[sausagesandcash]

You bloody shrunk him!!

[little blue]

*sharp intake of breath! *  must have been the Hot wash,  I thought 'Bold' might make her braver....

[Womble]

Well, it's either the porridge or the ironing, but something's worked! Despite the weather, one of our Black Rocks just started laying again on the 27th after a two month break, and Rhubarb the Welsummer laid her very first egg this morning!

I'm gobsmacked - wasn't expecting any eggs from either of these two until Easter at the earliest!

[Rosemary]

Tradition has it that laying starts on Valentine's Day. Nobody told my Warrens though, who are laying like mad.

[Womble]

Interesting!

It's nice to have a wee bit of love from the girls before then though, to help me get through the dark winter months  .  Very tasty they were too! 

[sheila]

I really loved the picture "chickens in the snow" I am roasting alive here in Australia!

[doganjo]

My ducks and chickens are frozen into their run!  I can't get the gate open.  So I'm having to pur warm water into their bowls from over the fence and throw their food onto the snow - trying to find a bit that hasn't been pooped on that is!  I really, really, really need this cold to go away now - how can I put more straw in for them and how can I see if they are laying!

[ballingall]

I know Annie- its the same here. I can only just get the runner's gate open to get in, but I had to dig out one of the hen run gates this morning. We have moved the silkies and the ex batteries into the billy pen in the goat shed (because he is away on holidays!).

Beth

[MiriMaran]

I can't believe it - we are still getting about 5 eggs a day!  Last year, months seemed to go past with no eggs and as soon as we had the cold snap in Feb they started again!  Wierd!

As for an iron - what's that?  When my OH and I first got together I decided to do some of his ironing to show my potential wifely skills.   After ironing a pair of swim shorts the iron had a beautiful melted tartan pattern on it!   I've not been allowed to any ironing since - bliss!   The boys and i are always crumpled and my OH irons his own things.  I'd rather be crumpled than do ironing any day!!!

[HappyHippy]

Definately agree with you there Mirimaran !
My way of ironing is to get everything just before it's totally dry, fold it neatly and leave it for mmmm well, at least 2 days before putting it away (sometimes longer!) seems to do the trick 
One of my friends was totally shocked by this confession and my mother-in-law's chin just about hit the floor - they both iron underwear and even bed sheets  Life's too short for ironing I say 

[doganjo]

My way of ironing is to get everything just before it's totally dry, fold it neatly and leave it for mmmm well, at least 2 days before putting it away (sometimes longer!) seems to do the trick 

When I try that things go smelly - what am I doing wrong?

[HappyHippy]

I've had things go smelly before, think they may have been too damp when i folded them or maybe it was because I put them into a plastic 'trug' style basket with solid sides. I use very open baskets with lots of holes now and leave the baskets next to the radiator and just turn them every now and again. A wee drop of essential oil in the wash drawer helps too  but make sure it's one you REALLY like because if you happen to tumble dry any clothes the smell travels through your whole house !

[CameronS]

So is that how scientists created Mirco Pigs, a hot wash cycle, then a steam iron? 

[Womble]

Could be - I'm still trying to get my head round the concept of 'easy-care' sheep though. Does that mean they're a wool-polyester mix or something?  Can they be ironed too?

[doganjo]

So is that how scientists created Mirco Pigs, a hot wash cycle, then a steam iron? 

A good giggle, Cameron.  Well done!