Happy Easter

Okay big ears, where have you hidden our eggs?



You are such an interfering little Easter Bunny. Why can't you leave things alone? They must be around here somewhere?



Perhaps they are over there?



Or they could be under here? I may have to eat them to find out.



Okay, listen, I will tell you a secret, but it is one you should remember.



Sometimes, you can search for something for so long. You may go looking in places far away to try and find what you want, but then one day you find it - right under your nose. And sometimes, it turns out to be even more magical than you remembered in the first place.

Happy Easter!

20,498, plus two more love chickens - that is confirmed

I attended a book fair today which was organised by The Book Nook at Newport in Shropshire. It was a fantastic event and I met so many wonderful writers, it was a pleasure just to be there and talk to other writers.

I sold two copies of my book 'One Hundred Ways For A Chicken To Train It's Human' and felt so excited that someone had picked it up while I was there and decided to buy it. I then went and spent my earnings on two other books from fellow writers that I will be blogging about shortly.

When I got home, I found my post, and a letter stating that I had made royalties from my book.

I am not bragging about this, I just wanted to say that sometimes, you really have to wait for any reward in this mad world of writing.

It has taken me three years to this month to make royalties on my book. I do not think I will never make lots of money from it, even thought I would love it if I am honest! But thanks to my little feathered freinds who inspired me to write it in the first place, and a lot of help from fellow writer Mr Simon Whaley, I have sold 20,498 copies of my book.

I just love to think that many people love chickens!

I have heard of 'Chick Lit' but this is ridiculous

Just trying to read a book when I get a chuck who loves to read a book!

I can see right through you!

I had to share this picture of my little hens. They were fascinated by this wire egg basket for some reason. I thought this picture shows them as individual little characters, unlike the poor metal chuck in front of them.

Today I wanted to take some photos inside the coop. I sat down on the floor at their level and started to take pictures.

As I was concentrating on one hen, the other three started to walk over my legs without any fear of human contact.

It was so special. I pick them up quite a lot, but that is on my own terms, and they have no choice. They flap their wings and struggle, but today I experienced it on their terms.

It was magical to feel the warmth of such a tiny animal against me, and even better because they obviously felt no threat, or did they see right through me?

Hope not.

Blowing away the cobwebs

I had a good spring clean today inside the chicken coop. Cobwebs and dust had gathered inside their pen over the winter and it was wonderful to get out there and blow it all away in the spring sunshine.

I even had company as the girls are so nosy and like to see what I am doing in their patch.



Do not fear, this post is not about housekeeping - it's about inspiration!
There I was, sweeping out the coop, shoveling chicken poo and laying fresh bedding, when an idea popped into my head for a story. Not just one story but several - I have an idea for a whole series of stories. I had to run to my writing shack ( the shed in my garden) to scribble down my ideas in case I forgot them.

It's not even about chickens, but for some reason my girls weaved their magic and gave me an idea that I have to try.

It's a wonderful feeling when an idea comes from nowhere and makes you feel that it has to go somewhere.

Just around the corner

"Hello girls, are you coming out to play?"



"Are you joking? It's horrid out there. We are fed up of the snow and rain. Even the 'Feather Girls' said it had been the worst winter in 30 years."



"I know, everyone feels the same at the moment, but look at this! Spring is just around the corner. The buds are starting to come out and the ground is getting softer."



"Ok, we will give it a try. I suppose, that veggie patch looks interesting".



"She's right, the ground has started to defrost a bit. I think there is a worm in there somewhere. Bagsy the first one!"



"Oh those are very pretty too, shame they are not edible."



"And those too, but I suppose Daffodils are an important part of Spring, and people seem to love them, they even write poems about them!"



"Oh but having a dust bath in the 'nearly spring sunshine' is so cool, perhaps a little bit too cool, but never the less, it feels good."



"And now I really do feel like a 'Spring Chicken' Yes, I think Spring is just around the corner!"

Do animals fall in love?

Will you be my Valentine?



A lot of animals pair for life. Wolves, beavers,swans, eagles, some fish and even termites. A lot of other animals take the same partner for life, but do they fall in love? I think they do.

My horse Chad used to live in a field of 25 acres with up to 14 other horses, at least five of them were mares. Chad fell for Lulu, a beautiful little coloured mare, similar in markings to his own. When she was put into a separate field adjoining his, he jumped a five bar gate to be with her. They were inseparable

Chickens do not pair for life, quite the opposite as Jupiter my beautiful cockerel had many wives in his coop, and enjoyed every minute of it. But on the day I introduced him to Saturn, Mercury and Venus, he did what resembled the Michael Jackson 'Moon Walk' when he met his little brood. As you can see by the picture below, he looks all loved up snuggling into little Venus, who was just one of his wives, he loved them all of course.

It was touching to see how he spent time with them. In fact he would not leave Saturn as she spent her last hours in the spring sunshine a few years ago. Why? He had four other hens to keep him busy,corn to eat and worms to dig for, but he chose to sit with this little old hen as she died. I think that was love.



All loved up - Jupiter and Venus

Love is not just for us crazy humans who spend a fortune on St Valentine's day to say 'I love you.' Animals do it in the most simple and beautiful way. Their love is unconditional and uncomplicated, but it is true love.