Morehens disease!

[Margaid]

Had to look them up - what colour are the hens?

 

[dianefairhall]

OH went out earlier to give Izzie her treat of leftover rice. She was lying on her side and he thought the worst when her eye opened, she went 'eek' and ran off. She had been sunbathing and nodded off because it was sunny here for once. When she saw he had rice she was straight back to sample it. She's a lovely hen and she can stay as long as she has with us.

 

[Marigold]

That would have been a good bit of video! I’m glad she’s doing well. Down here in the Hampshire tropics I feel for the girls wearing their feather duvets in this blistering heat (29C yesterday) although their run has shade in places all day and gets full shade from big trees by 2.30. Poppy gets hot with her thick coat as well, but at least she camps out under the bed when we retire to the bedroom and switch on the air conditioner. This is guilt-free as the solar panels are working overtime on generating units and also turning our very old electricity meter backwards as they do so. I look at the weather forecast for the northern islands with much envy at the moment.

 

[bigyetiman]

That reminded me of a neighbour telling me our hens were all ill and dying, they were all sunbathing. As proved when I walked amongst them by the snorts of disgust as they had to move. The neighbour wasn't convinced of the sunbathing theory.

I hope your Izzie is with you as long as our Izzie, 9 years

 

[bigyetiman]

Had to look them up - what colour are the hens?

They range from a dark brown- light brown, most have light petal shaped feathers on their necks. We got them from a breeder based at Chelmsford and he only deals mainly with the brown range. Nice man, and we have had hens from him before, no problems.

We already have 3 that treat egg laying like an audition for a Shakespearean production, like being in the room with 3 acting dames. Another who could end up being called Dora the Explorer.

 

[dianefairhall]

That would have been a good bit of video! I’m glad she’s doing well. Down here in the Hampshire tropics I feel for the girls wearing their feather duvets in this blistering heat (29C yesterday) although their run has shade in places all day and gets full shade from big trees by 2.30. Poppy gets hot with her thick coat as well, but at least she camps out under the bed when we retire to the bedroom and switch on the air conditioner. This is guilt-free as the solar panels are working overtime on generating units and also turning our very old electricity meter backwards as they do so. I look at the weather forecast for the northern islands with much envy at the moment.

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Yes, at the moment it's 13degC here (feels like 10degC) as it's still quite windy. OH and me think we're probably luckier than the sweltering Southerners!

 

[Marigold]

At least when it’s a bit chilly you can put on an extra layer, do something energetic and deal with it! I find the heat is really enervating. No rain at all for weeks and weeks, the garden is beyond watering but it distresses me to see the plants wilting that I’ve so lovingly nurtured.

 

[dianefairhall]

Especially the veg which will be cropping soon. Our spuds and broad beans have taken a hammering from the wind but we don't have trouble with watering!

 

[Icemaiden]

Our house is difficult to get warm in the winter. But just by leaving the front curtains & windows closed this week it hasn't got above 22°C inside. It's lovely! That's the south east for you. No air-con required.

 

[dianefairhall]

Our house in Yorkshire was stone built and north facing and never got above about 20degC however hot it was outside. It was blissful when working in the garden to go inside to cool down. This house like many Scottish houses is timber-framed with plenty of insulation and is a warm house. Our living room is north facing so never gets direct sunlight (not that we have that problem at the moment).

 

[Hen-Gen]

Mine is south facing with big windows and also Velux windows to maximise both light and heat from the sun. No problem with excess heat though since we have not yet had a day when you could remove your fleecy top.

 

[dianefairhall]

The opposite side of our house is of course south facing so we get the benefit of that too. The north side has the view of the loch and it's better for my eyes not to be in direct sunlight. Still in woolies here, too.

 

[Marigold]

Still in woolies here, too.

Lucky you! Though I’ve been digging my lightweight dresses and tops out of hibernation!

 

[dianefairhall]

:lol:

 

[dianefairhall]

Crikey, they didn't waste any time!

It looks like our new girls will be delayed as the ferry between Skye and Harris is up the chute.

Since Izzie has stopped laying should I still be giving her layers pellets or something else? She doesn't seem so keen on it now.

 

[Marigold]

I wouldn’t worry, just carry on with what she’s always had.
Sorry your long-awaited girls are delayed, Diane.Does the ferry problem mean that you are lacking other things? What’s wrong with it?

 

[dianefairhall]

The ferry MV Hebrides that does the 'Skye triangle' Skye, North Uist and Harris has problems with its fire control system so has gone off to be repaired. Our main ferry, the MV Loch Seaforth, goes between Ullapool and Stornoway and that brings our freight so we are well supplied.

The hen supplier, Donald MacDonald, brings the chooks over from Skye to Harris then distributes them around the island then gets the last ferry home. A long day for him.

 

[dianefairhall]

Please keep us posted!

Well, our lovely Sussex, Skye, died just after I posted last so we just have Bluebell Izzie now. She is to receive three new friends tomorrow, a cream legbar, a cheshire blue and a white leghorn. Note no Oxford comma! I'll post some pics when I get some.

 

[Marigold]

Good luck! I hope she enjoys meeting her new ‘friends’!

 

[Icemaiden]

That's been a long wait for your new girls! I guess you might have to buy eggs until the spring, but at least your youngsters will have settled in well by the time they start laying.