Let the girls out at dawn this morning and there was a whopping egg from Tallulah waiting for us! I picked it up, carried it to the door and then it cracked in my hand (I wasn't handling it any rougher than I handle other eggs, honest!). A very thin shell - ooer.
We dashed to the shops and bought some MORE PVC - this is crystal clear, it's like glass, whereas the damp-proof membrane I put up last week as an emergency measure is kind of frosted - we can just make out the girls through it, but that can see diddly squat and they are so nosey, they love watching us outside.
Happy New Year everybody! We're entering Roxy and Sophia's 2nd year and Tallulah and Ursula's 3rd :o)
PS And we talked about getting some new chickens in the Spring :o) I love our rescues but have to face facts that, generally, they only last a couple of years. Some are in such a poor way that the shock of leaving the farm kills them within days and I already know of two chooks resuced on the same day as Tallulah and Ursula who died (7 days and 28 days after rescue).
Anyway, I would like different colour eggs so we're thinking about some designer chickens that lay different colours and I think I'd like one that lays bluey-green eggs, one that lays white, and one that lays dark brown :o)
But then again, the introduction of new girls to old might put me off (it was tricky last time - but we know how to do it now). The amount of poo might put me off! The cost of getting extra housing might put me off! The cost of the chickens might put me off (expect to pay £25+ for the blue-egg layer! Google either "Columbine", "Jasmine" or "Skyline" - same cross of pure-breeds but by different breeders). But most of all, the noise if they squabble might put me off!!!!!! (Not that the neighbours mind).
But it might not! Wait and see what the Spring brings, I guess :oD
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Day 124: Happy days!
It's been a while - sorry! The horrendous snow has caused us a few problems... girls getting cold (why do they HAVE to EAT it?!!!), girls not being allowed out to free range (because they get cold), the weight of 4 inches of snow on the roof making it sag and crack the joins in the corrugated PVC sheets, then melting snow running through the cracks and drenching girls and everything else in the run :o(
So... yesterday we bought a new, extra large tarpaulin as a temporary cover for the roof. Then today, we got up early and fitted it (couldn't do it yesterday, as it was raining too hard) and that's made the run dry again - phew. It's only temporary until the rain stops and we can fit new corrugated PVC sheets so we're saving that for a sunny weekend (fat chance??!!). So that's a job for next year!
For Christmas, I bought the girls two bales of Aubiose! It's like tiny shredded straw but from the hemp plant. It smells lovely, clumps around any wetness (makes poo picking a doddle) and composts very easily. All my prayers answered :o)
I was so excited! We couldn't lay it whilst the run was soggy so this morning, once we'd fitted the new tarp, we shut the girls in the mini run of the blue cottage (they weren't at all happy, as they were desperate to help!) and set to work, clearing the run.
We removed all the logs (currently on the lawn, being washed by the rain!), emptied their playpit of gravel and gave it a thorough wash, cleaned the Eglu, dug up ALL the old wood chip (ewww minging!), and dug a hole in the ground and filled it with gravel to act as a drain and plug hole! The clean, dry woodchip is now under the shrubs and the soggy, dirty stuff will go to the garden waste recycling centre. Then we disinfected the run floor and finally... tipped out one bale of Aubiose. I spread it out roughly with my wellies and then let the girls out to finish the job! And oh boy, they love scratching around in it! I love it too - it's warm and dry and poo picking is like making chocolate truffles with shavings of white chocolate hehe.
Whilst the girls were busy spreading the Aubiose, I did some other jobs. I disinfected their shelves, cleaned out their blue cottage (with Ursula hopping up onto anything that I pulled out and removed - she was like a parrot as I carried the roost across the run!) and tidied up all their food and toys etc that were spread all over our house - in the kitchen, up the stairs and in a cupboard in the spare room! All of that is now in the run, on the roof of the blue cottage. I also washed my rubber gloves (big job!). All the time, the girls were helping and having great fun! It's like the ex-barn girls are making up for lost time and their lost childhoods and squeezing every ounce out of life now!
HAPPY CHOOKS! And that's what it's all about :o)
(some people thought it was about eggs hehe).
Updated to add, just been outside with some tomatoes and brussel sprouts and the girls treated me to a Benny Hill chase :oD I stood and watched them for about half an hour, until they'd eaten all the treats and worn themselves out LOL. There was silence whilst they finally tucked into their food, just gentle oinks as if they were saying to each other, "Hey, I've got a really juicy bit - how about you?". Then they went off to bed and I set to work tie-wrapping down the giant tarpaulin on the roof (yes, in the dark and by torchlight!). I managed to tie down 3 corners so I've put weights (from a neighbour's unwanted barbell!) on the last corner. That **should** stop it blowing away like a giant kite in the night. Yikes! Famous last words???!
