Polly Woz Ere

Our garden used to be very green.  Actually, it was a bit overgrown and once a year we would do a big chop and trim everything.  This year though we've hardly had to do any work as Polly has been solely responsible for all trimming.  The thing is though, we did like having some greenery around and she has systematically gone round eating anything she has taken a fancy to.

This was a beautiful plant that only just made it throuh our hard winter of 2010.  Half of it just died with the cold weather but with a lot of TLC we brought it round.

We were so pleased when Polly decided to leave this one alone as she worked her way around the rest of the garden.  Obviously she saved the best til last.  She set to work early one morning and after a long hard session she managed to destroy it and then had a well deserved rest!

These two photos are taken at the back of our garden.  It was covered and I mean TOTALLY covered in ivy.  You couldn't see anything behind it.  One day The Kiwi suggested I gave it a bit of a trim "I'm sure we've got a sandstone wall behind there somewhere" he said.  I started on it and then Polly thought she'd help me.  It was much harder work for her than the one above but she dutifully did her best and within a few days this was what we were left with. 

I've known for some time that rhodedendrons are toxic to sheep so I trimmed it and hoped she couldn't reach it.  Then seeing her climb up on her hind legs to get at things I decided it was time to take it down.  I was worried that as I was chopping it Polly would be trying to eat it so I put her on her lead in the front garden.  She loves it out there and she's on a long rope so she can move around plenty.  I was literally minutes in the back chopping down the offending bush.  Then as I dragged it round to the front to put in our brown bin Polly came charging at me.  She'd bitten right through her lead, had wandered into next doors garden and then decided to come home again!

This is one very determined lady with a mind of her own.  She's strong too - gentle as ever when she wants to be but my goodness she's powerful.  I sure feel safe with her and Buffy around - Beware of the Menagerie!

There's a Moggy after Our Girls

Yes, there's a cat been snooping around.  They've done a lot of standing to attention over the last couple of days and yesterday I saw why.  I wasn't quick enough with my camera to get it but it's a moggy that has been bothering them.  She's beautiful actually, very pretty face, white tummy and striped back and head.  Just because she's beautiful doesn't mean that she can come to our garden and prey on my girls though.

Polly saw her a few days ago and it was quite funny seeing her reaction.  Both Moggy and Polly just stared eachother out.  It went on for ages, a real pistols at dawn sort of looks.  Polly made the first move towards Moggy and Moggy shot over the fence.

Then yesterday I had to chase Moggy off twice.  In the end the girls all came into the kitchen and settled by the door for their afternoon nap while Penny stood guard on the dance floor (yes, it's still no closer to becoming a conservatory).  After a while Penny came to join the rest of them and perched on the foot of the door.

I'm not bothered about four of the girls but Joan and Helen really aren't much bigger than a pigeon so if a bird was hungry enough they could be in danger.  Suffice it to say I've been with them all the time they've been in the garden and if I've had to go upstairs I've made sure Buffy is with them.  She's out there now barking so I'd better see what's going on - Oh the joys of motherhood!

Birds of a Feather .......

I look back at each time I've introduced new chooks to the brood and remember how hard it can be.  It was OK when Doris came along because I hadn't had Penny & Hetty for very long and they were only young so they accepted her quite easily.

With Mary and Tess it was harder because the pecking order had already been established.  Penny was firmly in charge of Hetty and then Doris just kind of did her own thing.  If you read the notes on Mary & Tess you'll see that I did everything possible to make their first night the success it was but it wasn't easy.  Oh how it rained and how I worried.  They were so out of touch with their natural instincts that the next day Tess laid an egg while she was walking along.  She had no idea she was supposed to snuggle down and find the right spot.  It just popped out and she hardly noticed.  It was heartbreaking to see.

Then of course it was time for the little ones - Helen and Joan.  Here they are in deepest winter with their sweatshirts on.  Joan is in the main picture and there's Helen's bottom on the right - red raw.  It's now full of feathers and she loves to show them of.  Again, you can read up on their arrival on their page but it was a very long drawn out process getting them integrated with the others because they slept inside for a few months as the weather was so bitterly cold (remember the winter of 2010).  Mary was the worst one.  She would litterally jump on them and peck feathers out of their heads.  Sometimes I even had to pull her off. 

When it was warm enough for them to sleep outside I would leave them in the run hoping they'd go into the bedroom but as dark fell I'd creep outside to check on them and they'd be standing at the gate waiting to come in.  I'd take them into the bedroom, put them on the perch and settle them down then make my own way out.  By the time I reached the gate there they were behind me.  "We don't like it here mum - they bully us".

Eventually they realised that was where they slept but Helen steadfastly refused to go with the others.  She settled down in the Play House (see article on Feathers Lodge, 6 August).  Once she was asleep I'd carry her into the bedroom with the other girls and eventually she got the hang of it.

Now they work as a team.  There was a shot the other week of them all resting in the sun while Penny stood guard.  She's the biggest one and still leader of the pack.





After all the traumas just look at them now, a real team.  When there's a strange noise they all stand bolt upright and check out what's going on. Then they have their afternoon nap and preen together.



 

A Rhino's Welcome

First off big apologies for being lax in my posts lately, just been a bit busy with The Kiwi doing housy things.

Don't worry about the title of this blog.  I am NOT adopting a Rhino!

Our local pub has a small group of men that sit in a particular corner.  These lads like to dish it out.  They regularly offend people but if anyone tries to get the better of them it just doesn't work.  Their thick skin doesn't let anything past and so it has been aptly named Rhino Corner

While The Kiwi is very good friends with this select group he has never been invited to join their clan.  He's a bit of a mixture is my Kiwi man.  You can usually hear him before you see him and believe me he's done his fair share of offending people himself over the years.  He'd never make Rhino corner though because the bottom line is he's a really sensitive chap and is always first to apologise if he's upset anyone.

