Chickens versus David Austin!

Everything is NOT coming up roses thanks to chickens!

Having sneaked off to David Austin's nursery (more later) on my own whilst my husband and - very understanding house guests visited the air museum at Cosford the other weekend, Chris and I decided to replace a dead Acacia at the front of the house - killed by the recent heavy frosts with my recent acquisitions.  Our 1st priority as always is ensuring the chickens are in the Hennery before.....

Back to gardening after the snow

Despite it being Thursday, it was back to gardening after all the snow.  Chris finished digging in the rabbit wire and we finished off the end of path between the garage and the hedge where it joins the drive.  We split the remaining pieces of Western Red Cedar and cut them to size before digging them in and using them as a low retaining wall.

Eggsact Statistics:

2010 Egg production:

• June.....29
• July....116
• Aug...122
• Sep...116
• Oct....113
• Nov...107
• Dec.....98              TOTAL LAID: 701

Income
Total sales @ £1 per half dozen: £22.00
Outgoings
Corn/Layers Mash::                     £27.49

Total number of eggs given away or enjoyed by ourselves - erm..... about 569?  We found only one with a double yoke but I figure we're well in pocket despite the extra time spent raking and tidying up after them.  The cost of housing is not factored in as we figure that it was a capital expense and in any case we enjoyed building all the additions!  Other bonuses include far fewer slugs and snails eating the Hostas etc..  Major downside was the fact that they discovered the vegetable patch but it took them until September!  We plan to fence around it before spring - another cost but I daresay that we'll enjoy doing that too.  Can I argue that fact that they keep us fitter?  Also, they're always let out at 8:00am on the dot which means that Al brings up the morning coffee - MAJOR bonus!!! Who wants to be an egg millionaire anyway?

Christmas Day in the Teme Valley

Despite the miserable, grey and dripping thaw and the brown slushy roads now, our Christmas Day walk in the Teme Valley could not have been more beautiful or more spectacular.  The snow transformed the entire landscape and it was quite magical.  Never have I taken more photos! 

Comments from the coop:

• Christmas lunch of meal worms & salad much enjoyed
• Fed up with being confined to barracks by deep snow
• Egg production down
• Warm layers' mash for breakfast tomorrow

For even more snowy scenes check out:

http://picasaweb.google.com/peartree.pam/BestEverChristmasDay2010#

Longer icicles & even deeper snow

Left: Icicles on the greenhouse

Right: Snow in the orchard over a foot deep

Above: The pond with a blanket of snow too deep for my boots!

This is what we returned to following our visit to Sandy!  Even MORE snow!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/peartree.pam/TripToBedford#

Even more snow!

Above: PTC Country

Still more snow and heavy frosts!  The girls are remaining snug in the Hennery with frequent de-icing on the water drinker! Amazingly and despite the cold weather and short daylight hours; they continue to lay.  We must be doing something right!  Can't help but take lots of photographs with everything covered in snow and hoar frost!  In fact: I'm taking far too many!

Right: House for Hens, Hen Shelter & The Hennery

http://picasaweb.google.com/peartree.pam/YetMoreSnow19122010#

The more it snows............

The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.

And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.



A.A.M.