So... yesterday we bought a new, extra large tarpaulin as a temporary cover for the roof. Then today, we got up early and fitted it (couldn't do it yesterday, as it was raining too hard) and that's made the run dry again - phew. It's only temporary until the rain stops and we can fit new corrugated PVC sheets so we're saving that for a sunny weekend (fat chance??!!). So that's a job for next year!
For Christmas, I bought the girls two bales of Aubiose! It's like tiny shredded straw but from the hemp plant. It smells lovely, clumps around any wetness (makes poo picking a doddle) and composts very easily. All my prayers answered :o)
I was so excited! We couldn't lay it whilst the run was soggy so this morning, once we'd fitted the new tarp, we shut the girls in the mini run of the blue cottage (they weren't at all happy, as they were desperate to help!) and set to work, clearing the run.
We removed all the logs (currently on the lawn, being washed by the rain!), emptied their playpit of gravel and gave it a thorough wash, cleaned the Eglu, dug up ALL the old wood chip (ewww minging!), and dug a hole in the ground and filled it with gravel to act as a drain and plug hole! The clean, dry woodchip is now under the shrubs and the soggy, dirty stuff will go to the garden waste recycling centre. Then we disinfected the run floor and finally... tipped out one bale of Aubiose. I spread it out roughly with my wellies and then let the girls out to finish the job! And oh boy, they love scratching around in it! I love it too - it's warm and dry and poo picking is like making chocolate truffles with shavings of white chocolate hehe.
Whilst the girls were busy spreading the Aubiose, I did some other jobs. I disinfected their shelves, cleaned out their blue cottage (with Ursula hopping up onto anything that I pulled out and removed - she was like a parrot as I carried the roost across the run!) and tidied up all their food and toys etc that were spread all over our house - in the kitchen, up the stairs and in a cupboard in the spare room! All of that is now in the run, on the roof of the blue cottage. I also washed my rubber gloves (big job!). All the time, the girls were helping and having great fun! It's like the ex-barn girls are making up for lost time and their lost childhoods and squeezing every ounce out of life now!
HAPPY CHOOKS! And that's what it's all about :o)
(some people thought it was about eggs hehe).
Updated to add, just been outside with some tomatoes and brussel sprouts and the girls treated me to a Benny Hill chase :oD I stood and watched them for about half an hour, until they'd eaten all the treats and worn themselves out LOL. There was silence whilst they finally tucked into their food, just gentle oinks as if they were saying to each other, "Hey, I've got a really juicy bit - how about you?". Then they went off to bed and I set to work tie-wrapping down the giant tarpaulin on the roof (yes, in the dark and by torchlight!). I managed to tie down 3 corners so I've put weights (from a neighbour's unwanted barbell!) on the last corner. That **should** stop it blowing away like a giant kite in the night. Yikes! Famous last words???!
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Day 116: A relaxing day. Not!
Mr Nora put their food and water out this morning in the dark so asked me to check it was hung up properly. So I went to see the girls early(ish!) this morning and the roof and members were buckling under the weight of the snow! I quickly sorted out their food, gave them their porridge with added BRUSSEL SPROUT (and they LOVED IT!) and then set to work. And it was HARD work, scraping off the snow. I also checked that the polythene was secure and fitted properly along the back and front of the run. The snow started to melt and drip off the roof and the polythene kept it out brilliantly :o) The girls were snug as bugs in rugs in there - it was zero degrees outside but I was inside without a coat and quite comfortable,
I could have stayed in there with them for hours but I had things to do (Christmas shopping, put the rubbish out a day early, tidy the kitchen, help dig a neighbours car out of the ice etc - you know, just a normal pre-Christmas day).
2 eggs today, one of them from Ursula (she made such a fuss as she was laying it, bless her!). I gave them more porridge before bed and left them to it. It was dark when I went back to check on them and Ursula hurtled out to greet me, hoping I had more treats hehe. Funny little girl. So I left and had to sneak back later to close the door to the Eglu :o)
We know from Penny that chickens snore, burp and parp (to put it politely). We'll see if the sprouts have an effect tomorrow!
I could have stayed in there with them for hours but I had things to do (Christmas shopping, put the rubbish out a day early, tidy the kitchen, help dig a neighbours car out of the ice etc - you know, just a normal pre-Christmas day).
2 eggs today, one of them from Ursula (she made such a fuss as she was laying it, bless her!). I gave them more porridge before bed and left them to it. It was dark when I went back to check on them and Ursula hurtled out to greet me, hoping I had more treats hehe. Funny little girl. So I left and had to sneak back later to close the door to the Eglu :o)
We know from Penny that chickens snore, burp and parp (to put it politely). We'll see if the sprouts have an effect tomorrow!
Monday, 21 December 2009
Day 115: Blizzard!
And I chose to drive halfway round the world to get some clear PVC to cover the run and shield the girls, only to find the shop was out of stock aaaagh! So I bought some 0.2mm thick, clear polythene laminate floor membrane and spent the afternoon in a blizzard putting it up. And I'm frozen. All the time, Ursula was making a fuss - but I was happy as it meant she was wide awake, unlike Saturday when she was cold and sleepy and I was worried to bits. Eventually, the noise stopped - yep, she went off to lay her egg! So that's what it was all about :o) Four eggs from them today, thank you girls, and they were lovely and snug in their wrapped up run :o)
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Day 114: Cold but not as bad as yesterday!
