And The Little One Said

Princess Buffy sleeps with us.  Yes, I know it isn't an ideal situation, and believe me we started out with every good intention of keeping her in the kitchen at night, but gradually we softened and from early on two in the bed became three.  Buffy's Godparents often look after Buffy if we have a trip away and thankfully they treat their dogs the same daft way we treat Buffy so when she stays with them she's welcomed onto their bed.  It was on one such occasion Buffy was given the nickname "the tourniquet".  She had positioned herself on Godmum's tummy for the night and when Godmum woke up she had lost all feeling in her legs!

Last night we had their hairy daughters Bess and Lottie for a sleepover and obviously wanted to give them the same wonderful treatment that Buffy is given.  Picture this:  Buffy settled down on one edge of the bed, next in place was The Kiwi, Lottie positioned herself  on a pillow next to his head, then there was a small space on the very end for me.  I glanced round to see Bess's face staring at me.  She's a springer spaniel and much bigger than the other two so usually settles herself on the floor but seeing how cozy we all looked she wanted a piece of it.

The Kiwi said to ignor her but it's hard - no matter how much I tried I couldn't ignore those eyes.  She perched her chin on the edge of the bed and just looked at me, despearate to be invited up.  I tried so hard but you can't leave one out can you?  I gave in after a very short time, and up she came - it was now a very tight squeeze.

Of course having all of them meant that fox watch was very active.  The minute Buffy heard something she was downstairs followed swiftly by Bess and then Lottie bounced after them.  They barked in unison then Polly added her bleating to the symphony.  We'd gone to bed at 9pm (shattered after a night out on Friday), and were feeling a bit guilty that we had at least 12 hours rest.  By 12.30am and six fox watch scenarios later we realised we needed every minute of those 12 hours we could get.

Remember that song:  "there were ten in the bed and the little one said "Roll Over, Roll Over", so they all rolled over and one fell out, there were 9 in the bed .................................."

We could make it ten if we invited the chickens up!

Kiwi's Working Hard

Well, I'm all a fluster after the comments about The Kiwi from yesterday's post!  Actually, I'm not quite sure this is the type of blog that my anonymous commenter is looking for.  This is strictly Doris Day land where nothing seedy takes place.  Plenty of love in the air but that's about it I'm afraid.  Anyway, more about my man.  He's working hard today finishing off the "stately home" for the chooks.  They're in there now inspecting his workmanship.  I've been painting and he's been concreting, now he's building them a new sun terrace.  Photos will be on here tomorrow to show off his work but he's a bit camera shy himself so don't bank on a personal Kiwi appearance.  In fact, he's decided to take a back seat for a while so we can concentrate on the brood.  Sorry if that disappoints but it is all about them after all.

On that note I think the garlic bread dash took it out of Our Doris the other day.   Last night she slept in a nesting box, didn't even make it onto the poop deck let alone the perch with the others.  She's been wheezing a bit today but still first up to be fed so at least that's a good sign.

Back to her old ways

When we first adopted Helen and Joan they were very much indoor chooks as it was far too cold for them to be outside. They each had a cage to sleep in but during the day they were free to roam around the house. Helen in particular took this opportunity to lay her eggs upstairs on a chair in our bedroom. Well because The Kiwi was renovating their home yesterday Helen was back inside on her favourite chair for her laying procedure. She loved it so much that by 8am today she was in here again. Before settling down to nest she wanted some girl time so we had a little cuddle. She was just dropping off to sleep and all was well til she opened her eyes, tilted her head and pecked out my earring! They were new ones bought for me by my mum in law. So now the big decision - do I just accept that it's gone or do I follow her around all day waiting for her to "pass" it? She's on her chair now so this could be one very special egg that pops out!

There seems to be some interest in The Kiwi.  After giving him the opportunity of a photo moment he decided to be a bit like Charlie out of Charlies Angels - never actually seen.  Rather fancies himself as an enigma but those of you who know him know that couldn't be further from the truth!

For the love of garlic bread!

