Inspired by @happypat's lovely interiors but I don't have her beautiful country backgrounds - and I left it too late in the day and I'm not loving the graininess. The other reason I'm posting this is in honour of lovely Conker, my chestnut hen. I fear she may no longer be alive by tomorrow. She was in the nest box looking very sad tonight with a couple of soft eggs in the nest box. I was all ready to bring her inside in a box but the other hens didn't seem to be bothering her and I decided she would feel more relaxed in the hen house than indoors. I don't know what's wrong - she's been very slow to start laying so I suspect something has gone wrong with egg production.
I am going to be totally seized up tomorrow after cleaning all the carpets. I have been planning on doing it before Christmas but things were rather precipitated by Monty this morning (really best not to ask). It involved lugging very heavy equipment upstairs (plus Hoover, plus dehumidifier) but it wasn't expensive to hire and the results are very good so I will probably do it again (the 20 year old rug is looking very nice indeed!)
Off out tonight - Governor job and then book club so I'm afraid yet again there won't be lot of commenting. Determined to catch up properly soon.
This is a magnificent hen mug...if I had seen one of those at Emma's I would have bought Harry one.......combined with the row of eggs a beautifully composed shot Judith!
Poor Conker I do hope all is well. Chickens are a mystery, we had two die on us last week....Harrys favourite Bluebell just dropped dead & the other one lingered for weeks moping about. Harry went to Barton Grange garden centre where there is a chicken farm just behind. He had two pure bred hens that the name slips my mind...will google.......they were £40 each!! He left it but we could do with two more hens soon.
Hope Conker is alive in the morning....they can look very miserable for no reason!
@happypat there's one about vintage farm tractors and machinery for Harry - thought of him when I saw it! Hope you're right about poor Conker - I might send Nigel down! £40 a bird?! Must google Wellsummer. If Conker dies I might ring the farmer - not to complain but it's a new breed so it might be a problem.
@happypat Really sorry to hear about Conker. Hopefully things will be OK. My Dad used to breed parrots for a living and as soon as any of them were ill (particularly with egg laying issues) he would put them under a heat lamp. It would very often do the trick. We have done this with chickens too, or put them in a box in a really warm shed with a heater on and that too sometimes works. Tho like Pat says, they are funny creatures and often just give up the ghost for no apparent reason, so if they are old birds we just leave them to it or help them on their way. I would definitely mention it to the farmer tho he might have some ideas. I am guessing she is one of your new ones.
£40 a chicken! I thought you were going to say that Harry had paid it which would have surprised me for a farmer. There is a very posh garden centre near here which is frequented by supermodels and filmstars and the rest of the 'Chipping Norton Set' when they are staying in their Cotswold hideouts, They sell them for about that much too.
Let us know what you find this morning Judith. There might be some more things you can try.
@jantan@happypat Still alive though not very chirpy. She is at least out and about. It was very wet yesterday and wet again today. I'm taking Adam to a college open day but I'll Nigel to keep an eye and bring her in for a warm up if she still looks miserable. Top tip - thanks Jan!!
Poor Conker I do hope all is well. Chickens are a mystery, we had two die on us last week....Harrys favourite Bluebell just dropped dead & the other one lingered for weeks moping about. Harry went to Barton Grange garden centre where there is a chicken farm just behind. He had two pure bred hens that the name slips my mind...will google.......they were £40 each!! He left it but we could do with two more hens soon.
Hope Conker is alive in the morning....they can look very miserable for no reason!
£40 a chicken! I thought you were going to say that Harry had paid it which would have surprised me for a farmer. There is a very posh garden centre near here which is frequented by supermodels and filmstars and the rest of the 'Chipping Norton Set' when they are staying in their Cotswold hideouts, They sell them for about that much too.
Let us know what you find this morning Judith. There might be some more things you can try.