Poultry
"I don't believe it"
Wednesday 21 March, 2007
The incubator packed in again - this is the third time this has happened - and the third time we've used it. That is, it has happenend EVERY time we have used it. It has been repaired twice before. This time it goes back forever.
One of the two eggs we opened was fertile. I couldn't bear to open the rest. I am absolutely disgusted / cross / frustrated. The incubator is a Covatutto, in case anyone is thinking of buying one.
Anyone in Central Scotland got a broody hen?
Third time lucky?
Thursday 15 March, 2007
We've just started our third attempt at hatching eggs in the incubator. First two times, the damned machine broke down. We've got nine eggs in - temperature is fine, but I'm having a problem keeping the humidity up, so I've resorted to misting twice a day.
Keep everything crossed!!
Hen swap
Tuesday 20 February, 2007
The things that go on in suburbia on a weekend!
Our friends, Carol and Graham, have our Hobbes' brother and are keen to breed some pure Light Sussex chickens. A deal was struck whereby we would give them two of our Light Sussex hens, as mates for Hobbes' brother, and we would get two Black Rocks in return.
As agreed, Carol and Graham delivered the two Black Rocks on Saturday. Carol dropped by after work tonight to pick up the two Light Sussex - so Miss Green and Miss Purple have gone to a new home in the hills.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Monday 5 February, 2007
Hobbes (and Mrs. Leghorn) in a short film about a brash young cockerel making his way in the world.
Chickens and sardines
Monday 5 February, 2007
A very short clip of our hens and Hobbes getting their weekly sardines. Expertly shot by Claire.
Hobbes and his girls
Thursday 18 January, 2007
Looks like the fella has settled in. Just needs to earn his spurs now.
Hobbes update
Wednesday 3 January, 2007
Well, the bold boy (ha!) has mastered the ladders and can now get himself to bed. We let them out yesterday and the girls, particularly Miss Yellow and Mrs Red, were giving him a bit of a hard time but they did let him have some corn and they did let him go to bed. He'll soon learn that the call "chook, chook, chook" means something to eat.
In fact, he likes his bed. I had to "encourage" him down this morning and he was first upstairs tonight (by a long way). It's been a pretty miserable day here, weatherwise, so maybe he's smarter than the others, who were huddled under the hedge.
Say "hello" to Hobbes
Sunday 31 December, 2006
Say "hello" to Hobbes, our new cockerel, who arrived last night. As you can see he's a Light Sussex and he was bred by friends of ours, Mhairi and Tim. He's still a youngster, but he's a big boy already.
This was taken last night before he was put in with the girls for the night. The hope is that, by morning, they will think he's part of the flock...
Henry, no more
Sunday 23 July, 2006
Unfortunately, epecially for him, our cockerel, Henry, has been killed by a fox (we think). He was there at 10am when I left the house and, by the time Dan came home at noon, he was gone. All that was left was a pile of feathers. Dan followed the trail of feathers along the hedge and found the body under the brambles, headless.
It was a short life but, I think, a happy one - corn three times a day and unlimited sex. What more could a boy ask for!
So we'll have to think about a replacement, but not just yet.
Hatching eggs
Thursday 6 July, 2006
For those of you waiting with bated breath for an update on our second attempt to hatch eggs, I can confirm that it was not a success. Once again, the incubator broke down. It really is most disappointing. It was working fine, apparently, then the heating element packed in, same as last time.
We are now waiting for Parcelforce to pick it up to return it to Ascott to be repard again.
Four out of the six eggs were fertile, too.
Ah, well. Third time lucky, maybe.
