The Poultry Keeper

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I'm having withdrawal symptoms about the girls who packed their suitcases. Can anyone let me know how they are now, one month down the line and maybe a picture, if you possibly could. I keep hearing them outside, and when I get there, they're not there. Please if you don't mind.
thank you

Bhindi · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:52 am Post subject:

Oh bless you Summayah... it must be really hard on you... I hope there will be a time when your ready to take on chickens again.. xx Claire

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Ohhhhhhhh, the roof is gone! And I feel like I am in hurricane season.

Soon Summayah...soon you will get your girls again.

CP · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:43 am Post subject:

Alex posted a pic of your Polly on the ice of our pond - hope you spotted it.

Nutmeg has settled in like she was always 'one of the girls' & the other three tend to stick together more. They are all fine & healthy.

Little Dolly is getting quite tame now & keeps coming over to talk when we are in the run with them.

They have all recognised that they are let out in the garden when we are at home, & rush through the gate with the rest in a mad dash to the grassy part of the garden. (not much grass left in the run, unfortunately!)

We think Nutmeg may have started laying again as we have had 2 darkish brown eggs over the last few days.

I will try to get some nice pics for you, but with the dark evenings I haven't had an opportunity yet. Will do my best to get some soon for you. Wink

jooles · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:37 am Post subject:

Oh Summayah! I really feel for you Crying or Very sad

Your girls have all settled in very well here. Marmalade was the bottom of the order at first but I put out several food stations dotted about the run and kept a close eye to make sure she didn't go without but, no one harmed her, she was just very wary of everything at first. They have all settled down now and they seem to get on very well together.

Matilda is the boldest of the three and is always first at the door when I go out to visit them. These days Marmalade is not far behind as she is getting braver by the day. She will let me stroke her a little now.

Charlie is still the most timid with me. She has no problem with the other hens, but she won't let me stroke her. She has been moulting the last few weeks though so maybe she's not feeling on top of the world at the moment. Her neck feathers are just growing back now.

One of the best bits for me is going out just after dark and checking that they're all in the house. I shine my torch inside the pophole and I see a line of feathery bums all snuggled up together on the perch. Aaaw! Sweet!

I'll try and get some piccies for you today.

NannyP · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:47 am Post subject:

So pleased you asked, it means we get to see photos of the little cherubs Very Happy

I think of them as evacuees, like those children in the war who had to move out of the cities.
Very Happy

mojo · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:18 pm Post subject:

i remember it well i was one of those kids but REMEMBER we all came back home.....................luv mojo Laughing

jooles · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:12 pm Post subject:

Here's some pics ...

Marmalade and Charlie

Matilda

Marmalade with Vanessa in the background

There are some more in my gallery. Was difficult to get a good pic of Charlie because she's not looking her best right now, being only half dressed!

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Remind me again...what breed is Marmalade? Oooooooo, spectacular!

Fangs · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:07 pm Post subject:

marmalade looks like she is a gold silkies (gold being the term for buff in silkies). hope you get some mroe chooks again summuyah
Fangs

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

thank you, all of you ~ they made me smile again. Yes Fangs you're right marmalade is a gold silkie and still looking girlish I'm pleased to say ~ she's looking really nice as she matures.
I'm pleased they've settled with you all. Charlie was always more timid than any other of the girls, and yet was never picked on at all. I can see she's moulting, not so much white on the neck as she used to have.
thank you

jooles · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:16 am Post subject:

I'll take some more pics of Charlie when she's better dressed. Yes Marmalade is looking lovely, I can see how she's matured even in the short time she's been with me. And Matilda is fab, she strikes me as being prim and proper. Very Happy

Lisa · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 11:11 am Post subject:

Ah, they look lovely and quite happy too.

Glad you asked Summayah - gives us all a chance to share in the update Razz

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

Hi Summayah,
Sorry I've been a bit quiet lately - what with work and having to complete a portfolio for my course...... what time I have had has been with children, chickens or getting ready for Xmas!! Laughing

any way, an update - Honey is still top hen but is now outranked by my wellsummer cockeral, George, (although bossy he seems quite protective over his girls) I have progressed to letting them free in the garden (didn't have much choice actually Rolling Eyes

, they decided to jump the fence, then had problems getting back in so I decided to just open the gate...) Primrose has grown so big now - she is nearly the same size as cinnamon and only occasionally follows her round now. They all wander into the kitchen if I leave the doors open and my 3 cats don't seem to know what to make of them!! I did promise to post some photographs but had a few problems so will try again later. Hyacinth's beautiful white feathers are abit grubby at the moment (along with my white sussex's). Their favorite past-time seems to be jumping around in a pile of dry leaves or scratching around under the hedges. anyway I hope you and all the other forum fanatics have a great Xmas and new year. Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

thank you Heather. They were always house chickens ~ cinnamon always brought the babies in and primrose took it to even greater lengths by wandering from the back of the house to the front and up the stairs before she was spotted! I'm glad they're all settled with you. thank you