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This year the chickens have laid 267 eggs so far!

latest news: Where is Ivy?!
posted by Neil, 11 June 2013, 12:28pm [more]
Posted by ollie in UK in About the girls on 2013-06-17 10:55:59
There's Ivy hunkered down in her own little heaven. Sophie saying "Hello" through the netting to the black and white cat - I've forgotten his name... Now he's walking about on the shed roof next door, peering into the clear coop roof. The other day Sophie was having a conversation with a very noisy magpie that was taking a walk on the coop top. Elsie seems to be growing new feathers now. Ivy came downstairs for about 20minutes to exercise her legs a little.

Posted by LynnW in About the girls on 2013-06-16 00:41:51
The girls are all inside cuddled up together again, sleeping sweetly.

Posted by ollie in UK in About the girls on 2013-06-13 22:25:35
Awwwww... now how sweet is that tonight? There are all three chucks snuggled together in the box. Makes me want to snug into my own bed. G'night folks.

Posted by ollie in UK in The best thing that has happened to you today. on 2013-06-13 22:19:28
This sounds amazing Lyn. I will look into it. I do wonder about what books are on there. I don't like fiction. Auto/biographies aren't bad when I am desparate but most of my book reading is for information and such.

Posted by Kateb in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-13 18:55:15
I really don't know - but she loves to cook and gives them lots of different food to taste and enjoy so maybe variety is the key to long life!!

Posted by LynnW in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-12 21:50:08
4+ years..I wonder how she does it..that is amazing, Kate.

Posted by LynnW in The best thing that has happened to you today. on 2013-06-12 21:44:00
Amazon has a free Kindle app. that lets you read books without buying a Kindle, I've got it on my laptop (I can read it in the dark) it works great.

Posted by Kateb in The best thing that has happened to you today. on 2013-06-11 18:56:14
Yes it does CC! You can now also buy a version that lights the whole page but I can't think what they call it (Christmas pressie hint for Helen!)

Posted by Kateb in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-11 18:53:29
LOL! Very funny! Average age for a rat is about 2 to 2.5years. Anything over that is a bonus. I know of a lady in Australia whose rats often live to be 4+ which is amazing!

Posted by chief chicken in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-11 14:29:41
Particularly if you think of the relative sizes of the egg and the hen!

Posted by chief chicken in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-11 14:28:29
How old was he? And what's the average age? I know nothing about them bar what you & Red have said, Kate. I had 2 customers with rats; one carried her rat on her shoulder like a parrot, and the other called her rat Basil and said he was a Siberian Hamster! :)

Posted by chief chicken in The best thing that has happened to you today. on 2013-06-11 14:25:22
I sent Kate a special Tiny Light to clip on her placcybook. You'll have to ask her if it works! Another two cons; you can't get an author to sign a Kindling for you, and it's very difficult to lose 30 books by accident...

Posted by neil in The best thing that has happened to you today. on 2013-06-11 13:02:36
I was going to say my best was catching up on the list of stuff everyone had put here but then realised I'd missed some horrendous times (apologies). Kate - so glad Shaun is ok - must have been terrifying. Lynn - great that Don is on the mend, make sure he looks after you too. :) CC - Helen said the same about Kindles as you did - I wanted one (as it's a gizmo, right up my street), she 'borrowed' it when she was bored and I have since had chance to use it about twice since! She's read dozens of books on it, and grudgingly accepts it. I just think it's a great idea - carry all your books on you in a light and thin device that you actually forget isn't a book (and most of the books still have cover illustrations so it's only the paper ...

Posted by neil in Post Yer Pics! on 2013-06-11 12:48:31
Posted By: georgehi guys i was wondering if any of you had any knowledge on other birds such as blue tits? i was jmust wondering about this because i have a nest (nest box) and it is in use by... BLUE TITS! and i just went and checked on it earlier (under rspb guidlines-ofcourse!) and it was circling its head like it was crazy and im worried its in trouble and what shoukld i do to help? I still can't tell if you are an elaborate troll or what, but far and away the easiest way to help any wild bird sitting on a nest with eggs is to leave it the hell alone! Even if there was something wrong with the bird (and why would there be if it's managed to build a nest, lay eggs, and sit on them for x amount of days?), what would you do to help...

