September 2007

1 Can it be that we've combated Lacey's broodiness already?  She's not tried for the nest this evening.
2 At last, Clover has not tried to go into the nest for the night after being broody for 20 days!
3 I cringed as I watched Aggie eat a wasp.  It took three attempts, but she was determined to have it!  Later, she had a senior moment and was trying so hard to get into the toblerone pen that I had to open it up for her.  Shortly after, Aggie, Tat and Lacey were all in there together.  I just don't know what the fascination is.
4 Aggie was so keen to get at some bread roll this afternoon that she jumped up onto the seat with me.  So, I had Tat on the table eating from one hand and Aggie on the seat with Clover on the chair arm, sharing from the other hand.  Poor Lacey still isn't bold enough to get her share, but I tried to make sure she got some.
5 I had an "indoors" day today, except for when the chicks dragged me outside for food by begging at the door.
6 Aggie went on step further and actually stood in my lap for corn.  Eating out of my hand wasn't good enough, she just had to have her head right in the bag.
7 Aggie jumped up on the table for Crow to get some biscuit.  Later, they got an unexpected sweetcorn treat - a cob that wasn't edible.  Aggie wouldn't share it -  we had to break in half so that tat could have some.  Lacey still couldn't get near and Clover didn't even try.
8 Lacey's back in production after a ten day break, but little Clover is moulting now - soon it will be a month since she's laid.  Twice today I tried to sit down outside and have a treat.  First, a small flapjack bar.  Well, I got one bite then the chicks were up and in my face to steal it.  Then, a pear.  I managed to eat about two thirds of that before they came and blagged it from me.
9 Aggie's a regular lap visitor now, she is understandably very hungry whilst laying AND growing new feathers.  It's good to see her with an appetite like this.
10 Laying buddiesLaying buddies -->

Three nests to choose from but they'd rather share.

11 Beach babesBeach babes -->

Sand bathing in the menage.

12 Found a lonely Tat wandering about on the gravel.  The other three had all squeezed under the menage gate for another trip to the beach.  Poor Tat is too big to do that!  I opened the gate for her, of course.
13 A four egg day!  At last, little Clover has laid again, bringing our total of eggs this year so far to 600.
14 Tat was lonely again as the three bantams disappeared next door.  I'll be very happy when we get our new fence erected to stop them doing this, but that's another story.  They usually go just two or three feet beyond the fence and remain visible, but today they completely disappeared for quite a spell.  I get a bit concerned because sometimes a big labrador visits next door and albeit accidentally, she could easily inflict damage on our little chicks.
15 No need to worry about wandering chicks today as we were out and they weren't.
16 First order of the day was to patch up the bottom of the fence to next door with some two inch mesh to stop the wandering.
20 We seem to have a broody Aggie again   :-(
21 Great excitement!!  We get our two new chicks next Saturday.
22 Spotted a stoat "playing" with Tat & Clover.  Tat didn't seem to have the sense to run  away, so I went out to chase the stoat away.  Whatever next?
23 We've had to separate Lacey from the others as it looks like she's got scaly leg mite and it's contagious.  We've had fun washing her legs and applying vaseline, which is supposed to suffocate the mites.  I just hope it works......  We treated the others too, as a preventative step and Clover's feet look a bit crusty.  However, since they're always completely covered by feathers, I don't know what's normal for her.
24 Another foot & leg treatment for all the chicks.
28 Oh dear, vaseline on legs, perched chickens rub legs on feathers, chicks run about in the garden = dirty tums as the dirt clings to the slightly greasy feathers, so Aggie & Tat are looking quite grubby and Clover has very dirty feet feathers.  Still, it's better than scaly leg mite!
29 Salt & Pepper NEW CHICKS!!!!

Meet Salt & Pepper, only 18 weeks old ...... named so because Salt has a plain white head and Pepper has a speckled head.  Also, inspired by one of my birthday presents which was a chicken salt & pepper set.  They're separated from the others in the broody pen tonight.
Look how small their combs are, they make Tat look like a cockerel!

Lacey had another leg treatment & is still being isolated overnight.

30 I knew it had to happen one day.  At last Lacey was bold & hungry enough to jump up onto the arm of my chair for corn.  Her daily leg treatment & isolation continues.....
And another first - we integrated Salt & Pepper with Tat, Aggie & Clover.  A bit of pecking went on but not too much, except when Pepper was running the gauntlet on the third perch with all three pecking her from the fourth.  But I couldn't believe it when Salt & Pepper both made in onto the top perch with the other three.  On their first night together - amazing!  This pair are either very brave or very stupid....
Scores on the doors: Tat 27, Aggie 14, Clover 12, Lacey 11
eggs this month
eggs this year