Hen Happenings

Well nothing too exciting to report - not really sure why I haven't posted for a little while.  Anyhoo.... I'm back with a few snaps of what is happening around the hen house at the moment.

The hens have all been very busy, back in full swing with the egg laying.  This is rush hour in the hen house some days.  There is of course, several other options available for more comfortably egg laying.

However, this is the preferred nesting box it seems.  Looks pretty uncomfortable to me!  Does make for a funny photo though.

Little Banty is going well with her latest batch of little chicks.  They are so cute, and about  6 weeks old now.  She has decided they are big enough to nest on the perch at night.  So there they all huddle, as close as they can get to her... and a couple under her wings.

 I'm wondering now how many little hens there are in this batch.  What are the odds I wonder?

This little beauty is the last of the previous surrogate batch of Little Bantys'.   Sadly, she is the only survivor as the other 5 have all died.  They met their Maker in (when I think about it) very surprisingly different and diverse ways.   Strangely, I don't think snakes were involved.

Can anyone tell me -  what do you think she is?  I'm assuming just bantam Pekin, but her colouring is lovely.  Such a lovely little creature too, so friendly.  Laying eggs already too at about 5 months.

I call her Little Dainty :)

(I have just re-read all this and realised how many times I have used the word 'little' with regards to Bantams.  Apologies, but obviously they are little and cute!)

cheers for now - Wendy

My comments from previous post :

Fiona from Arbordale Farm - thanks so much for linking up Fiona.  Your morning walk definitely looks more rural than mine!  Do you see any cars I wonder.

Bruise Mouse  - yes it is lovely - wish I did feel more invigorated than I do some days!  I do appreciate it though.

muppy - nice to have some un-cultivated spots I think too Muppy.

saving for travel - let me know about the snake skin if you are serious! I still have it.
sophie...^5  - yes it is an attempt at civilisation anyhow!  Dexter loves his walks.

Suzanne - please do, would love to see it!

Judith - Dexter well behaved - I think not - he is a terror/terrier!  Photos can be deceiving.

Spring here means ......

these things - in no particular order -

Lovely wisteria in flower

Spring Chickens

I treated Little Banty with some more little chickens to take under her wing (literally!).   They are buff Pekin and they should end up very much like her.   You may remember from this post that my favourite little bantam is a great surrogate mother.

I happened upon an advert recently for these little guys. They were a little old (2 weeks) to put under her, but I was reasonably confident that she would take them. .... and of course she did!

However, snakes have woken up after winter and are on the move again.  As evidenced by this snake skin that has been shed on our back verandah!

This looks really big, but I'm pretty sure that it was the skin of a green tree snake I spotted lurking a few days back.  Have to make sure those chicks are locked up tight at night.

 

Another wisteria vine, but this is the native wisteria it has more of a rambling growth pattern, and the flower spikes are upwards.  I'm sure there are much better images than this to be found - just Google it.  Very pretty flower and the bees (and birds) love it!

Lastly, thanks for all the kind comments about Dexter.  He is, of course, just fine and back to his feisty self.  Just thought I'd include a close up of his bite mark, which I have highlighted in green (you may have to double click on it).  Can you see the canine mouth imprint!?  Lucky there were only 2 puncture wounds.  Could certainly have been a lot worse.

 

Cheers for now - Wendy 

Waving hello to my newest follower Julia - welcome!

My replies to comments on previous post:

Kim - small dogs are just different somehow aren't they?  Not just size, but attitude!

librarygirl - ouch indeed, and for a few days after too.

Judith- thanks, yes a bit of a shock to both of us!

veggiegobbler - it was so quick, I don't even think he had time to yelp

Lyndel - hugs appreciated by both Dex and the footy boys, thanks Lyndel!

Fi - those cones are just wicked I think... they do the trick (usually) though.  EasyYo- I've found that the greek yoghurt works best for us too. Thanks for the water tip, have tried that and it works a treat Fi.

Shaheen - thanks a lot, that's sweet of you.  He is fine now.

saving for travel - thanks SFT, he is well and truly up and running around now