Posted by neil in About the girls on 2013-06-11 12:35:24
It was probably Helen - I saw Scarlet but not at our house (an emergency trip to buy doggy painkillers!), she was last at ours just before Zoey was spayed, so sometime last week. I'm not sure what Sophie and Elsie are doing - I think they 'miss' Ivy from the flock so are seeing what's going on, or maybe wanting to lay an egg but aren't sure! If they get too close to Ivy they'll get warned off (and get a peck too!) so maybe that's it too - going up to lay an egg and seeing someone's already there - I suppose it's like when you go to a public toilet and there's loads of people in there - it can be hard to 'go'... haha! Or they may just be mental chickens...

Posted by ollie in UK in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-11 10:23:44
Ah. it did remind me of one of the noises some women give just as they are birthing.... I wouldn't like to think I was going through all that every day to part with my egg!

Posted by Kateb in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-10 20:23:10
If you have a little teddy he might appreciate it-something to cuddle up to. Does he let you snuggle him? He might like to be near to your heartbeat if you could let him sit inside your jacket. My girls loved to have tissues to rip up and make into a nest too. I know what you mean about crying when you see him. I was like that after Angel died. Saffy had a large tumour so I knew her time was short so made the most of every minute I could be with her. At first I couldn't bring myself to look at her it just hurt so much, but I knew when she was gone I would wish I'd been with her more. Give him a kiss for me! xx

Posted by Red in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-10 19:26:06
Thankyou everyone. Since Banjo passed I can't help but cry every time Okto comes out. I can't bear to think when he will be gone, I know you're not supposed to have favourites, but Okto has always been my little baby and Banjo was Lyles boy, although they are both loved dearly. I've been making toys to try keep Okto busy, just from toilet roll paper, tubes and kibble. He's so old :(

Posted by chief chicken in A big welcome to a little pup! on 2013-06-10 18:20:16
Get some arnica down her too, Red; it aids and speeds healing. I do hope she's feeling better and you're so right to change vets after that shocking treatment.

Posted by chief chicken in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-10 18:16:49
Oh, bless him, he was such a happy chap too. So sorry, Red & Lyle.

Posted by chief chicken in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-10 18:15:20
Ivy might be in The Priory in rehab... Sinead and Lemon do a duet of that wail as a prelude to the full-on Egg Song.

Posted by ollie in UK in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-10 10:57:28
I can't see Ivy today, n'or did I see her yesterday. Is she in the nest where we can't see? Why is Sophie making that awfully long drawn out wail?

Posted by LynnW in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-09 20:43:44
Maybe Neil took Ivy to a "Chicken Whisperer" to have them explain the facts of life to her..without a Rooster, you don't have babies, no matter how long you sit on the eggs.

Posted by LynnW in A big welcome to a little pup! on 2013-06-09 20:37:05
I'm sorry things didn't go as well as I'd hope for poor little Zoey, I have never heard of not giving them something for the pain either..at least no Vet I had ever taken my critters to. If she starts to lick the wound, put a cone on her, no matter what they said at the vet's office. I'm glad to hear you will be changing Vets and going to Kasper's Vet.

Posted by Kateb in A big welcome to a little pup! on 2013-06-09 20:18:49
That is terrible Red, good job you are such a good owner and have the intelligence and ability to research. I've never heard of a pet not having painkillers following surgery! In fact my vet gives them a dose an hour before surgery as it is then already kicking in by the time they're coming round. I hope if the person who told you no ever needs surgery they're denied pain relief too! Glad to hear she's bounced back so well. Don't let her overdo it - I'm surprised they're saying she can jump around already. There should be some supervisory body we can complain to about bad vets.

Posted by Kateb in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-09 20:02:25
I am so sorry Red, I know how heartbreaking it is to lose a rat - they burrow into your heart and take a piece with it when they leave. I hope Okto copes ok without him. Sleep soundly Banjo, there are lots of rats at the bridge waiting to play!

Posted by LynnW in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-09 19:25:38
Oh No Red! That's terrible news! I'm so very sorry to hear you lost him, he was such a sweet little guy. R.I.P. Banjo

Posted by Red in A big welcome to a little pup! on 2013-06-09 18:37:22
Thanks Lynn! He waits at every curb without needing to be asked anymore :) CC, she howls when she wants attention or someone to play with her! Happy pup, the night before her spay I took this photo 'blind', just pointed the camera in the vague direction of Zoey and took it...and it's my favourite pic of her Tired pup!! And this was our rubbish attempt at getting Zoey to eat more...she had two mouthfuls and then wandered off :P So yes, we have had Zoey spayed. It's been HORRIBLE!!! We went to pick her up from the vets, and expected some aftercare advise. The receptionist brought Zoey out, we sat and waited for a meeting with the vet, and were practically asked to leave!!! Our puppy has just had majo...