After a few hours out and about I returned home to find Pollyanna in the front garden The Kiwi on his knees in the hen pen and the chooks in the kitchen. Nobody was where they were supposed to be! The girls were squawking away for food so I gave them the closest thing to hand - a few slices of garlic bread. If there was any doubt as to Doris's recovery, it's vanished now. Instead of breaking it up for them I just threw three pieces onto the garden. Buffy was first in and ran off with it then lay down and held it between her paws like a bone. Then Penny and Hetty waded in grabbing a piece each. The ex bats didn't stand a chance, they were out of luck from the start. Once Doris realised the level of delicacy on offer she took complete charge. Hetty ran off but dropped it and The Buff swooped in then there was a scuffle between Penny & Doris.  It was like a Benny Hill moment.  Am I showing my age here?  Doris in front followed by Penny, Hetty, Mary and the little ones all in a line.  Round and round they went but as we know from earlier posts Doris is one determined gal.  Helen and Joan soon got bored and came to me for attention, but the others carried on for some time.  Luckily Polly was out front munching on the foliage there or she'd have been using her horns on them.  Doris won out and then lay spent at the back of the garden - full and exhausted!

Work In Progress

Today the Kiwi is working on the chooks' residence. There has been some evidencence that a little rat has visited their stately home and while we have gone to great lengths to get rid we just want to make their place extra safe so today work starts on concreting their conservatory area. Their inner run was done a few weeks ago and we'll be completing the job over the next few days. Kiwi is out there now emptying out their playhouse, perches, sun terrace etc and with each thing he brings out there's more scratching round and chatting amongst themselves about what's happening.

They've been in the garden all day with Polly sunning themselves.  Polly's seen here snuggled up behind a small tree I chopped down a while ago. 

The poblem now is how to get them back into the run without their feet disrupting the wet concrete.   This is the new area being done and I've got to get them into that back area and lock them in there for the night - there will be one racket in the morning when they find they can't come straight out into their conservatory!

Oh and just a little mention of Polly's morning madness - seems to be all quiet at the moment.  To my wonderful friend who suggested an automatic feeder - I shall be eternally grateful.

Lost and found / not a peep

Yesterday was very nearly a disaster! You know that hole in the fence that foxy went through on Wednesday morning? It turns out that Mary has an appetite for adventure. Heading out for early doors we prepared a light snack for the chooks and duly rounded them up. You should see them run when they know there's a treat a comin. All but one came dashing down the garden -wings a flappin. Mary was missing! We searched everywhere - inside, outside, front, back - she was nowhere to be seen. The fence at the back is quite a high one and not one to easily see over but Kiwi was determined to get his pint in so out came the ladder, he was up it in a flash and there he spied her. There she was sunning herself in the middle of our neighbour's garden without a care in the world. Over he went and pushed her in the direction of home but she couldn't see the gap and I could see her in the foliage running back and forth past the gap but not able to get to it. I reached through, grabbed her leg and pulled her back to home turf.  She was not happy to be so roughly handled but once in my arms she didn't budge.  Not even a wriggle, just happy to be back in the fold.



 On the Polly front, her feeder worked this morning and there wasn't a sound from her.  Hopefully we're onto a winner now - as long as she gets her breakfast she'll keep quiet.  She loves her food, here she is, polishing off the crumbs from my plate of toast tucking into my coffee to wash it down with!

Shutting Up Pollyanna

To my lovely friend who left the comment yesterday about Buffy being overweight you will be pleased to know that with me in charge of her food for 3 weeks she is down from 1st 7lbs to 1st 5.5lbs - she's wasting away!

Anyway, onto my mission to keep Polly quiet. Our automatic feeder arrived yesterday and after much confusion we worked out how to use it - or so I thought. I duly filled it up and set it for 6am today. These things are never that straight forward though because on the 2am fox check with The Buff I saw the feeder had already opened. Luckily Pollyanna hadn't and so through half closed eyes I reset it. A blissful nights sleep followed and I presumed the feeder must have been a great success because at 7.30am there was no sound from her. Moments later she was off. The feeder had opened and she hadn't even noticed! I pointed her in the right direction and she gobbled it up so hopefully she'll know where to look for it tomorrow. It did mean that because she was busy I could feed the chooks in peace. She didn't notice me heading into their run with breakfast. Polly does love to get stuck into their yoghurt. Many a time she's come out with it all over her nose with an all too guilty look on her face!

