World Animal Day

For all the Chickens in the world that don't have a life like this.

But perhaps, one day they could, thanks to people like this - www.bhwt.org.uk/

A mystical time of year

I realise some people dread the end of Summer, but this really is a magical time. I try to see it more as regeneration. I like to believe it's the start of something new and productive, so I plan to spend my time writing and doing just that.

The trouble is, I think the girls are thinking the same thing, they seem to have adopted an interest in my writing magazine. I now wonder if they will be spending the dark winter months inside their chicken coop writing about me!

Time Team at the Chicken Coop

After being out for a few hours the other day, I got home to find that my hens had exposed an entire dinner service inside their chicken coop! Well perhaps I am exaggerating a little, but it was amazing to see that in a few hours they had taken part in their own little dig to find a hoard of pottery that has been burried there for years.

Blodwyn seemed very proud of what looked like an old chamber pot

Over the years they have found quite a lot of stuff, none of it is treasure, but it's interesting to see what they discover. I often find bits and pieces when digging my veggie patch, part of my garden was an old railway which backed onto the quarry workers cottages, so as with many households of the nineteenth century, the rubbish was thrown into the garden and left for little hens to find years later! This is a small collection of their 'finds'

My own little time team seem eager to dig up the past. Blodwyn used careful excavation techniques to unearth this find. I think she would be a valuable member on any archaeological dig!

You never know what's inside or burried under the Chicken Coop! However I am still waiting for them to discover a treasure trove! Keep digging girls!

As Many As Will

I made this little movie after listening to an excellent Folk CD by a band called 'As Many As Will'

I have the privilege of knowing one of the band members - Guy Nutting, who kindly gave me permission to use one of the tracks from their CD - 'A Bit On The Side'.

The track I have used fitted so well with my own happy little band of hens, who appear to celebrate life on every occasion when they are allowed to roam free and enjoy the garden.

The pictures and music capture their personalities - they could even be dancing in the first few images! Then they continue to display their lovely and unique characters whilst enjoying the end of Summer.

If you enjoyed the music as much as I did, you can get more information about 'As Many As Will' at www.myspace.com/asmanyaswill

A Dragon Inside The Chicken Coop

As I did my usual check on the girls tonight, I thought there was a little wild bird inside the chicken coop. They didn't seem bothered by the fluttering of tiny wings hovering above their heads, as quite often small birds get inside their coop, yet soon escape.

As I entered the coop, I discovered that it was in fact a Dragonfly. It was trapped by a single thread of a spiders webb which was hanging from the roof. It continued to fly around in a mad frenzy, still attached to it's silken leash, despite only having one wing free.

I wanted to take a photograph to capture it's beauty, but my conscience took over. I could not let it suffer any longer, as I was not sure how long it had been there.

I felt quite emotional as I broke the tiny strand of web that confined it, opened the door and watched it fly off.

I was amazed that such a large creature could not break free from what looked like an almost invisible strand of Cotton, hanging from the roof of the pen.

The hens, quite unmoved by my actions - continued to tuck in to their supper.


'Nature never ceases to amaze me, and hope it will continue to do so'.

Di

Cock-a-hoop at Ashes win

Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. This is how my 'Barmy Army' celebrated England regaining the Ashes.

Fowl Football

With the Football season kicking off, I have to take my role of managing the 'Magpie Rangers' very seriously. I started off their training by a few warm up exercises, but they were not very willing! When My main striker could not even get on the right side of the goal post, I became even more concerned with how this season would turn out.

But then at least my Goalkeeper seemed to appreciate her role.

Things started to pick up when my main Striker came back on the penalty shootout practice, but then the Goalkeeper roamed off.

She came back, but this looks like a foul to me, she was more interested in the pecking order than saving the ball.

Then the whole team got confused and went into a scrum, thinking they were playing Rugby!

During half time I gave them a talking to, they came back much sharper and focused on the game ahead. I did threaten that they would have to go without corn for the whole season if they did not improve.

And as for my Goalie - what a save! I think they may be in the premier league very soon!