August 2007

1	A very sad and emotional day as we took Titfer back to the vet then laid her to rest in our orchard.  I think Tat is missing her "twin".
2	Lacey is turning broody again - she laid yesterday but sat all day in the nest until we threw her out.  Crow has been out and on his way back has ordered two more Light Sussex hens from our local supplier, but we have to wait until the end of the month or early September to get them!
3	Lacey is in the broody toblerone.  Meanwhile, it just doesn't look quite right with only three chicks wandering around the garden.
4	I let Lacey our for a run-about with the others and she didn't seem to try for the nest.  Is this too good to be true?  She's perched with them tonight, but will she be well ensconced in the nest by first light?
5	I've been watching the hens play "follow your leader" around the garden.  It's quite funny.  Aggie leads, Titfer & Lacey follow quite closely behind and Clover keeps getting distracted and falling back, then having to sprint (or fast waddle in her case) to catch up.
6	Tat's such a funny chick when she's up on the table trying to steal food from us.  She gets right up close, cranes her neck, tips her head this way and that in a questioning manner and nearly falls off the edge of the table into our laps!
7	Aggie laid today but then tried to settle in the nest tonight.  I examined her egg laying cycle and she seems to have a broody episode every 1 month 4 days and she's right on time!
8	I haven't seen any hen antics today as I've been out & about and at the dentist   :0(
9	What a shocker!  A zero egg day.  Haven't had one of those since 3 March.  Broody Aggie is in the toblerone.
10	As we are going to be away for the next two days, broody Aggie will be allowed the nest which will not be good for her!
11	Our "dove" neighbours are looking after the chicks for two days.  Hope they don't get out by accident!
12	All quiet in the run when we got back late tonight.  Aggie in the nest, of course.
13	Aggie well broody and Clover on the turn.
14	I've discovered that the chicks love fennel leaves.
15	This is the first day I've ever known when the hens didn't want to come out of the run.  Very strange.
16	Aggie's getting less broody and led Tat & Lacey around the garden today, but Clover just sat on the perch, as she couldn't get into the nest.  Aggie still wanted the nest at bedtime, so she's still in the broody pen with Clover.
17	Aggie was bursting to get out of the broody pen this morning and she had a studied consideration before she sat in the nest later.  She didn't lay but she came out of her own accord and then perched this evening without looking at the nest.  So, probably an egg in the next day or two from her.
18	Poor Clover is so broody that she only bothers to eat if fed by hand and she's not really drinking enough, even though I keep putting her down beside the water.  She's skin & bone under her fluffy feather exterior.  I wish she would shake of the broodiness.
20	While we were working in the net tunnel, the chickens got curious and came to see what we were up to.  Next thing I knew they were way over on the far side of the paddock.  When I went to retrieve them, Aggie & Lacey squeezed through the wire fence, leaving Tat behind.  She then had a big panic, trying to get through the same way, but of course, she's far too big.  Eventually I managed to chase her towards the gate, but she was still panicking and running at the wire fence to try to get through.  At last I managed to corner her and pick her up to deliver her back to her mates.  What a handful!
21	We've still got a broody Clover and (oh no) Aggie went into the nest overnight.  I was very relieved to find her up and about by morning.
22	Horrible day - cool, wet and windy.  Let the chickens out late after we'd been shopping, but they were back in their run of their own accord before too long.
23	I was expecting Aggie to start laying a couple of days ago, but now I know why she isn't.  She moulting.  The poor old girl does goes through it!
24	Clover's still clucking around.......
25	A pile of treats (mainly courgette) as our poor chicks have to stay in today.
26	"Uncle" Ron is feeding the chicks today, in our absence.
27	Aggie & Tat were glad when we got home, as they got to run around for a couple of hours.  Lacey was in the nest, but she did eventually come out herself, to reveal two Tat eggs but only one Lacey egg.
28	Lacey laid today but we had to throw her out of the nest.  She's showing definite broody signs again.  We managed to stop her going broody at the beginning of the month.  Will it work again?
29	Much to my surprise a fluffy Aggie, still growing her new feathers, laid an egg - then as a reward she went for a wander down the paddock.
30	Had to put Lacey back in the toblerone pen to see if we can restrict her broodiness.
31	SuperTat's still queen will 28 eggs this month, Lacey 14, Clover 10, Aggie 8.
	eggs this month
	eggs this year