Guard Duty Paid Off

Oh a very early entry today.  After only a couple hours of Buffy finally settling down Polly was off at 5am.  Very early for her and it was definately an alarm call shouting "Attention Everybody!".  Buffy hoofed it off the bed and this time I was right behind her.  There it was - foxy - I'm prone to slight exageration but this one was close, were talking less than 20ft away.

Buffy was straight out there and chased it off to the back of the garden and through a small gap in the fence (Kiwi will be straight onto that).  Polly calmed down a bit then but Buffy was hot footing it around the garden in a figure of 8 fashion, nose to the floor and snorting.  Corner to corner she ran then zig zagged her way back.  Once she'd checked our premises out she was through that gap just like foxy to make sure he had truly gone.  Actually, not exactly through the gap just like foxy, more of a tentative "can I get through there" sort of squeeze.  She's built for comfort (not fat, definately not fat), and while her shoulders went through with ease she had to wiggle her hips through.  She was determined though, she had work to do and wasn't going to let her figure put her off!

Our lovely chooks however were in glorious and total oblivian.  They're the ones at risk here but fortunately their stately home is as fox proof as you can get.  Ha ha, I was just going to say "I don't want to count my chicken's but".  You see, there are so many phrases that come out of these girls.

Well done Polly and well done Buffy - I'd rather have these broken nights of sleep and have all my girls safe than wake up one morning to find they've all been butchered!  I've put in too much work on these lovely things to let some fox take them for breakfast. 

You may think I've gone slightly peculiar but this to me is the best sight in the whole wide world (childish phrase I know but it's just how I feel).  This is Helen's bottom.  It's fully feathered now, a very different sight to December when she arrrived with us, red raw and not a bit of fluff in sight.  You can see at the top right of the photo there's still a little bit of her wing that isn't covered but that's all there is left to show for that terrible start to life that she had.

And The Bleat Goes On

Polly is still making herself heard shortly after daybreak and while I'm fine with it 6am is just a tad unreasonable on the neighbours so I've decided to get an automatic feeder.  If it's attention she wants it won't work but if its her breakfast then it will.  I've ordered one off ebay and can't wait for it to arrive.

Buffy's not bothered, she's up and down on fox watch until about 3am when she finally settles down and then she just stays in bed when I get up in the morning to carry on with my day.

She's not a morning dog you see, this is her "at rest" after a hard night's work on guard.

Doris - Our Mother Hen

Doris has been a very poorly chook.  She was the fat one, the broody one, the hungry one, the daft one - so many things but never the layer.  She was even the runner - if she knew there was food around boy could she sprint.

I'm talking about her as though she's in the past.  Well, she's not she's very much in the present but it was touch and go there for a few months and even now she isn't back to her old self but she's getting there.

I'm gradually going to be adding pages on all the girls so if you're interested in our Doris click on to her page - you can't help but love this girl.

Officially Ours

Polly's official name is Pollyanna.  She was named after a character I used to read about in Eleanour H Porter's childrens' books.  Pollyanna would play the "Glad" game and try to find something to be glad about every day and looking out into my garden now I see just how happy my very own Pollyanna is.

This week we officially adopted her.  She has been transferred to our permanent care and we couldn't be happier.  From new born her mother refused to feed her.  She would kick and push little Polly away while she fed her brother instead, so at only a week old we volunteered to help out - ONLY for two months though.  Well, 2 months came and went and people started asking questions.  Not just the obvious ones about how soon will she be ready for the BBQ and do we have enough mint sauce, but the inevitable "when are you getting rid of her?".  It was always our intention to help find a good home for her and we honestly did look.  Then a couple of vets and professional animal people pointed out the obvious.  She was already in a good home.

Those who didn't agree with us keeping her said she should be in a flock and in a field with other sheep.  OK, I take their point but as our lovely vet pointed out "she is in a flock - just not a flock of sheep, and she has a beautiful big garden with lots to feed on and nibble".

She has company all day long, whether it is the two legged feathered variety, the four legged hairy variety or just me and the Kiwi with our constant supply of people popping in.  She has food, water & shelter and is safe from predators.  She trots up to me when I come home and has a tummy rub and grooming session each day where she'll start off on all fours then she gets all floppy and lies down to enjoy it fully.

She even knows how to work it for the camera seen here in beautiful profile showing off her new collar.