As Big Kiwi has been over for his annual visit the Rhinos very kindly asked if he would like to be an honorary member and he gladly accepted and was duly presented with his Tshirt.

I think they were hoping it may send The Kiwi over the edge but he was proud that his dad had made the cut.  Then came the real blow though.

After a formal meeting at a 60th birthday bash last week I was waved over to join them.  They feel that although on the surface I'm a complete softie, I'm also bit of a tough cookie as I have to keep The Kiwi under control.  It's a hard job but someone has to do it!  And so came my invitation to join Rhino Corner.

A few days later I was presented with my very own Tshirt and I have worn it with pride.  Guess what - it actually works.  Nobody was able to offend me while it was on - it's as thought I had grown a second skin and it felt good!

While The Kiwi played along at being put out he whispered in my ear "I have never been so proud of you".

Hope this doesn't mean I have to watch all the Rugby with them.

Afternoon Nap

It's obviously been a hard morning and everyone is exhausted.  The Kiwi has been on a little trip away and I went to meet him last night so the girls were home alone.  They were all fed, watered and safely locked in but I still worried about them.  They're used to me always being there and checking on them before I go to bed but there really is no need - they are perfectly fine on their own!

As we had a bit of a late one last night The Kiwi had his afternoon nap when we got home.  Now I really don't want you to know what he looks like but as the girls are all pictured at rest in this blog I think he should be too. 

When we got home Polly was up at the other end of the garden happily munching away.  I shouted to her and it was so lovely, she lifted her head up, couldn't decide whether to carry on eating or not and then with my "Hey Poll" call she ran towards me, tail wagging and ears flapping!  Once she'd checked us out and had a wander around inside she settled herself at the foot of the stairs for her "rest time".

If you look closely you'll see 5 of the chooks having their mid afternoon dust bath / nap.  Penny was standing on guard while these girls settled down in the soft soil underneath a tree.  They make little indentations and snuggle down then flip soil on top of themselves before they nod off.  The soil acts as a lubricant and keeps their skin and feathers well oiled.

And last but by no means least is the Buff with her mate Fudge.  Both clearly exhausted and oblivious to the rest of the world!

A Couple Of Notes

It's been quite quiet on the Home Brood Front but I have gathered a few noteworthy points together.

Polly is now trained in manners of the 8am watershed.  There is the occasional bleat beforehand but no major shouting til about 8.30am and even then if I leave her she gives up after a very short time.  She's loving her daily grooming sessions.  I use a wire brush I bought for Buffy but she refused to tolerate it so one day I had a go with Poll.  Oh she just adhores it.  Anywhere.  She loves it on her back and hind quaters then when you go to her tummy her tail swings round in a frenzy of excitement.  Then its up onto her neck, head, behind her ears and finally underneath her chin.  That's my favourite bit.  I hold her chin in my hand and lean over to get right underneath her jaw.  Her warm breath touches my ear and she goes off into a trance.  It's just lovely.

I was down at Tam O'Shanter last week and noticed how deep the voice of her mum is and this morning I heard two much deeper bleats than usual.  Then it was back into her usual high pitched yell.

As for the chooks, Doris is hanging on in there, she's still looking a bit scruffy but is happy in herself.  Local children have been coming round and because Helen is the tamest one she's been pulled from pillar to post in the holding stakes.  She's great though and laps up all the attention she's getting.  Joan doesn't leave my side so I have to shut her out sometimes just so I can clean the floor etc.  I think she's lazy and if she can get food from me she can't be bothered going out and forraging for it.

There was a bit of a Rice Crispy drama this morning.  They were all around me while I was getting my own breakfast so I put out two bowls of Rice Crispys with yoghurt on top.  OMG, you have never seen the like!  Demolished within minutes, there wasn't time to get my camera even.  True pecking order was seen as Helen and Joan were firmly pushed out.  They then got the left overs and when Buffy moved in to lick it all out the two of them had a go at The Buff!

Yesterday was my birthday and I had a steady stream of people dropping off cards and presents - a very big thank you for such thoughtful gifts.  A hen pinny, sheep polly bag holder, necklace, earings, dress, jumper, flowers and a fantastic book all about having the good life in France. I felt truly spoilt.  Oh then there's a very special thank you to Buffy's Godmum.  Imagine this if you can - Gold Lame Leggins!  She did also give me a gorgeous Tshirt and birthday cake but the vert special gift of GOLD LAME LEGGINS is to be worn at my Young at Heart group on Friday - it may well see them all off!
Yes, life on the Home Brood Front is very happy indeed.

Bit of a Splash

Buffy loves water.  It must be said that she doesn't do the swimming thing but she loves to wade.  If there's water - she's in it, if there's mud - she's in it.

Quite a combination therefore when you get water and next doors fish pond all in one go.

I'm on feeding duty for fish and tomatoes for a couple of days and while I may well kill the tomatoes I really did think I'd do ok with the fish.  That is until today.  Buffy is facinated with them and frequently jumps up onto the edge to stare down at them.  I'm always with her though and know that she's only being nosey - she wouldn't actually jump in would she?  Yeah right!

There she was walking round the edge as usual, stopping every so often for a closer look.  She even dipped her paw in the water which is a first but I wasn't worried - like I said, she's not a swimmer, just a wader.

First it was just a toe, then her nose then ..........................

SPLASH!  She was in.  She just couldn't help herself could she?  She is actually a very good swimmer it's just that she chooses not to.  She successfully made it to the other side then got all a fluster as she struggled to get out.  I heaved the grateful mutt up and while she didn't try and get back in with them I bet she has another go tomorrow.  Yet another note to self "NEVER leave Buffy alone with fishys!