The girls came out of the Eglu happily this morning. I was worried we'd find Ursula cold - and I don't mean just chilly! It was a relief to find her shoving her way to the front for food, as usual. They had warm water, warm porridge and corn. I left them to it, keeping the tarpaulins up and I put a flattened cardboard box on the floor, as the woodchip froze yesterday and I don't want them to get cold feet. I gave them more porridge at lunchtime and corn just now and it was fairly snug in there. As in... just above freezing, rather than being below it! At least the water hadn't frozen :o)
So I'm off right now to tuck them into bed. Night night girlies!
Edited to add, they were all happily tucked up in bed when I got there :o)
So I'm off right now to tuck them into bed. Night night girlies!
Edited to add, they were all happily tucked up in bed when I got there :o)
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Day 113: Horrendous
Mr Nora was working on extending the run so he let the girls out. About lunchtime, he came in and said "Ursula's shivering". Well, I panicked when I saw the feather stumps on her tail shaking and her standing there with her eyes shut (reminded me of Penny) but, with the benefit of hindsight, OF COURSE she was shivering - she'd been rummaging in the snow and DUST BATHING in FROZEN SOIL ALL morning. Stupid chicken!
But in my panic, I tried on her woolly jumper (which I've since found out can stunt the growth of new feathers by damaging their spines and also slow the growth down, as it makes the chicken artificially warm). Ursula let us button it up but then started walking backwards and bawking in her panicky voice. So off it came.
I made them all warm porridge, gave them mealworms and corn to burn up in their tummies and then spent ages covering the front of the run, which was open to the elements, by pegging up empty plastic sacks along the bottom. Boy, it was still freezing so we also put builder's tarpaulins up across the top of the front. It made it quite dark in there but took the chill off. The girls toddled off to bed in the Eglu, which we'd covered with carpet underlay to make sure it was snug. And then I spent a restless evenning worrying about them!
But in my panic, I tried on her woolly jumper (which I've since found out can stunt the growth of new feathers by damaging their spines and also slow the growth down, as it makes the chicken artificially warm). Ursula let us button it up but then started walking backwards and bawking in her panicky voice. So off it came.
I made them all warm porridge, gave them mealworms and corn to burn up in their tummies and then spent ages covering the front of the run, which was open to the elements, by pegging up empty plastic sacks along the bottom. Boy, it was still freezing so we also put builder's tarpaulins up across the top of the front. It made it quite dark in there but took the chill off. The girls toddled off to bed in the Eglu, which we'd covered with carpet underlay to make sure it was snug. And then I spent a restless evenning worrying about them!
Friday, 18 December 2009
Day 112: MORE snow!
We had about 4 inches overnight so the run was quite dark all day today, as the perspex roof was covered in snow! But it was (relatively!) warm in there (the igloo effect, I guess) - definitely not as cold as outside. So when I got home from work, I made them porridge (with rice, mealworms and corn) and then let them out for a play in the snow then come back into the run for some warm porridge.
Out in the snow, the young'uns weren't at all phased. Roxy just had a good scratch at the snow to see what was underneath. Sophia plodded around. The barnies... of course... tried to eat the snow! They'll try anything - and more than once! It was like the garden had been iced just for them!
Roxy is definitely head chook but I'm worried that she's a bit of a bully when the treats come out. I'm thinking about separating her for a while, letting a new head emerge, and then reintroducing her... we'll see, I'll give it some time yet but I wish the head chook would be a kind leader... but no! Still hoping it'll settle down.
All four trotted off to bed in the Eglu, no uncertainty, no hesitation and no fuss at all. Have I told you how easy the Eglu is to de-poo???!! And we got two eggs today.
Here you go, some photos :o) Roxy (eating porridge in the run) with Ursula, Sophia and Tallulah outside nibbling the snow (they even scratched around!) and then all tucked up snuggly in bed in the Eglu, with Sophia and Roxy in the nest and Ursula and Tallulah on the roosting bars.
Out in the snow, the young'uns weren't at all phased. Roxy just had a good scratch at the snow to see what was underneath. Sophia plodded around. The barnies... of course... tried to eat the snow! They'll try anything - and more than once! It was like the garden had been iced just for them!
Roxy is definitely head chook but I'm worried that she's a bit of a bully when the treats come out. I'm thinking about separating her for a while, letting a new head emerge, and then reintroducing her... we'll see, I'll give it some time yet but I wish the head chook would be a kind leader... but no! Still hoping it'll settle down.
All four trotted off to bed in the Eglu, no uncertainty, no hesitation and no fuss at all. Have I told you how easy the Eglu is to de-poo???!! And we got two eggs today.
