My attempt to keep chickens.

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi sad times again , Club died this morning at 11.00 am . She I think had a stroke / heart attack as her right side seemed to be failing . Will miss her . A dark shadow on today .
Will miss her .
Bob

[sandy]

Bob so sorry to hear about Club

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Thank you , she was a lovely old girl .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , simone is on her last few days of med`s.
Pom Pom has muck coming out of her left eye . Right eye shutting . Cleaning it up many times during the day . Baytril and Metacam does . In dog cage with Evil . Out in garden for a stretch but as eyes iffy not for long . Simone out with her friends. Released into the garden with Jack and his 5 hens .
Desmond keeping well out of the way of the two Terrors.
2 girls one is the hen that was on the front seat on the way home from last 12 rescue BHWT . Call her a unicorn as one part of comb sticks forward . Go straight out of the cockerel a dood1e hall into the big run and then look back into their own run all day . Eating the food in the big run . I have to catch and put back into the Terrors run as stupidly just run up and down the wire between .
sad this morning the next door neighbor was crying on the drive and asked me to come in as his dog had died at 12.30 am last night . So sad a boxer 10 years old . I believe died of an heart attack . quick in its sleep on the sofa. Whole family crying .
Buried it at Chingford pet cemetery . I think they are buddist from Ceylon (old name )
They put money on his blankets as passage to heaven ?
It was like doing a home visit to a worker that had passed away at work . Very emotional time .
Needless to say my boys where crowing as the noise from the house had woke them up and saying sorry .
sad times.
Bob.

[Cheshire Chick]

So sorry to hear about Club, Bob. Always a sad time and never gets any easier. You're doing a great job though and giving them all wonderful free lives. Club would have been very well looked after and loved.

[KarenE]

So sorry to hear about Club, Bob. At least she went quite quickly and didn't linger long. Tough maybe for us, but better for them

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all good , Pom Pom is getting better as the baytril / metacam does its work . Eyes seem better and eating well.
Will keep her on med`s for a while longer and stay with evil.
Rest of flocks good , Jack in good voice at 5.30 am . Hens were hungry so was calling for food . Cold Wet , snowed . Let the flock out shortly.
Have a good weekend , better weather coming my way next week.
Bob

[sandy]

Good news about Pom Pom what exactly is causing her eye problem? How is young Scramble getting on?

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi lots going on in the flock of Penelope and Red.
First the sad news of another hen flying the bridge . A speckledy white ring (Coo Coo Maran ) bought at an auction (one of three )
She passed away in my arms at 7.15 pm Monday evening . Believed a case of old age .
Pom Pom is doing well , I had feared that she had CANKER . but seems that my fears are unfounded (hopefully)
Her eyes are open and apart from a wash with water now and again and the meds metacam once a day and baytril twice she is good . I am keeping her in till comp,etely happy with her as stopping to soon maybe wrong .
Next news is that one of the two terrors on Sunday caused me some concern . I found him up in the run roosting spot sitting next to DESMOND face to face .
Had a little thing , was he the terror of the two TERRORS or not.
Well I decided to leave him there and see if he will be friendly with Champ and Desmond and the big flock .
Come midday and I let the flocks out into the swamp of a back garden.
All good .
Well last night I locked up the flocks and I looked about as I do as it was dark . Went in doors just thoughtful.
Well a hour or so ready for bed in dressing robe . Ithought where was the Terror .Did not see him in the cockerel a dood1e hall with the 12 hens and terror one.
Could not remember seeing him with Desmond . I was troubled and could not think where he would be.
So late in the evening , big boots and dressing robe (was a bit nippy round the legs for sure . Went out to investigate further . Iwas right not in with Terror one , not up with Desmond , not in the internal coop , only two hybrids in there now as Pom Pom in kitchen . Not roosting on lower branches in run . locked up and open the Buckingham Palace coop . There he was on the bottom flooring happy as can be . warmer in there for sure with Champ up above him .
It would seem now that he has become a replacement third boy for flock instead of C.C.
Hopefully this will be a lasting trio and become a gang to keep the Terror one in check.
Now Scramble Junior is a hen with a pass to where ever she wants to go. Not laying yet but I am looking forward to seeing her eggs . (Do I let golden and Moe hatch some to see what color she produces ). Chasing collar doves as a hobby . Gets up on every thing Not the friendliest of hens and much a loner in the garden. Goldie and Moe still watch over her from a distance and she will always go to them , follow if a problem happens.
wet weather has destroyed the garden and thinking I will keep flocks locked up for a while .
So that is the news to date .
Interesting times at work as many plans and different work ideas in pipe line .
Still being told that I AM NEEDED . Have to step up being a strop and give the 2 finger salute . It is the fault that I am the scapegoat of the factory and if I am not there then someone else will have to be it . As an expert at being one for 42 years hard to replace .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi , went home today and found Scramble in the nest area of Cluckingham Palace ,
I also found in the last few days /week 3 small eggs the size of my thumb nail.
So I think she has started laying of a sort and I have been lucky to have not got another lad.
More run dirt brought to work for covering the poor dead hen .
Bob

[sandy]

oh Bob sorry you have had another loss it seems to just set of a chain sometimes dosent it, lets hope thats the end of it for quite awhile!
have you put some chairs in your runs? it seem your flock are playing musical ones

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi today I found out why the Terror has gone next door,
The pair of Terrors were having a handbag moment . One is now taking control of the garden . still goes back to his hens to roost.
as long as they stop and avoid each other not a problem . may have to keep the Terror , Terror locked up .
Scramble jumping up on the coop (Jacks ) and studying me with the food. Does not take any or pick up off the floor. Just studying me. funny creature , never cease`s to make me laugh.
All good .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , quiet couple of days , except for the boys at 5.30 am .
Pom Pom still in with Evil and seems happy enough.
Flock all locked up and not out in garden . Too windy , ground churned up and well past my ankles in slop.
Never had it this bad and more I dig to get the water drained away the worse it has got.
Good for the flock legs .
Well have a good weekend .
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Scramble Junior has decided to help her self to the food in the bowls on top of the Jacks run. I go off to feed the flocks and come back to find his beak in the bowls eating . She looks so funny .Cute with a strange look.
All well . Pom Pom is back on meds as her eye was shutting in the morning . Wash and she has it open again. She dirt baths , eats and drinks keeps her self clean and full on energy when I pick her up . maybe \I finished the meds to early . Evil loves a banana . Every day she eats practically a whole one from my hand .
Lots of eggs at the moment , getting my old customers back again .
Last month I got 63 pounds in the egg tin , so far this month 24 pounds .
I am doing my accounts as trying to live on what I believe will be a pension .
Surprisingly more money spent on animals and birds than myself (food wise.)
I have to decide before April where my future lies as that is the time to finance things - go for a long haul or go short term .
Hard to decide what to do as to many variables.
A push from the company would be helpful but not likely as I am in such demand (Ha ha) .
Hope all are well as this time of year is pretty boring for the flock .
Windy made life interesting for a while trying to catch the sheeting . rats still in and not shot one to date though I have tried many times.
No good as a sniper in the army for sure.
Bob

[bikesandbirdsbob]

Hi all , well all quiet this morningat 5.00 amboys having a lay in . Quick feed and off to work , late going home today as a meet with the `boss ` .
Flock will notbe happy for sure.
Bob