After many years in the chicken-less wilderness my return to chicken keeping took place in September 2011 with the arrival of Pearl, Titch, Flora, Iris and Olga. They were scantily feathered, had grey faces and long nails and spent the first week stretching their wings and dust bathing constantly – just because they finally could. Twelve months later all five ladies celebrated their henniversary almost fully feathered and by Christmas, after 15 months, they finally all had plumage to be proud of. We lost little Flora, the wannabe duck (loved to wade) at the end of February this year and the flock suddenly seemed much depleted.
March 2013
The news that there was a St Helens rescue last weekend prompted us to the realisation that we could accommodate some more ladies and so last Saturday we were joined by Arabella and Portia (Posh Totty), Nemo and Coral (scuba divers?) and Jenny Jones and Torah (snowboarders). They settled into their temporary accommodation very quickly although Nemo had us worried the first day as she was so quiet and never opened her left eye. A good night’s sleep put her right and she is now one of the cheekiest and will take food from my hand.
They ladies all very eager to sample new food and in addition to their layers crumb they have enjoyed grapes, strawberries, mixed corn and at least one mouse. Little savages! There were 4 eggs on Sunday and three today, one of which was laid from the perch and didn't survive the drop! Our old timers seem to have given up laying so it’s amazing to be loading the skelter again.
Here’s a picture of all the girls as one flock on paper only. As yet the two flocks haven’t even seen each other as the new girls are staying indoors for a bit until the weather improves. Hot house cages to our current snowy wasteland seems a bit too much of a leap for the first week at least.