Here you go, some photos :o) Roxy (eating porridge in the run) with Ursula, Sophia and Tallulah outside nibbling the snow (they even scratched around!) and then all tucked up snuggly in bed in the Eglu, with Sophia and Roxy in the nest and Ursula and Tallulah on the roosting bars.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Day 111: More snow and another FOUR EGG DAY!
Yippee! Mr Nora let them out this morning and they were pretty keen! Wonder if they got hot in the night, all snuggled up together in their new Eglu? We might have had roast chicken! They're coping remarkably well in this cold - it snowed this afternoon and settled but they weren't bothered. But I am though, as the hardwood chip flooring (not bark, as that can harbour fungal spores and also rots very quickly) is getting pretty manky at the front by the wire (it's sheltered on each side and at the back) and is soggy from the rain and snow and... poo :o( I think I'll investigate getting a different bedding when I'm off next week and see if I can improve things for them.
So back to this evening - I found all four eggs in the Eglu (well, the blue cottage door was kept shut today - but I did wonder if R&S might lay their eggs under the bench or somewhere equally weird in protest!). I gave them their evening treat, more warm porridge (as this morning) but with added corn and mealworms. Then Sophia was the first to go bed - straight into the Eglu without any pacing. She didn't even head for the old blue cottage so she must have been happy in there last night! She was quickly followed by Ursula - who dithered and was shoved in as Tallulah barged up behind her. Then I had to encourage Roxy in - she was heading for the blue cottage so I had to guide her past it - she went in quite happily once she'd figured out where she was going. I took a peek in the egg port door - Sophia was first in and grabbed prime position in the shavings in the nest box!
And I can't tell you how much easier the Eglu is to de-poo, even with 4 chickens in there! Ho ho ho!
So back to this evening - I found all four eggs in the Eglu (well, the blue cottage door was kept shut today - but I did wonder if R&S might lay their eggs under the bench or somewhere equally weird in protest!). I gave them their evening treat, more warm porridge (as this morning) but with added corn and mealworms. Then Sophia was the first to go bed - straight into the Eglu without any pacing. She didn't even head for the old blue cottage so she must have been happy in there last night! She was quickly followed by Ursula - who dithered and was shoved in as Tallulah barged up behind her. Then I had to encourage Roxy in - she was heading for the blue cottage so I had to guide her past it - she went in quite happily once she'd figured out where she was going. I took a peek in the egg port door - Sophia was first in and grabbed prime position in the shavings in the nest box!
And I can't tell you how much easier the Eglu is to de-poo, even with 4 chickens in there! Ho ho ho!
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Day 110: SNOW!
Aww their first snow! They're coping really well in this cold. I'd expect Roxy and Sophia to be coping as they're wearing a fully feathered duvet but Tallulah and Ursula aren't quite so well dressed but they just don't seem bothered! I let them out of their run and they toddled about, pecking at the fallen leaves. Whilst they did that, I cleaned their poo. I noticed the roof of the blue cottage wasn't closing properly so that was my mind made up - they were all sleeping together tonight in... THE EGLU! I closed the door to the blue cottage and Sophia got a bit loud but Roxy followed Ursula and Tallulah into the Eglu so Sophia followed Roxy in. They were a bit higgledy piggledy - Tallulah in the nest box, Roxy sideways, Ursula squashed to one end and Sophia hogging the rest. So I could hear them shuffling about but decided to leave them to it. I went back a few hours later and they were all in a line on the roost bars! Tallulah first then Roxy then Sophia and Ursula at the far end. Bless 'em.And three eggs today as well! Joy!!! I love these daft little chickens, such funny characters :oD And I don't mind going out shovelling up poo in the freezing cold - it's time that I spend chatting with my girls - oh yes, they DO reply to me :o)
Oh I nearly forgot, it's Roxy and Sophia's first snow cos they were only born (err I mean hatched) in May! And it's Tallulah and Ursula's cos, even though they're 18 months old, until they were rescued on 14th November and arrived here on 21st, they'd spent their whole lives in a barn lit for 18 hours a day, every day, and never got to go outside and see the sky and the weather... but they're making up for lost time now!!!
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Day 108 and 109: eggs!
Day 108: 3 eggs today and ALL in the Eglu! So Roxy's been and had a peek inside ;o)
Day 109: 2 eggs today, 1 in the cottage and the other in the Eglu. The girls had warm porridge for breakfast, lunch and tea and LOVED it.
Update on Daft Cat: the 2nd urine test (sent to a specialist lab) showed NO protein leaking into her wee so it's official, we caught her kidney problems just in time and the specialist diet is helping already! So we collect her blood pressure tablets tonight and she has to go back on 4th Jan for a stay in hospital for a repeat of blood tests and blood pressure.
Updated to add, she's had her first blood pressure tablet in a piece of turkey :o) I hope the drug acts quickly and she recovers her appetite. And it seems her sight is improving already!
Good news all round today!
