June already

.... and I've not written anything for ages! Well, we had to dispatch the cockeral. He was crowing and was on the verge of upsetting the neighbours. It took two days but we managed it in the end (long story!). I felt very sad doing the deed but realise that its something I need to get used to if I'm going to continue to raise birds for the table.

Our beloved Whiskas has gone. She went for a walk and never came back. A neighbour's cat was attacked by a fox at the same time so I can only assume that Whiskas went the same way. A few days after the Whiskas saga, two of the table birds (who had been free ranging for a couple of weeks) went awol. So, we now have just the one table bird who has moved in with the rest of the ladies and is going to be a layer (we hope). Its not cost effective to dispatch her on her own!! So, she's known as Sheba and joins Felix, Kitekat, Dansak and Korma.

I have to say though, I don't think I realised that there would ever be quite so much chicken pooh. The neighbours love me because every week, someone gets a barrow load deposited outside their door (people I know of course!). In return, I get scraps for the birds! They love Pilau rice!

On the baby front, am 5 months gone now and have stopped feeling quite so sick and can now stomach egg!

Promise not to be so remiss about updating you all (well, three of you?) on the events and happenings here at Hillstart View!

Whiskas is AWOL

Well, its over a week now since Whiskas failed to roost. We're all a bit sad here but are still hopeful that she'll come back. There's no sign of any feathers anywhere and I feel that if she'd been taken by a fox, then the fox would have come back for more.

A friend had a hen who went walkabout for 10 days and then returned happily after her holiday. So fingers crossed that Whiskas will re-appear.

Other than that, one of the table birds is a cockeral. We know that because he's started to try to crow. So, if anyone wants a young cockeral, just let me know! The other three are definately girls so that's something I suppose.

Not much else to report. The garden works have been completed - the chickens are enjoying scratching away at the freshly turned soil and I'm protecting all my seedlings etc from their beaks.

Bye for now

The chicks have moved outside (at last!)

Last week we bid farewell to Matilda and Pepper who returned to their family in Reading. The garden is just a little bit empty now and my girls are definately missing their friends. During the last two weeks of their stay with us, Pepper and Matilda refused to roost in their own Eglu and joined my ladies in their cube. I was therefore able to bring the chicks out into the now empty Eglu. They seem to like it although they didn't know where to sleep the first night (despite using a torch in the eglu to guide them in!) A week or so later and they are well and truly settled. They have had one free ranging experience when my 4yr old opened their run. I spent an exhausting hour trying to round them up. I must remember to clip their wings soon! I've attached a photo which only shows three of the "chicks" - the other one is still with us but was just feeling a little camera shy this morning!

The chicks are getting feathered up

Its been a while since I posted anything, so have taken some recent photos to load up of the chicks. They are over 3 weeks old now and will be going outside in a week or two. The lovely cheeping/chirping noise has been driving us all demented and so I've had to move them out of the kitchen and into the utility room. I can still hear them but its not so loud and it allows the dogs some piece!

From one extreme to another

A few weeks ago, we had the huge egg. Today, we have the small egg - its the one on the left. It's Kitekat's first egg (that I've found). Fingers crossed they are going to get bigger!

Here they are ....

The chicks have arrived!

The eggs are cheeping!

Right - we're now in countdown ..... chicks due to hatch on Friday 8th Feb. All four are happily cheeping/chirping (?) and I thought I heard some pipping going on. This is all so exciting - fingers crossed they'll all survive the hatching process. They have already been named - Roast, Kiev, Soup and Pie although maybe that wasn't the smartest thing!

The brooder is all set up and ready - the lamp works, the woodshavings are in place - the drinker and feeder just need filling up......

Will update and post pictures as soon as they arrive (of course, I'm due out overnite on Saturday aren't I - the babysitter will probably be the first human they ever see!) I might have to feign illness.......