Stephen and the hens

[Ian]

Stephen and his wife, Kath, popped by today and here he is with Julia and one of our rescue hens, Kylie:



I recall Pol was interested in the work on our new fox-secure run for the hens, so here's a pic:



And finally, the hens enjoying the spring sunshine earlier today:



Sadly, at the end of February we lost Chickey, one of our four rescue hens we've had since May last year, after a short illness.

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Haha, yes we called in on our way back from London where I had a job in the morning. Ian and Julia were very hospitable with a smashing late lunch, many thanks both of you. BTW Ian makes a mean wholemeal loaf which went down a treat

[ash]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Nice one, good to see some pics of you elite forum members, you look pretty normal
Nice to no you are doing your bit for the 'chicken' we have just had spicey cajun chicken wraps for our supper

[Pol]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Aye Stephen's a big fella so sensible Kylie got herself snuggled safely into Julia for protection.

Sorry to hear about Chickey. I didn't know about that but at least it's comforting to know she was rescued had some good times running free.

You did an excellent job building that hen run. It looks very nice under the tree. I imagine it'll provide a nice bit of shade for them in Summer. Do you actually get foxes visiting the garden?

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Aye Stephen's a big fella so sensible Kylie got herself snuggled safely into Julia for protection.

Sorry to hear about Chickey. I didn't know about that but at least it's comforting to know she was rescued had some good times running free.

You did an excellent job building that hen run. It looks very nice under the tree. I imagine it'll provide a nice bit of shade for them in Summer. Do you actually get foxes visiting the garden?

Pol

I have never seen a fox in our garden, though our next door neighbour has. You can hear them occasionally at night. The run has chicken wire on the roof as well as the sides. At night the hens are secure inside their coop. We keep the run door closed of course, and at night the coop door and the hatch inside the coop are closed, so there are three layers of security.

The hens get some sun first thing in he morning, but it's shady from mid morning onwards.

A bluetit was feeding on my home made fat balls this morning! First time I've seen any interest in them!

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Stephen and the hens

I have never seen a fox in our garden, though our next door neighbour has. You can hear them occasionally at night. The run has chicken wire on the roof as well as the sides. At night the hens are secure inside their coop. We keep the run door closed of course, and at night the coop door and the hatch inside the coop are closed, so there are three layers of security.

The hens get some sun first thing in he morning, but it's shady from mid morning onwards.

A bluetit was feeding on my home made fat balls this morning! First time I've seen any interest in them!

Ian

Blithe told me the incident with hers was because she'd forgotten to secure the latch one night and a fox had managed to get to her hens. Yours now have 3 layers of security so I'm pretty certain they'll be very safe ... even if any fox does visit at night.

Nice to hear a Blue tit is enjoying yer culinary skills. It's well possible it might have a nest somewhere nearby so there's a good chance you'll be getting more visits.

We noticed a Bluey's nest in the eaves at the corner of the house a couple of days ago. They're coming and going frequently at the moment, also hearing them scratching about. We haven't heard any young'uns chirping yet but hopefully they'll emerge safely before too long. I've been spending some time trying to get a half-decent picci of them coming and going at the opening but haven't had anything spectacular yet.

A Great tit shoved them out of their nest box last year. Apparently the Great tits often do that then build their own nest over the top of the abandoned Bluey's nest. So the Bluey must've got wise this year and found itself a warm place behind the eaves.

BTW - d'ya have any squirrels? They often enjoy fat balls. I gave up buying the large peanut cakes because the squirrels nabbed them and sometimes ran away with them. They also nick any half coconuts we're daft enough leave out.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Blithe told me the incident with hers was because she'd forgotten to secure the latch one night and a fox had managed to get to her hens. Yours now have 3 layers of security so I'm pretty certain they'll be very safe ... even if any fox does visit at night.

Nice to hear a Blue tit is enjoying yer culinary skills. It's well possible it might have a nest somewhere nearby so there's a good chance you'll be getting more visits.

We noticed a Bluey's nest in the eaves at the corner of the house a couple of days ago. They're coming and going frequently at the moment, also hearing them scratching about. We haven't heard any young'uns chirping yet but hopefully they'll emerge safely before too long. I've been spending some time trying to get a half-decent picci of them coming and going at the opening but haven't had anything spectacular yet.

A Great tit shoved them out of their nest box last year. Apparently the Great tits often do that then build their own nest over the top of the abandoned Bluey's nest. So the Bluey must've got wise this year and found itself a warm place behind the eaves.

BTW - d'ya have any squirrels? They often enjoy fat balls. I gave up buying the large peanut cakes because the squirrels nabbed them and sometimes ran away with them. They also nick any half coconuts we're daft enough leave out.

Pol

About 7-8 months ago when we first had the bird feeder station and it was not yet in its permanent position we had some squirrels having ago at it, but I've not actually seen any in the garden this year yet.

Now the weeping willow is in leaf we might get more visiting?

Ian

[Andrew Thatcher]

Re: Stephen and the hens

A bluetit was feeding on my home made fat balls this morning! First time I've seen any interest in them!

Ian

Im not saying a word.

[Ian]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Im not saying a word.

Hahaha! Neither should have I!

Ian

[Julia]

Re: Stephen and the hens

me neither - they look very unappetising

[Pol]

Re: Stephen and the hens

me neither - they look very unappetising

Does he make a mess all over the kitchen when he's making them?

David ruined a couple of baking tins. He rolled the greasy concoction into balls, laid them out on a couple of baking trays then left the empty trays filthy and greasy in the shed. The mice were probably pleased but I wasn't exactly chuffed at the time.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Does he make a mess all over the kitchen when he's making them?

David ruined a couple of baking tins. He rolled the greasy concoction into balls, laid them out on a couple of baking trays then left the empty trays filthy and greasy in the shed. The mice were probably pleased but I wasn't exactly chuffed at the time.

Pol

Actually (steady Andrew!) I was quite neat and tidy. I melted the lard in a glass bowl in the microwave carefully, then mixed in flour, dried mealworms, and bird seed, and then left it to go solid again. I then turned the mixture out onto grease-proof paper and formed the balls while they were still wrapped in the paper. I didn't even get my hands dirty! Mind you the lard stinks... I just used the cheap supermarket blocks of pork lard; 23p a block, I think, and enough to make four good sized balls (yes, four, Andrew! ). Total cost, probably 10p a ball.

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Actually (steady Andrew!) I was quite neat and tidy. I melted the lard in a glass bowl in the microwave carefully, then mixed in flour, dried mealworms, and bird seed, and then left it to go solid again. I then turned the mixture out onto grease-proof paper and formed the balls while they were still wrapped in the paper. I didn't even get my hands dirty! Mind you the lard stinks... I just used the cheap supermarket blocks of pork lard; 23p a block, I think, and enough to make four good sized balls (yes, four, Andrew! ). Total cost, probably 10p a ball.

Ian

Aye well you're sensible enough to use yer loaf.

I told David to use one of the older casseroles but he never listens. I agree about the stench from the Lard. Yuck!

Pol

[Barr1e]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Nice to see the big fella.

--------------------------------------------
Fox kills........................
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8611486.stm

Regards. Barr1e

[Pops]

Re: Stephen and the hens

Super job making your own Ian .... I'm sure they'll soon polish them off.....eventually

Nice to see Stephen for real and I'm jealous of that home made wholemeal. No finer smell in the world than home made bread being baked.