Day 109: 2 eggs today, 1 in the cottage and the other in the Eglu. The girls had warm porridge for breakfast, lunch and tea and LOVED it.
Update on Daft Cat: the 2nd urine test (sent to a specialist lab) showed NO protein leaking into her wee so it's official, we caught her kidney problems just in time and the specialist diet is helping already! So we collect her blood pressure tablets tonight and she has to go back on 4th Jan for a stay in hospital for a repeat of blood tests and blood pressure.
Updated to add, she's had her first blood pressure tablet in a piece of turkey :o) I hope the drug acts quickly and she recovers her appetite. And it seems her sight is improving already!
Good news all round today!
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Day 107: monkeys
Roxy and Ursula, that is. Both of them broke through the netting and started scratching on the freshly raked "lawn" which we only yesterday sowed with grass seed!!!! We had to laugh :oD
All four have been free ranging happily together - no squabbles, but then we haven't given them any treats to squabble over. Two eggs as well - good girls :o)
Daft cat has been purring today - happy happy happy!
All four have been free ranging happily together - no squabbles, but then we haven't given them any treats to squabble over. Two eggs as well - good girls :o)
Daft cat has been purring today - happy happy happy!
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Day 106: Lovely free ranging!
Daft cat is feeling much better. I should hope so, our first car only cost a few quid more than our vets bills this week :shock:
She went back to the vets yesterday for a double appt - to discuss her results and her treatment plan. Phew - we thought it was to discuss "something else" which I won't mention as I don't want to think about it, I'd rather she went happily in her sleep than that way...
So... her results. She's lost a bit more weight (down from 3.3kg to 3.24, so a loss of 60g or 2.5 ounces over4 days gulp - but the vet didn't seem worried and put it down to her having to adapt to her diet) . Her bloods are slightly raised but not alarmingly so. Today, she's purred for the first time in a week and we swear we saw her pupils contract this morning?!?!??? She's tucking into the special diet but still losing weight. We had to get another urine sample done for external analysis, as there was protein in her last sample (sign that the kidneys really aren't coping well) so they need to know to what degree so they can prescribe the right medication for her high blood pressure. We'll know more on Monday or Tuesday, latest. Her BP was 210 whereas "normal" for a cat is 160 - so she's probably got a headache and feeling very hung over :o(
Right, back on track - the chickens! Ursula had a whale of a time today, watching Roxy and Sophia dustbathe from the sidelines. She quickly picked up what she should be doing and joined in (brave!), only to take a nibble at something soft in the dirt - and it was Roxy's foot! Roxy was a bit perplexed by it all but too engrossed in dustbathing to do much about it lol. When Roxy and Sophia left, Ursula dived in and there were limbs and wings all over the shop.
Ursula meeting my Easter Island man.
Last Sunday, enjoying the sunshine on the shelf in their walk-in run:
Today, dust bathing! She doesn't have many feathers and she's covered herself in soil and loving every minute of it! Lots of purring and her eyes were shut!
She went back to the vets yesterday for a double appt - to discuss her results and her treatment plan. Phew - we thought it was to discuss "something else" which I won't mention as I don't want to think about it, I'd rather she went happily in her sleep than that way...
So... her results. She's lost a bit more weight (down from 3.3kg to 3.24, so a loss of 60g or 2.5 ounces over4 days gulp - but the vet didn't seem worried and put it down to her having to adapt to her diet) . Her bloods are slightly raised but not alarmingly so. Today, she's purred for the first time in a week and we swear we saw her pupils contract this morning?!?!??? She's tucking into the special diet but still losing weight. We had to get another urine sample done for external analysis, as there was protein in her last sample (sign that the kidneys really aren't coping well) so they need to know to what degree so they can prescribe the right medication for her high blood pressure. We'll know more on Monday or Tuesday, latest. Her BP was 210 whereas "normal" for a cat is 160 - so she's probably got a headache and feeling very hung over :o(
Right, back on track - the chickens! Ursula had a whale of a time today, watching Roxy and Sophia dustbathe from the sidelines. She quickly picked up what she should be doing and joined in (brave!), only to take a nibble at something soft in the dirt - and it was Roxy's foot! Roxy was a bit perplexed by it all but too engrossed in dustbathing to do much about it lol. When Roxy and Sophia left, Ursula dived in and there were limbs and wings all over the shop.
Ooh, before I forget, Mr Nora is extending the run over the blue cottage. He was inside the run, crouched down to do some nailing and screwing and Ursula hopped up onto his lap! She's such a friendly, nosey little thing :o) Whilst Ursula was having a cuddle, Tallulah bit his bum. I was in hysterics :o)
ANOTHER FOUR EGG DAY TODAY! Although one is very small (we think it's Sophia's) as she laid a "softie" yesterday (common in beginners and OAPs so after getting advice on a chicken forum, we're not worried now). A softie is just that - the shell is very thin and rips, it's like a rubbery balloon that's gone a bit crusty.
