Is is a bird? Is it a plane? No...it's a Poodle!

Not only were the girls bewildered with dealing with the deep snow, but they also had to contend with being introduced to a Poodle! Fanny Mae was horrified as the Ollie dog said Hello.

"what the hell are you?" she said.

It's snow good for us..

The girls decided it was a snow-go area when the heaviest of the snow fell earlier this month. Billy decided to stay perched whilst the rest of the girls hesitated at the coop door.

"We're not used to being frozen poultry" said Josie.

Frozen Eggs

With temperatures plummeting to super sub zero this winter, the girls eggs were freezing on impact!

Lottie and Lulu decided laying was just not for them during the cold spell, but Henrietta and the ex bats Billy & Mandy battled on providing breakfast for us every day. When temperatures hit a record -18C we had to resort to Muesli! The eggs were frozen and had bonded to the icy cold ground.

It's been a long cold winter

Fellow Hen Fanciers,
Firstly Happy New Year to you all, and here's to a cracking 2010!

It's been a long cold winter since the last update in October! After a lovely Autumn, the girls bedded down for the winter, the nights drew in and they were roosting by 4pm. By late December they survived extreme weather conditions down to -18C, and if that was not enough they met Ollie dog - our new Poodle, of which there was an outcry in the coop!

Billy and the girls hit the town!

Billy and the girls strutted out and hit the town on the other side of the fence this weekend. Full story further down the blog - revealing what the celebration is all about - it's crackin' news.

Has Henny hit the rocks?

Henrietta, ruler of the roost and head hen pecker was looking a sorry sight this weekend, especially next to Billy who boasted a whole new fluff of feathers. Rumours were rife in the coop that the old bird has been walking on eggshells for sometime and finally got herself scrambled. But we can exclusively reveal that the old bird is taking some time off laying and is officially in a moult, meaning her feathers will drop out before being replaced with a shiny new set. During this time she won't lay and will take a break. The old girl will be 5 next year, most hens are considered 'spent' after just 18 months by Tesco and find themselves in a pie. Watch this space when the all new Henrietta will strut her stuff. Bring on the eggs old girl, our omelets will be a yolk without yours!

Lovely with a bit of fresh cauli

Lookin' bootiful

Billy's ready for her close up!

Ex bat Billy, who has remained pretty scraggy and featherless since her rescue in August 08, was finally ready to step out in front of the camera today wearing her new feathers. And what a sight for sore eyes! Doesn't she look lovely - even in a roasting tin, we hardly recognise the former inmate. Fellow ex-bat Mandy grew new feathers within weeks, but our Billy never showed signs of feathery recovery, although her mental and physical health pecked up pretty quick after the rescue. We managed to poach a few words from her and she said "It feels clukin' great to be one of the beautiful birds at last".

The rest of the girls and Billy hit the town this afternoon on the other side of the fence. Chick out the blog for more exclusive pictures.

BILLY SHOWING SIGNS OF FEATHER GROWTH!

Great News Fellow Hen Fanciers....we have yet to provide photographic evidence, but it seems our Billy's feathers are finally starting to grow! The ex-bat has never properly recovered in the feather department from her days behind bars, but in recent weeks we can report that she is starting to look a bit fluffy.

Having made a full recovery health wise from the confines of the cage, Billy has not been that bothered about her lack of locks; and has enjoyed preening what little she has with the rest of the girls, stretching out her rather scabby looking wings in the summer sunshine. When asked about her new growth the perky pecker said "I am eggcited about it".

We've arranged a photo shoot and full photos will be available soon.

Summer 2009 - Holidaying down at Ourgate.

The Girls packed their cases, deserted their perches and enjoyed a summer break this month, spending a little quality time just sunbathing in the sweet long grass down at Ourgate. "We didn't bother unpacking" said Minnie, "We just got ourselves a quiet corner and nodded off. It was hen-heaven". Lottie spent time pottering around to make sure her fellow peckers had everything they needed.

Horror at the hen house door!

Stop Press! The girls faced potential horror tonight as the hen house door was accidentally locked SHUT before the girls had gone to roost!

Unable to roost safely away from Mr Fox, the girls took refuge tonight on the garden bench, with Mandy opting for a plant pot and Billy taking refuge under the garden shed!

"We thought we were abandoned" said Henrietta - Head Hen of the coop, "we were relieved when our leader opened the door and we were able to roost on the perch inside!".

AUBREY FATHERS 19 BABY CHICKS!

We've some eggciting news to share tonight! We've just heard Aubrey is proud father to no less than 19 chicks, all doing very well. He's been a busy boy since he left and will be taking the month of August off to re-coop.

That's my boy!!

Lined up and ready for bed, but where's our Lots?

Lined up and ready for bed, but where's our Lots?

Perfect fit

Surely Mr Fox won't notice me now

A night out might make a change

Has Lottie gone dotty?

Has our Lottie finally gone dotty? Does she think Mr Fox might not notice her roosting on the fence post? For the last two nights our lovely little Lottie has tried to look discreet and unnoticed - perched on the post. Sorry Lottie Love, even tonight using the bush as a disguise doesn't quite work, but keep trying we like your dotty style.

Billy & Mandy chill out in the sunny sun

Billy and Mandy, who this time last year had never even seen natural daylight, have been soaking up the sunny sun. With wings outstretched, the girls have been sunbathing and enjoying every minute of life without bars. "We love it" they said. "We didn't know the sun even shined!".

It's over for our Fanny!

Finally, after 6 long weeks our Fanny finally called it a day and got off that nest!

Facing the harsh reality that mother-hen-hood was never going to happen, she wandered out the hen house.

Having lost over half her body weight with her comb and wattles a shade of pink paler than a baby's bum, the former big breasted beauty was a sorry sight.

But all is not doom and gloom for our Fanny, we overhead her boasting to the other girls "I'm a size zero you know, they'll never roast me now".

Keep your eyes poached for developments of Fanny's fitness plan back to full health - rumour has it she may be making a DVD.

The green greener grass of home!

The girls have got themselves a new carpet of luscious green grass!  We've just had the garden landscaped, and our old back lawn has transformed the hen house into a sweet land of luxury!

Fanny Mae gets all broody

Well since spring has sprung our Fanny has got herself all broody.  So far she's spent 4 days on the nest waiting for her eggs to hatch.  We keep trying to break the news that without our Aubrey there's not much chance of that.  We've lifted her off the nest every day, but all our Fanny wants to do is brood about all puffed up and then plonks herself back on.  Even Henrietta has tried to have a word "if you think you're going to hatch those eggs you must be yolking" said the old girl.  

The Girls Raise Money for Cancer Research!

I'm running a half marathon on 17 May and the girls have helped me raise over £70 for Cancer Research!

For every £1 donated I gave away one of the girls eggs!  Within the hour I had sold out!  So thanks girls, keep on laying, it's all for a cluckin' good cause!

  

You can teach an old hen new tricks!

Well, would you believe it!  Everyday this week old girl Henrietta has performed the most amazing balancing act. Quick to prove to the younger birds she can still shock and stun, the old girl has surprised us all.   Every morning an egg is waiting for us, but not in the nest!  It's perfectly balanced on the perch!    Well done old girl!  How do you do it??!!