Bloomers!

Bridy is just growing back her bottom feathers.  Without her big bustle bottom, her leg & feet feathers are really apparent!!! 

.....

"When I was a chick..."

Those old stories, no matter how interesting, get boring after the 50th time.

.....

Freshly dug flower beds.

Can you tell?

I've also just repositioned that tall plant.  They look like they're having an in depth discussion about its placement!

.....

Opening the nest boxes.

Oops! I forgot to post this ages ago.  Better late than never! :D

.....

Betty & Mabel had been at point of lay and considering Mabel's urge to announce her egg songs, I thought I'd probably better open the nest boxes.


I had read that they should be blocked off until point of lay so that the hens didn't sleep and poo in them.  I would imagine pooey eggs are not particularly appetising.


I checked where my girls were.  They have the upmost curiosity when I am doing anything around the coop, and unsurprisingly are not particularly helpful.


I found them in the newly planted (and newly eaten, pesky rabbit!) border.

Yes, I CAN see you!

By the time I had opened the door to the nest boxes I found them here:

That particular manovere took about 10 seconds.
  


I escorted the ladies out and filled the nest boxes with fresh new straw

Chicken's eye view:

It all looked very snug.


The girls obviously agreed because a few weeks later they were laying lovely eggs, in the right place!

.....

Lucy

Lucy is a cuckoo Pekin.  She's incredibly fluffy, looks a lot like a tea cosy wandering round the garden. She's from show stock but one of her little feet is a bit deformed, not that you can see as she has the most incredible feathery feet!


It's not just her feet that are feathery.  She seems to have far more feathers than any of the others.  She's a complete featherball.  She has a delicate little head and the Pekin 'tilt'.  This means she carries her tail slightly higher than her head.  This only adds to her tea cosy appearance.


My first glimpse of Lucy was from inside a cat carrier with Pearl.  She was calm and regarded me with mildly questioning eyes. No panic, no fear and no alarmed squawking.


I liked her straight away.  


The picture below is Lucy on her first day with me.  The obligatory back of the sofa shot.  She has that look of consideration & regard all the time, whatever she happens to be doing.  She's very proper and gentle. 


Lucy has learnt to ask for more treats.  A quiet 'bok bok bok', after she's finished her treat will nearly always ensure another.  

First day home

Watching the world go by during quarantine 

With Pearl, for the first time out in the garden

She's struck up a friendship with Betty, they wander about the garden deep in cluckversation.


Their closeness became apparent when Bet removed a piece of grass from Lucy's beak, and then wiped her beak on Lucy's beautiful & voluptuous feathers.  

Lucy has taught Betty that  people chairs make excellent 'chicken chairs' too!

Only true friends would allow that!

.....

Brick's chicks!

Brick's a Momma!

We are all over the moon to see the pictures, those chicks are gorgeous!

                                 

Thomas has sent pictures of the happy event, she looks so happy, if not a little shell-shocked.  The sudden arrival of Motherhood to 12 has got to be a shock to the system.

I'm finally pleased I made the difficult decision to let her go.

.....

There ain't nobody here but us chickens.

I looked out of the kitchen window and wondered why the girls were huddled together on just one chair.


What were they doing, and more importantly, what were they watching?  Whatever it was, they didn't look at all happy about it!

And then I remembered.


I'd arrived home and forced Mabel outside for a breath of fresh air.

Yup, she's one scary broody!

.....

Children & chickens

I've been asked a few times if chickens make good pets.




And my answer?

                                        

Absolutely yes!

.....

Gardening with chickens.

I dig, the girls de-bug.

Nom nom nom.

Pearl makes sure no bugs have escaped under the plants.

Betty checks out the new 'chicken decking' I've used to hide an un-plantable area of the garden.

The girls clean up Great Britain while I have a cuppa.

Pearl dreams of being the Olympic mascot...

...but such notions are forgotten when she spots the unattended treats tub!

I spy with my little eye...

"You want us to build a what??!"

DIY is a step too far, so they head off back to the garden.

To relax in the sun after a hard day's work in the garden.

While I enjoy the tea they made me, yum! :)

And if you're wondering where Mabel is, she's here, with a face on her.

  Broodiness strikes again! 

.....

Chicken chuckle!

Men, take note! :D

.....

Fluffy Butts!

Mabel and Betty are thrilled that their somewhat ample & fluffy butts, have made it onto the short list for an online chicken photo competetion.

The fluffy butts in question:

They currently have the most votes but there are some great pics on there, so wish them luck!

.....