ANOTHER FOUR EGG DAY TODAY! Although one is very small (we think it's Sophia's) as she laid a "softie" yesterday (common in beginners and OAPs so after getting advice on a chicken forum, we're not worried now). A softie is just that - the shell is very thin and rips, it's like a rubbery balloon that's gone a bit crusty.
Right, photos...
This is from last Saturday, when the new girls came out to play with the original pair - and we took down the divide in the run so they became one flock!
Ursula meeting my Easter Island man.
Ursula and Tallulah exploring:
Tallulah dust bathing in REAL soil in the OPEN AIR for the first time! Ursula didn't get it and just watched...
Last Sunday, enjoying the sunshine on the shelf in their walk-in run:
Today, dust bathing! She doesn't have many feathers and she's covered herself in soil and loving every minute of it! Lots of purring and her eyes were shut!
No the camera isn't upside down - but Ursula IS!!!! With her eyes shut, purring like a kitten. It makes me smile just to think how happy this little chicken is. Well, it's either this bliss or... dog food :shock: No brainer, eh?
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Day 103: More vet trips
Not for the chooks but for Daft Cat. That's every day so far this week (Monday for her initial appointment, yesterday to collect her prescription food, and today...).
She went in to the Vet Hospital at 7.30am (yes, I had to set the alarm extra early) to have her blood pressure measured - high BP would explain her blindness (detached retina) and galloping heart-rate. The vet also wanted a urine sample - fortunately she supplied it last night so didn't have to have any extracted with a needle!!!!
Today's appt took hours because she had to have her legs shaved to attach the monitor AND THEN she had to calm down to get accurate readings. I called the vets at noon and all her BP readings were still high so they hung onto her for another hour, trying to get her settled and to get better readings. I collected her at 1pm and they confirmed that her BP is high and the vet will call me tomorrow, presumably to discuss medication for her BP. I hope that's all they want to discuss :o(
The girls had a bit of free ranging this afternoon - until the mealworms came out and then they went nuts, following me around like sheep. They very kindly supplied 3 eggs between them. Then Tallulah went to bed in the blue cottage, Sophia followed her and gently shoved her out! Tallulah got the message and joined Ursula in the Eglu. I took a peek through the Egg Port and they were roosting on the bars - but sideways! So they might have had their legs dangling through bars, instead of gripping on them to perch. A few feathers short of a chicken, those two ;o)
She went in to the Vet Hospital at 7.30am (yes, I had to set the alarm extra early) to have her blood pressure measured - high BP would explain her blindness (detached retina) and galloping heart-rate. The vet also wanted a urine sample - fortunately she supplied it last night so didn't have to have any extracted with a needle!!!!
Today's appt took hours because she had to have her legs shaved to attach the monitor AND THEN she had to calm down to get accurate readings. I called the vets at noon and all her BP readings were still high so they hung onto her for another hour, trying to get her settled and to get better readings. I collected her at 1pm and they confirmed that her BP is high and the vet will call me tomorrow, presumably to discuss medication for her BP. I hope that's all they want to discuss :o(
The girls had a bit of free ranging this afternoon - until the mealworms came out and then they went nuts, following me around like sheep. They very kindly supplied 3 eggs between them. Then Tallulah went to bed in the blue cottage, Sophia followed her and gently shoved her out! Tallulah got the message and joined Ursula in the Eglu. I took a peek through the Egg Port and they were roosting on the bars - but sideways! So they might have had their legs dangling through bars, instead of gripping on them to perch. A few feathers short of a chicken, those two ;o)
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Day 102: chicken and cat news!
So first the good news - today is our first FOUR EGG DAY! Yep, all four girls have supplied us with an egg! All different colours (well, very slightly) so we know that Sophia and Ursula laid theirs in the Eglu and Roxy and Tallulah laid theirs in the blue cottage. So Sophia and Tallulah swapped houses to lay!
Now news about Daft Cat. Daft Cat has kidney failure. The vet said, if she was a young human, she'd be on a transplant list. If she was an old human, she'd be on dialysis :o(
But it's manageable (not curable but, as the vet said, hopefully it needn't be fatal either). The big thing is to lessen the burden on her kidneys so we've bought some sample foods from the vets with reduced protein especially for Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) - the reduced protein makes it easier for her kidneys to do their job. She seems to be coping OK - it's me and Mr Nora who are in a state of shock.
Daft Cat has more tests tomorrow and has to go in to the vets at 7:30am for her blood pressure test. She has to be there for a few hours so that she can calm down, get to know the staff and relax so they can get an accurate reading (her heart rate of 240bpm yesterday might have been sky high due to stress). We need to get a urine sample ready for the morning (otherwise it'll cost us another £20 for the vet to do it!) so we've bought her a special litter tray and the vet has sold us some plastic beads (to use instead of litter) and a syringe and container to collect it.
Wish us luck. CRF is apparently common in cats over 10 so she's done well to get to nearly 17, bless her.
