Hanging in there

We weren't at all optimistic about the poorly hen. We've had a discussion about at what stage he should be put out of his misery . But he must have overheard  us.
From being very placid and not even trying to evade being picked up and  not eating much  , he has perked up a bit.  The eye that was closed and yukky is opening a bit and he's getting around and eating




So watch this space.

Still not dreadfully positive about it though .

Hello , Gandy

We now have an Orpington cockerel. One of the breed  characteristics is that they are a bit larger than your average hen. As we are also breeding chickens  for roast cockerel  and   cockerel casserole as well as eggs, it wont do any harm to have slightly bigger birds.
the difference in size between Gandy, our new cockerel and Andrew , the bantam   is clear to see.

So Gandy has gone into a field along with some  of the blackrock hens

 

If we end up with another  broody hen in a few weeks ( that's the length of time is can take for the 'efforts ' of the last cockerel to  wear off)  we shall sit one on one of Gandy's eggs.

Anne and Andrew

The sorry tale of the ducks  is related here  and then here and then here and finally In Memoriam for our 2 ducks .

A kind benefactor felt sorry for me and offered to pay for any  replacements. We aren't replacing the ducks just yet   -there may be  some fencing to do around the pond, and they may need to be moved, the duck house needs a bit of a sortout.

But we have got some new chickens - Bantams  because they regularly go broody so can sit on clutches of eggs and we can have a more reliable supply of home-hatched chicks.
And so I welcome our new Pekin Bantams, named after the generous benefactor

 

 

Andrew

Anne