In short Polly is loved very much and knows it.  Isn't that what we all need?

All Fluffed Up

Nothing much has happened with the brood today so I'm going to tell you about Helen.  She came to us in December with virtually no feathers and I was told that I'd be lucky if she survived the week.  Her bottom was so red raw that I had to put vaseline on it when she went out in the cold.   Here are some before and after shots - see what a little TLC can do?

The British Hen Welfare Trust have rescued over 250,000 hens and tens of thousands are still kept in the most hidious conditions.  Within the next couple of years battery chicken farming should be a thing of the past and thankfully well known companies including Mr Kipling, Waitrose and M&S are now only using free range eggs in their products.  This is the same chicken in both photos - would you prefer to eat her eggs then or now?

Best Seat In The House

When Buffy was a puppy The Kiwi made her first bed for her.  It was just a little wooden box that she soon grew out of.  Of course it wasn't thrown away (typical man, has to keep everything) it was stored away for the future.  As soon as the chooks arrived it was perfect for them to nest in.  Then when we built them a proper "bedroom" they soon forgot about it, so it's been sitting in their run stuffed with straw, and occasionally one will have a little rest in it but most of the time it's just like an old toy they don't want to play with anymore.

As today is a beautifully sunny day I brought out this old tatty wooden box and put it underneath one of our bushes.  It used to reach to the ground but Polly has devoured the first two feet of it so it's an ideal place for the girls to sit.

What a commotion.  You'd think they'd never seen it before.  First Helen was straight in there scratching round and removing most of the straw that was in there then Mary had a go and then Doris waddled over and made her presence felt.  She clucked and flapped the others out of the way and with a great big "Humph" she settled herself in.  Hasn't moved for the last 2 hours.  Penny and Hetty had a go at getting near but near was all they got.  Doris wasn't giving her space up for anyone.  You will see in the photo that Penny is glaring at her but she ain't budging.  We call her the daft one because she really does appear a bit soft sometimes but she knows what she wants and she knows how to get it! 

It's Good To Share

Eating time Chez Kiwi Brood is something of a nightmare.  Polly's first to have hers then Buffy gets her chew stick after which the Chooks have their usual seeds/layers pellets with apple cider vinegar and yoghurt.

Easy one would think, and it is until later on.  Once the afternoon comes and they're all mingling with eachother Polly ramrades their run to snuffle up any left over bits of theirs she can lay her nose on.  They in turn scratch around her bowl where she's spilt stuff, and Buffy darts between the two gobbling down anything she can lay her paws on.  Basically Polly loves the Chook food, the Chooks love Polly's food and Buffy loves all the food.

Of late, Buffy has been so intent on gorgeing everyone elses goodies that her poo is now resembling that of a well known muesli bar.  OK, some things aren't that good to share but you signed up to read this so it's warts and all I'm afraid.

Pesky Foxes

I know they are all God's little creatures, I know they have cubs to feed at this time of year and I honestly wouldn't see any harm come to one however PLEASE let me have a full night's sleep!

At the moment my nights are more active than my days.  The days are spent with all us girls in the garden merrily doing what we do best - chilling and eating but heavens when dark falls ...............................

Settling into bed at about 10.30pm last night all was well with the world.  Buffy went straight to sleep and lights were out soon after.  Just as I was dropping off The Buff started twitching.  If she hears something outside she's up and downstairs before I even open my eyes but if she just senses something the legs twitch.  Now I know that if I just let her out she'll give the garden the once over and then within minutes were back snuggled up again.  Last night I made the mistake of thinking I had more willpower than her.  I decided to just let her twitch.  Well she did.  Imagine it, lying there knowing that eventually she's going to win and you know you're going to have to let her out but once - just once - you want her to give up on it first.

1.5 hrs later - what a waste of time - I gave in.  Yes, she twitched and whinged and huffed her way through 90 minutes of what should have been my sleep time and she still won in the end, I just wonder how long she would have gone on for.  She is a girl who knows how to get what she wants - she has staying power alright.  As per usual, once round the garden and she was straight back again.  So, we're now on 12.30am.  1am arrives and she's off again, not with a twitch but with a thundering leap off the bed.  By the time I'd got downstairs she had disturbed Polly so not only was Buffy frantically jumping around inside but there was Polly jumping around outside.  It was like something from a National Lampoons movie - bleating, barking, hooves stomping, me stage whispering for them to be quiet, it was all going on.  And to top it all I didn't look great.  I was sporting hair that was standing on end, rolled up pj's so they didn't dangle in Polly poo and gardening cloggs on my bed socked feet, not something that would get me on the cover of Vogue Magazine.