Now news about Daft Cat. Daft Cat has kidney failure. The vet said, if she was a young human, she'd be on a transplant list. If she was an old human, she'd be on dialysis :o(
But it's manageable (not curable but, as the vet said, hopefully it needn't be fatal either). The big thing is to lessen the burden on her kidneys so we've bought some sample foods from the vets with reduced protein especially for Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) - the reduced protein makes it easier for her kidneys to do their job. She seems to be coping OK - it's me and Mr Nora who are in a state of shock.
Daft Cat has more tests tomorrow and has to go in to the vets at 7:30am for her blood pressure test. She has to be there for a few hours so that she can calm down, get to know the staff and relax so they can get an accurate reading (her heart rate of 240bpm yesterday might have been sky high due to stress). We need to get a urine sample ready for the morning (otherwise it'll cost us another £20 for the vet to do it!) so we've bought her a special litter tray and the vet has sold us some plastic beads (to use instead of litter) and a syringe and container to collect it.
Wish us luck. CRF is apparently common in cats over 10 so she's done well to get to nearly 17, bless her.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Day 101: Sad - but not chicken related
Poor Daft Cat is blind :o( She's been having trouble getting around and has seemed a bit, well, "fed up" the last couple of days so I took her to the vet and it's official - she's blind, lost a lot of weight (only weighs 3.3kg) and has a high heart rate so they suspect high blood pressure :o( We've had a full set of blood tests done and get the results in the morning. Daft Cat needs to give a urine sample and have her blood pressure taken (but that's a half day stay in the vet hospital).
Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Day 100: all day together
We left them in the run together today as we were going out to a birthday party "lunch" which finished at 7pm! I was worrying about the new girls finding their way into their new bedroom but they did absolutely fine - probably helped by the fact they have the same ladder up to the Eglu. We opened the door to the nest box (known as the Egg Port) and there was a little, lilac'y egg! Yup, Sophia has laid another! Clever girl :o)
Roxy and Tallulah laid today as well. I wonder when we'll get a full house of all 4 supplying eggs on the same day? We don't care really, we've already given eggs away to parents, aunt and cousin. A long time coming but well worth the wait :o)
They loved sitting on the shelf in the sunshine, preening themselves. Lovely :o)
Roxy and Tallulah laid today as well. I wonder when we'll get a full house of all 4 supplying eggs on the same day? We don't care really, we've already given eggs away to parents, aunt and cousin. A long time coming but well worth the wait :o)
They loved sitting on the shelf in the sunshine, preening themselves. Lovely :o)
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Day 99: Like icecream with a Flake - only BETTER!!!!
Wow, 3 great bits of news today!
We've definitely had Sophia's first egg! There was already Roxy's usual morning one, slightly warm at 7:30am but then, a couple of hours later, Sophia supplied a slightly lilac'y one :o)
We let all the girls free range together and it went really well. Tallulah and Ursula love dustbathing and rummaging around in our shrubs! A few tiny skirmishes between old and new but, all in all, a very peaceful day. The worst part was when the corn arrived - a few arguments there!
And the Eglu is in place! The divide in the run has been removed and the logs put back so they have lots of space and climbing to do and we're hoping that either two or four girls use it tonight - not 1 or 3, as it means we have a lone chicken getting chilly somewhere - bad as they like to snuggle up together to keep warm. Right, off to put them to bed - bet the new girls don't know where to go, now that their temporary home has been dismantled :o)
Photos of the barnies' first dust bathe to follow.
We've definitely had Sophia's first egg! There was already Roxy's usual morning one, slightly warm at 7:30am but then, a couple of hours later, Sophia supplied a slightly lilac'y one :o)
We let all the girls free range together and it went really well. Tallulah and Ursula love dustbathing and rummaging around in our shrubs! A few tiny skirmishes between old and new but, all in all, a very peaceful day. The worst part was when the corn arrived - a few arguments there!
And the Eglu is in place! The divide in the run has been removed and the logs put back so they have lots of space and climbing to do and we're hoping that either two or four girls use it tonight - not 1 or 3, as it means we have a lone chicken getting chilly somewhere - bad as they like to snuggle up together to keep warm. Right, off to put them to bed - bet the new girls don't know where to go, now that their temporary home has been dismantled :o)
Photos of the barnies' first dust bathe to follow.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Day 97: Woo hoo! Santa's been!
He's delivered us an Eglu for the girls! It's a double skinned, insulated plastic house. The insulation keeps the girls warm in winter and cool in summer, the plastic means it's completely easy to jet wash and there are no nooks and crannies for lice and mites to hide and breed. I'm so excited! It came with a run so Granny and Gramps will be able to chickensit when we go on holidays - we'll just load up the house, chooks and run in the car and drive them over :o) It also means we'll be able to adopt more girls in the future... hehe
2 eggs today - a cold egg in the nest box first thing and another in the new girls' nest box. Roxy also did the "eat my breakfast and go back on the nest" thing again this morning but there wasn't an egg there when I got home - maybe she was just chilly? So we think the 2nd egg yesterday WAS Tallulah's!!!!