Posted by Red in RIP Banjo on 2013-06-09 18:19:33
We lost Banjo this am which was a horrible shock He was a wonderful rat, he and his brother are the best rats I've ever had. Banjo was bouncy, never sitting still, licky, although not as much as his brother, and full of fun. He was the one that, when left on the floor in a room, would five minutes later be on the highest object in the room! Banjo will be much missed, especially by his very elderly brother Okto. Okto is very thin and doddery these days, although when picked up and cuddled he still bruxes, bless him.

Posted by chief chicken in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-09 13:43:29
Has she been deposed again and sent into rehab?

Posted by ollie in UK in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-09 09:55:19
I can't see Ivy on her throne this morning. Has she been deposed again and sent into rehab?

Posted by LynnW in The best thing that has happened to you today. on 2013-06-08 19:22:09
The weather here has been nice, Ollie. It was the middle section of the USA that has been getting the bad weather. Oklahoma City was hit pretty hard, my granddaughter lives there, but she lives on the other side of the city from where all the damage was, so she is fairly save. Tornados don't happen here in Washington, we just have to worry about earthquakes. We are almost caught up with the chores that had to be put off, since Don was hurt, he is doing great except he has very little endurance, so has to sit down and rest alot. My shoulder still is giving me problems, but nothing I can't learn to live with.

Posted by ollie in UK in About the girls on 2013-06-07 19:06:58
I thought I could hear Red's vioce, or does Helen sound similar? Sophie and Elsie keep going up the stairs but abandon their excursion and just come down again. Does Ivy expel them in some way?

Posted by ollie in UK in About the girls on 2013-06-07 18:46:15
Oh, I see Neil the window cleaner is working on the coop. The girls don't seem at all fazed! I get all excited when my window cleaner comes - No it's not Neil... The girls adore all that grass, (!!!?) they just wont leave it alone - except for Ivy in her iv-ory tower!

Posted by ollie in UK in The best thing that has happened to you today. on 2013-06-06 09:17:06
This lovely weather we have had for the last few days has been such a contrast to the previous weeks. I have my tan now for this year, though I didn't get my legs out, I have the sort of legs that are best kept tucked away inside the long skirts I wear. Lynn, how are you and Don getting on now? Your country has been having some extreme weather lately, hope you weren't involved.

Posted by LynnW in About the girls on 2013-06-04 17:19:49
The picture is back up and I can see the girls again...Wooo Hooo Thank you Neil!

Posted by LynnW in About the girls on 2013-06-04 03:14:33
I have sound now, but I can't see anything at all..LOL. I don't know if it's just me or what, I had to get a new desktop computer, and it has Windows 8 for an OS..I'm finding it hard to get use to it, I still like WindowsXP the best.

Posted by chief chicken in A big welcome to a little pup! on 2013-06-03 16:21:02
Why is she howling Red? Does she sing along to music?

Posted by LynnW in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-02 19:09:29
Posted By: chief chickenHe's a BOY, Red; low threshold of pain! :D

Posted by LynnW in A big welcome to a little pup! on 2013-06-02 19:05:57
Kasper looks absolutely beautiful, Red. Love the picture of him waiting on the sidewalk to cross the street...and the one of Zoey howling is soooo cute.

Posted by Red in A big welcome to a little pup! on 2013-06-02 18:35:12
I traded my (new) camera in for the one I wanted originally - I am so in love with this camera! Not only does it take awesome pics, but it's much more user friendly too (: Both pups are fine, Kasper is enjoying his off-lead walks again, although we have to be careful about him overheating in the sun. A few times on the way back from a walk in this hot weather he has needed to lie down and rest for a few seconds!! Luckily the moor has (had) a puddle he could lay in and cool down and drink from, but I'm pretty sure that will have dried up by this evening so we will have to take a bottle of water with us This was near the end of the walk, look how tired he is Perfect condition, perfect weight And we've swit...

Posted by Red in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-02 18:25:06


Posted by ollie in UK in About the girls on 2013-06-01 22:46:03
Ah, I understand. I thought it was just that she wasn't eating that was the worry. I can now see the dire consequence of just leaving her there! Thanks for the information. Keep your pecker up, Ivy.

Posted by Kateb in Rehoming chickens on 2013-06-01 20:05:32
Yes, that would help wouldn't it! My friend lives in Coventry and I believe her parents don't live too far away. I will check on Monday and post back then if thats OK. Thanks Neil, I hope he sees sense and lets most of them go.

Posted by chief chicken in Turfed Ivy off the nest... on 2013-06-01 18:43:01
He's a BOY, Red; low threshold of pain! :D

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