It was straight back to bed for the second time and then within 5 minutes a loud clatter and the sound of a fence shuddering as something jumped over it.  More bleating, barking, and even snorting (from Buffy not me).  Something had been outside and the rake had fallen over (hence the clatter), a bowl of water had been knocked over and indeed there was evidence of a bush having parted as the nifty critter jumped over into next door.

All I can say is thank you very much Polly for not disturbing me at all this morning.  I heard her pottering around the garden around 6am but she didn't call for me once.  Note to any would be burglers - don't try our place - we're on constant alert!

What's That You Said?

Now I'm not trying to be Dr Doolittle here but I really am getting to understand what the different barks/clucks/bleats from my girls all mean.
This morning for instance Polly woke up at 6am and instead of her usual call for attention it was a soft "I'm awake" type noise.  It wasn't until 7am (what bliss) that she made her "MMUUMMM" shout.  Once fed it was just one satisfied bleat and then later on today when she's munching her way round the garden it'll be a sort of mumble like she's talking to herself.

The chooks have their morning coos and thankfully that's all I get to hear now as they have an automatic feeder.  Before that it was loud "feed me now" squawks.  They have an alert call when they're all free ranging and one of them senses danger, there's the "I'm preparing to lay / have just laid an egg" noise, and when they're sitting in my lap about to go to sleep its a wonderfully contented purr.  Nesting is a whole different matter and it's a propper clucking sound,  must be where the phrase clucky comes from.  I'm just off out now to check on them and again it'll be a different cluck - they'll all be stomping up and down as close to the gate as they can get looking like prisoners of war - excitement brewing as they all make a bid for freedom.

Buffy on the other hand isn't a morning dog (anyone whose looked after her will tell you).  She's been up twice on fox watch (with a barking frenzy in attack mode) and now there's a faint snore coming from her while she rests under the duvet.  While I'm learning to understand what the other girls are saying to me they aren't interested in the art of conversation - just food and cuddles.  Buffy though listens intently tilting her head to one side while I chat, then she looks me straight in the eye as her head goes to the other side.

There's the difference you see.  I'm just mum to the chooks and Polly whereas Buffy's my friend.  She has a large vocabulary from excited barks to anxious yelps and  then there's always the whinging when doesn't get what she wants.  We genuinely can communicate with eachother.

Morcambe & Wise Moment

Yesterday we all had a lovely free range morning then I trotted off (I'm getting more like the girls aren't I) out for an afternoon BBQ - had a bit of a girlie look going on but after a few GnT's I was back in my jeans and doing the big poo pick up for the arrival of VBF and Fudge.  Polly and Fudge kind of skirted around eachother and there was a bit of jumping around from Polly, don't know whether it was excitement or trying to ward off Fudge but after a while they took no notice of eachother.  The hens are all used to her now as she comes most times The Kiwi has a night away.

VBF and I always do a "Morcambe and Wise", we share the same bed because we stay up til the wee small hours watching dvd's and then fall asleep.  Last night it was a marathon go of the Gilmore Girls.  Vbf, Me, Fudge and Buffy all squashed up together.   Buffy as usual was perched as close to VBF's face as she could get leaving Fudge down at her feet.

Buffy did 3 fox checks (12.10, 1.15 and 1.30) then we settled down til Polly's call at 6am.  Buffy woke up to realise Fudge was indeed still with us and most unimpressed, she went downstairs into the lounge for some time out.  The Infantile Vulvic Eczema was obviously too much to bear!  For those who are interested Sudocrem is the answer.

Friend or Foe?

