clover shot back into the
nest. When I went to get her out, Lacey shot back into the nest
although she had also laid. Has Aggie been teaching them bad habits
this morning?
Finally, at bedtime, Aggie didn't make a beeline for the nest, so fingers
crossed, her broody spell is over.
|
| 19 |
Deep joy as Aggie was still up and about at 07:30. By 10:00 she had
ventured into the nest to sit on three brown eggs but I lifted her out and
she didn't look back all day.
|
| 20 |
Clover's started to make a most peculiar screaming sound. Can't imagine what
it means.....
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| 21 |
It's comforting to think that we must be doing right by our hens to get so
many eggs. Clover laid the 400th egg of the year (102 this month so
far).
|
| 22 |
It's just not possible to be depressed when you've got chickens. Did
we laugh today when Crow threw some bread about and the chicks had to work
really hard to shake it, to break eat, to eat it. And those who were
slow got chased by the others and had to keep running away to hang on to
their prize. It was just so comical.
|
| 23 |
Clover wants the nest. I fear she's turning broody.
|
| 24 |
Clover's all broody and cuddly, but.....
|
| 25 |
..... Aggie's laying again.
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| 26 |
Clover had a long sit in my lap - snuggled down and talking to me all the
while. She's so, so cute when she's broody.
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| 27 |
Clover was actually out of the nest when I let the babes out this morning,
then she perched rather than nested, but I can't believe she's coming out of
broodiness already. Her broody spell usually lasts a least a month.
A new record month for eggs already 127 today!
|
| 28 |
Had to dig Lacey out of the nest this evening where she was sitting on her
egg. What a pecking I got for my trouble and what a noise she made!
|
| 29 |
Tat was a very funny chick today. We sat having a coffee at our table
and Tat jumped up to see us. Crow started tickling her and she stood and
stood and stood until she was almost falling asleep with the sheer pleasure
of it. Then she sat down on the table between us, quite content with
the world.
|
| 30 |
So, a new world record for eggs in a month.
Scores: Salt 30, Pepper, 29, Tat 28, Clover 16, Aggie 13.
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|
 
 eggs this month |
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 eggs this year |