Thanks for the responses. My biggest problem is that I don't know which hen is doing it. There's an outside chance that they are taking it in turns to lay softies but I really think I've got one, possibly one of the older girls, who is the culprit. Today I had a "nearly softie" so perhaps ...

One of my girls, don't know which, is laying softies. There is grit and oyster shell always available, I have added lsf and added cod liver oil to sweetcorn and veggie bits. Still I get one or two per week. Reading another post recently I am worried that the extra bits and pieces will be harming all...

My friend at the other end of the lane has an honesty box. He seems to do quite well and has fewer eggs stolen than the farm gate type outlet a couple of hundred yards away. Incidentally, I do wish that government agencies knew the difference between less and fewer! It's a particular bugbear of mine...

I have 9 hens and 8 bantams. Sometimes they sleep in the wheelie bin store which is meant to be the coop - mostly they perch on the edges of the nest boxes which are made from grocery delivery boxes. Until we got the bantams most of the hens slept in the bin store but it seems that watching the litt...

Sorry to hear this, June. My little Saqulain went just the same way a couple of weeks ago. It's very peaceful for them, but very sad for their humans.

Nowhere near 12 (0r 11 whichever is correct). Mrs Landingham is about 6 we think. It's hard to be precise. She looks very good still although I don't think she's laying many eggs. We've had mixed luck, which I think is normal. I bought 2 Light Sussex and one died after about 18 months aged 3ish but ...

It's the temper that seems to give it away. My two posh girls both go broody but none of the ex-batts ever has. So far.

By turfing my broody ladies off 4 or 5 times per day, when they seem willing to eat and drink etc, I've usually found it's a 3 week process.

Oh dear. I can cope with poo but when anyone starts throwing up I want to join in.

We had a few breaks in the cloud cover, but at no time did it go really dark. Our hens stood and watched me standing on the wobbly rocks at the back of the pond in order to see the reflection in the side window of our garage. I can confirm that my right wellie doesn't leak!

Where DID he buy those ears????

He's a real charmer. Good luck with the classes. I think he'll have you trained in no time.

Well done that hen. Only a community like this would realise how special such an event is and how it helps the healing process that time will have begun.

5.30 is early during the summer but I agree that it is a space thing. My girls live in a 10x8 shed (10 hens and 8 bantams). They seem perfectly happy in there and I guess that if I had to put them away early they would be OK about it. Light levels are reasonable even with the door closed and I let m...

Hi Lancashire Lass. I use Nivea - someone gave me a gift set one Christmas and apart from a "special" Clinique moisturiser that I use and get given for birthdays etc I really don't spend money on cosmetics or fancy skin stuff. On Friday I'll be at Crufts and hope to find the woman selling ...

We have a multifuel in our kitchen/living room. I love it. We buy some logs when we see them at a good price, but have only just stared on last year's so have all of the ones bought last summer seasoning ready for next year. I collect wood when out and about and the couple doing up a cottage across ...

Thanks for the suggestions. I might try the teabags and cold teaspoons (thank heavens no-one else sees me first thing in the morning). As for sleeping, I can't remember when I last slept well. Certainly not for the last 40odd years. I used to say that insomnia was only a problem if you let it be, bu...