Buffy's got Fudge coming for a sleepover tonight.  Well actually it's my very best friend in the whole wide world (easier to call her VBF) and her pooch.  Like I mentioned in an earlier blog though, Buffy doesn't do four legged friendships and Fudge is no exception.  She becomes totally posessive around fudge - not only with her food and me - its VBF she can't get enough of.  She won't let Fudge sit on her own mistresses knee, and has even been know to exhibit a lip curling expressioin when Fudge tried in vein to push her off.  Buffy is a very sturdy Jack Russell and when she wants to stay put believe me it's hard to budge her.  Imagine the horror on her face today when fudge arrives complete with Infantile Vulvic Ezcema!

Feeding Frenzy

With a mixture of sun, drizzle and heavy downpoors today it was a bit of a strange one.  Polly isn't fazed by the rain at all.  Her coat is dense and completely weatherproof so she's been outside all day in the thick of it.  The feathered girls however are a little bit more fussy about where they rest in bad weather.  As soon as their gate is open they're out.  They just want to be free ranging, although strictly speaking can you call my kitchen free ranging?  We have all spent the afternoon sheltered, they've been under the table, Buffy's been on guard looking out over the garden and I've been ironing while watching a very bad movie on Channel 5.

Polly on the other hand has worked systematically around the garden - nobody to get in her way you see.  She's been tucking into anything and everything at head height.  Then when that's gone she's been putting her hooves on the fence to raise herself up and get to a higher point!  I can see her out there now tucking into the ivy.

Mary and Helen have been quite demanding in the cuddling department today - very needy.  Doris has been resting, Penny and Hetty have been aloof as usual and Joan has followed me everywhere.  Not interested in being picked up at all but she's like my little shadow.  She's with me upstairs, downstairs and if I had a ladies chamber I'm sure she'd have been in their too!

Once the rain stopped and the sun came out Polly got her quality time with me.  Picture this - I sit on the edge of our patio (known as the dance floor for a very good reason), and Polly who is too big for my lap now sort of rests between my legs leaning against me.  The faint sound of the Goombay Dance Band singing "Sun Of Jamaica" is trickling through the air and she gets her daily tummy rub.  She LOVES this track.  Her eyes close, I massage her ears and stroke her neck and she drifts off into a trance like state.  Happy lamb?  I think so!

Make sure you stop by tomorrow, Buffy's got a friend for a sleepover - could be an interesting one!

Polly Loves Me Again

All this bleating in the morning normally stops when Polly's been fed or had a cuddle from me but the last couple of days after the ear piercing (tagging) she's only been interested in food.  Today it was back to me again.  0519hrs and she started.  My two next door neighbours are away so I left her - it's like a crying baby or yelping dog, sometimes you just have to let them get on with it.  Buffy didn't seem bothered so we both just rolled over and tried to blank her out.  At 0615 she was still at it, albeit intermittently, but she wasn't going to let up. Up we got, she had her breakfast, The Buff and I went back to bed and then 15 mins later off she went again.  As soon as she saw me she was fine.  We had a chat and a cuddle and she's happily munching away in the garden now.  The chickens have been fed, Buffy's had her chew stick and I'm about to have coffee & toast in bed.  All's good with the world.

Hangin' With Your Own Kind

Princess Buffy doesn't like to socialise.  Well, she does with humans - can't get enough of them actually - but not other four legged creatures.  Certainly not her little brother Baxter who is just adorable.  He is a bundle of eagerness waiting for her to notice him, one glance of approval from her would be something but he just gets on her nerves - she has NO time for him.

Bess and Lottie however are a different kettle of fish (or should that be dogs?).  Their friendship began 2 years ago when both sets of parents together with the 3 dogs went on a canal holiday for a week.  Might I add, none of us knew eachother very well.  It rained - oh how it rained - but what a giggle we had.  Us girls were up front reading and chatting and having the odd GnT and the boys were out back frequently exceeding the 4mph speed limit, causing mayhem and having the odd tinny.  All three dogs did their own thing - Bess spent all her time on the look out for ducks, Lottie was traumatised by the whole experience and spent all her time in bed (didn't matter who was having an afternoon nap - she was with them), and Buffy was out back with the boys.  She wanted to be where the action was, unfortunately she got more than she bargained for.  On one occasion The Kiwi was dying for a pee and as the loo was engaged he decided to aim into the canal.  He didn't aim well enough though because there, as close to the edge as she could get, was The Buff peering over - she got wet, and it wasn't the rain!

