duchess_declutter_wendy: 10/1/12

October 15, 2012

Don't Count Your Chickens etc. etc. .....

However, there could well be a boost to the number of bantams at our place in the next few days!

Ten under this girl.

and 15 under these two. Yes two! In total, the number of eggs being incubated by these three are 25.

The two sisters have quietly co-existed for the last few weeks. Getting up at the same time to have a bit of a break - and then racing back to the nest.

Which leads me to wonder - what exactly is going to happen when (potentially) 15 chicks hatch?

They all have to move anyway - at the moment they are sitting on the 'mezzanine' level of the bantam boutique. I have a large - hopefully fingers crossed - snakeproof enclosure ready to move them into.

This little one should be fine with hers.

What to do however with the two hens/15 chicken situation.

Looking for some help here -

PLAN A - separate roughly half the chickens and put them into separate cages with each mum

PLAN B - well I don't really think that would work, but Plan B was to let them work it out themselves. I can only see that ending badly.

PLAN C - I separate them but let them co-exist in a communal type arrangement.

Any thoughts or ideas welcomed. Preferably in the next couple of days! I probably should have separated them earlier, but they seemed pretty happy together.

Till next time at bantam central.

cheers Wendy

Maria

Yes fruit fly here too - we have had limited success with those fly trap gadgets, but still won't plant any more after the end of October.

Fiona from Arbordale Farm

Yes - totally weird!

Coal Valley View

Strange but true Mel!

October 10, 2012

Hippeastrums, Tomatoes and Eggs

Well it is a strange title, but it all seemed to fit together for this post.

Like Hippeastums, sometimes things just look better grouped together.

The tomatoes and eggs have been bountiful. For us, tomatoes now are at their peak. Before too long, it will be too hot.

The eggs are plentiful, with a big variety in sizes.

Oh - and that strange looking one?

This has to be a first! I’ve never seen one like this before, and I would say it’s a ‘oncer’.

Weird eh?! 4cm long. It wasn’t from one of the bantams, so one of the other hens produced this little anomaly. Looked so cute with the little feather stuck to it.

However, photographing it proved to be difficult without managing to make it look – well let’s face it – somehow obscene.

So I've tried to be a little creative, and I leave you with an egg circle to ponder upon. Guiness Book of Records look out!

Cheers for now

Wendy

Naturally Carol - Yes I think everyone loves this time of year Carol – but maybe not how quickly it flies until Christmas season!!

Kim – the garden is very rewarding this time of year. I’m guessing it’s still a bit cool where you are though Kim

Claire – Glad you like wisteria too Claire. Both ours have actually nearly finished flowering for the moment. So I’m glad I took those photos when I did! Our greens are still powering on though.

bonsaimum – yes, I believe that would be a valid statement Bonsaimum! ... (you must have heard my bones creaking!)

Maria – thanks Maria - yes we do take the weather for granted a bit I guess. I could swap when it gets hot though! Not a fan of the really hot weather.

librarygirl thanks LG – nothing like a bit of garden envy! Wisteria is fairly easy to contain, not too rampant – well in our experience at least. Would look lovely in your garden I’m sure.

muppy – No problems Muppy! In return however, I’d like your cooking skills lol.

Coal Valley View – Yes I guess things would be still cool where you are Mel. Swap you on one of our hot days though lol.