2 eggs today - a cold egg in the nest box first thing and another in the new girls' nest box. Roxy also did the "eat my breakfast and go back on the nest" thing again this morning but there wasn't an egg there when I got home - maybe she was just chilly? So we think the 2nd egg yesterday WAS Tallulah's!!!!
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Day 96: Hahahahaha!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!! 
I got home from work and Tallulah was in with the other two
Mr Nora promised he'd closed the divide properly this morning so she's obviously joined them by flying over the mesh at the bottom and under the curtain at the top (he says they were pegged together) 
My other two were in bed but I had tomato so Roxy got up and joined Tallulah. The two of them were happily side by side eating out of their own bowls... and each others! Tallulah even took a piece from my hand! Not a single squabble - maybe I'd missed it during the day.
Can't wait for Saturday now for an official introduction! I'd love it if we could put them in their new Eglu together at bedtime.
Ooh, and one more thing... Two eggs in Roxy & Sophia's nest box! Has Sophia started laying??? Weird because we assumed the warm one first thing was Roxy's... but when Mr Frutti left for work, Roxy had had her breakfast and gone straight back in the nest box. When I got home 6 hours later, there was a whopping 66.3g egg in the same spot. So either Sophia's laid her first or we've been giving Roxy all the credit for some of Sophia's or Roxy didn't lay another but Tallulah used their nest box instead of going back to her own (nothing in the barnies' today). Very confused LOL And I can't tell it apart from any of the other eggs so no help there...!
I got home from work and Tallulah was in with the other two
Mr Nora promised he'd closed the divide properly this morning so she's obviously joined them by flying over the mesh at the bottom and under the curtain at the top (he says they were pegged together) My other two were in bed but I had tomato so Roxy got up and joined Tallulah. The two of them were happily side by side eating out of their own bowls... and each others! Tallulah even took a piece from my hand! Not a single squabble - maybe I'd missed it during the day.
Can't wait for Saturday now for an official introduction! I'd love it if we could put them in their new Eglu together at bedtime.
Ooh, and one more thing... Two eggs in Roxy & Sophia's nest box! Has Sophia started laying??? Weird because we assumed the warm one first thing was Roxy's... but when Mr Frutti left for work, Roxy had had her breakfast and gone straight back in the nest box. When I got home 6 hours later, there was a whopping 66.3g egg in the same spot. So either Sophia's laid her first or we've been giving Roxy all the credit for some of Sophia's or Roxy didn't lay another but Tallulah used their nest box instead of going back to her own (nothing in the barnies' today). Very confused LOL And I can't tell it apart from any of the other eggs so no help there...!
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Day 95: Brrrrrrr!
It was a chilly one overnight! Minus three, apparently. Mr Nora opened up their bedroom doors this morning and actually woke them up - that was a first LOL.
Couple of milestones tonight. The Barnies love TOMATO! Much more than grapes or sweetcorn - in fact they were chasing each other for bits around the run :o) Ursula grabbed it and legged it with Tallulah chasing her like a Benny Hill scene. So I held out a little bit for Tallulah - and she took it out of my hand! Another result! I haven't given any of the girls tomato since Penny died...
Anyway, back to now... All I need to do now is encourage Ursula to learn that not everything in my hand is food (like my rubber gloves and their poo!). They both just seem constantly hungry - but then, they've been eating and laying machines for their whole lives so it'll take time for them to adjust. They do need to put on a bit of weight and regrow their feathers so that explains some of their hunger.
And they put themselves to bed tonight with no help from me (last night, I had to pat Ursula on the bum). That's good going - we've only had them 10 days and they're settling in nicely! Not a single argument this afternoon and even less interest between the barnies and the posh birds... so we hope we can try another free range session at the weekend.
2 eggs today - Roxy and Tallulah :o)
Couple of milestones tonight. The Barnies love TOMATO! Much more than grapes or sweetcorn - in fact they were chasing each other for bits around the run :o) Ursula grabbed it and legged it with Tallulah chasing her like a Benny Hill scene. So I held out a little bit for Tallulah - and she took it out of my hand! Another result! I haven't given any of the girls tomato since Penny died...
Anyway, back to now... All I need to do now is encourage Ursula to learn that not everything in my hand is food (like my rubber gloves and their poo!). They both just seem constantly hungry - but then, they've been eating and laying machines for their whole lives so it'll take time for them to adjust. They do need to put on a bit of weight and regrow their feathers so that explains some of their hunger.
And they put themselves to bed tonight with no help from me (last night, I had to pat Ursula on the bum). That's good going - we've only had them 10 days and they're settling in nicely! Not a single argument this afternoon and even less interest between the barnies and the posh birds... so we hope we can try another free range session at the weekend.
2 eggs today - Roxy and Tallulah :o)
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