After those fabulous 7 days strong friendships were formed not only with us grown ups but Bess and Lottie are now firm favourites with Buffy.  One evening she even went round to their house on her own but that's a whole other story.  So, she's had a lovely day today, being part of a pack was quite a nice treat for her.

Dog Nursery

Today I've got Bess (a spaniel) and Lottie (a cockapoo) visiting.  Like my brood they live in a child free zone so are just as spoilt as my kids.  They are delightful things.  Bess is chilled and has the most beautiful soleful eyes.  Lottie on the other hand is a frenzy of activity.  Constantly on standby for a run around she'll hurl herself after Buffy on a squirrel chase but when they get to the end of the garden Buffy's still in hunting mode barking away and Lottie just stops dead in her tracks.  She stands around aimlessly till Buffy moves onto the next hunt and then she's off again, not a clue what she's actually doing though.

Polly was up at 5am for a small feed then it was straight back to bed for a few hours - slept like a log after the disastrous night on Tuesday.  All six hens are out and about although I have to keep a close eye on Doris.  She's only laid one egg in her 18 month life and it was so small you could have been forgiven for thinking it was from a budgie!  Anyway, since then she's developed a lump between her legs and my two favourite vets are of the same opinion.  She's got a tumour on her girlie bits.  Well, she's survived ok til now but a couple of months ago she took a turn for the worse.  It looked like she was having an asthma attack, then her chest was rattly and then it moved up into her throat.  Well two visits to the vet for antibiotics and anti inflamatories, then a week of worming treatement I was £70 lighter but Doris was back to her usual bossy self.  She loves her food and when I saw her fighting off the little ones (Helen & Tess) I knew she'd pulled through.  Still not happy on her perch at night she prefers to sleep on the poop deck (I think perching presses on her tumour).  Unfortunately it means that her lovely white feathers get pooped on during the night but she carries it off well, struts around like its a new appendage to her outfit.  It's true what they say - it's not what you wear but how you wear it and in the words of Rod Steward she "wears it well".

Talking Sheep Talk

After Polly had her ears pierced (tagged) and her second jab all in the space of a couple of days she's gone off me a bit.  Maybe she's growing up and getting a bit independent (although I doubt it after all the whinging this morning).  Either way she's got slective hearing and doesn't always come when I call her.  In fact she's barely raised her head for me.  Today I tried what The Kiwi does and I started to Baaaa at her.  I have no idea what I said but it worked.  Up she came and nuzzled up to me like a child, I must try other rhythms tomorrow to see if I can strike up a conversation with her.  Note to self - stop it - stop it right now!

Good Night's Sleep - Not!

Well, after a quick drinkie with friends last night I settled down in bed with Buffy (yes, we sleep together) 10.30pm.  I was up again at 12.30 because Buffy heard our resident fox outside.  She starts of with a twitch of her leg and this can go on for an hour at least.  How do I know this?  Because I've tried so hard to ignore it but she just gets more twitchy.  It's easier to get up, let her out and then come straight back to bed again.  There was repeat of this at 2am only this time there was no twitching - she woke me up wth a frenzy of barking, shot outside the bedroom spun round in circles and barked till I caught her up and let her out.  Then the lovely Polly started bleating at 5am.  She usually wakes at this time but it's a lovely soft bleat she gives - a sort of wake up stretch.  Not so today.  Like an alarm clock that just won't stop she got louder and louder till I couldn't leave it any longer.  It's the neighbours you see, they're so very patient with my brood I don't want to push my luck.  I gave her a small bowl of food to shut her up then she was off again at 6.30am.  Again I tried to ignore it but when her hoof started tapping on the back door I knew she needed attention.  All she wanted was a pat on the head then she settled back down straight away.  If she's awake she obviously thinks everyone else should be.  Back to bed and then would you believe it -  7.55am the phone goes.  I pressed the silence button but I'd had enough by then.  Made breakfast and sat in bed watching Frasier with coffee and toast then got up.

Think I'm due for an afternoon nap now.

Still on Day One

I'd rather be cleaning out my hens so that's what I'm going to do.  I'm frazzled!

Day One

Ok, so I'm a complete novice and have no idea what I'm doing.  Anyone reading this just hang with me while I get to grips with it!