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Tuesday 29 March 2016

Chickens enjoying the Spring!



Though the chickens (15 of them, 12 hens and 3 cockerels) get plenty of food in their henny house, including layers pellets and lots of scraps (veggie only), they also love rootling for worms and such like in the garden.  AND they eat grass.  I didn't know that till I actually SAW them.  It does mean once I start getting young shoots appearing in the garden the hens dive on them for a feast, so any veggies or new plants need to be protected.

They like rootling among the dead grass under the willow trees too. Lots of nice creepy-crawlies to eat...


And it's an ideal place to have a rest and do a bit of grooming and preening.....


and then on for another graze....


Though the daffodils mostly out, much of the garden comes to life much later than in the South of UK.  Well I can't blame it.  Stick your head above the ground too early and it will get blasted by the winds!  This border is starting to come to life again with pulmonaria (lung wort), other perennials as well as the daffs.


Here are a lovely wee group of miniature daffs. They come out quite early and seem to do very well in my garden.


And the fluffy buds are appearing on the willow trees!  Keeping the young leaves safe and warm inside....





While on the other side of the wall over in Stromness a mist is hanging over the landscape....


But it's that time of year when I can use this sign again, to let folk who come "a-knocking" where I am,  so I'm a very happy person :-)


9 comments:

  1. I would love to keep chickens, maybe one day... Great sign.

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    1. I adore my "girls". There are no predators on the island so they can be completely free range which is great.

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  2. All chickens should be treated as well as yours. My heart aches at the millions of chickens that live and die in "factory farms" ...

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    1. I know. I can't bear to think about the poor things - though I sign endless petitions to try and stop it! My girls are most definitely free range and then enjoy a long retirement once they have stopped laying. Seems only fair after the many dozens of eggs they have provided.

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  3. Love your chickens! We have chicks about 6 weeks old now-it's the first time for us to have any. Hope they will be as pretty as yours when they mature!

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    1. Ooooh do enjoy your chickens! Hope they are all hens! And bring you lots of eggs :-)

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  4. Daffodils ... I love them, but sadly they are rare in this part of Australia [too hot:(]

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    1. I love "daffs" AND the smell! And they are so bright and cheerful after a grey winter here.

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  5. Beautiful where you are.
    The sign on the door is cute and smart. I have just been out in my garden, weeding.... Sunny here in the Stavanger region today.

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