4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Yolko]

Well as an old hand at this chicken wrangling business (been at it now for 8 whole days!), I'd let me girls out into the enclosure I've set up under the lime tree in my garden. Things were going really well and they all trooped back in at night no problem.

 

Yesterday evening was particularly lovely and I was having supper in the garden watching the girls. They'd all been pecking at the netting round the enclusure when suddenly Clarrisa eyed it up a bit more seriously. Before I knew what was happening she'd taken several steps backwards, then at a gallop (that was funny) she sort of hurled herself over the top and flobbed (sorry can't think of another word for it) down onto the garden. Nigella , looked vaguely apologetic, and Delia just went on eating. Following the instructions in the book I sneaked up behind her and returned her to the others. She did that sort of French pouty thing fluffed herself up then went back to eating too.

 

This morning, my neighbour and old hand with chickens Josette came over and the 'girls' had their wings clipped, now they look a bit lobsided, but Josette assures me that'll pass, and none of them are speaking to me which I'm not sure will.

 

I should add, that Billy my dog and general administrative assistant had taken the chickens to heart. He was quite upset whilst Josette and I were clipping flight feathers. The extent of his upset meant he got his head firmly stuck in the netting round their enclosure, so we were clipping to the sounds of strangulated Schipperkee! However, all is fine now and at least he's still speaking to me!

 

Think they may now go on an egg strike, tried bribing them with strawberries from my veg garden to no avail, Josette said they're sulking. Shall launch a charm offensive tomorrow if we're still not on speaking terms.

 

Yolko

Delia

Nigella

Clarrisa - the escape artiste

Billy - canine admin assistant

Bluebell - british blue mother of

Dimples - british blue

Korky - far from average black and white domestic shorthair

Benji - british shorthair

Rupert - Chocolare british shorthair

Blossom - great flirt and best friend of Korky also british shorthair

[Chickvic]

That is so funny! Let us know if they succumb to your charms

[Lailapet]

Great Saturday afternoon reading! I laughed out loud - are you contemplating writing a book as I like the way you describe everything!

I'm sure you'll be on speaking terms again quite soon!

Laila

[chucknette]

I loved reading about your escapades! As previously mention write a book. The way you discribe things makes things so easy to visualise.

 

Cant wait for the next installment!

[Seagazer]

Very funny

[Snowy]

Sooo funny! Plenty of treats and they will soon love you again - they are very forgiving (especially when you bear food)

[Egluntyne]

Billy my dog and general administrative assistant

 

This made me chuckle most of all.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Great story .

 

Keep up the treats & I bet they'll have forgotten all about your shameful treatment of them by tomorrow .

[FlyingRamses]

That is hilarious, just laughed out loud in the office and had a crowd of usually very serious brokers around my desk checking it out ............... they all want hens as well now!!!

[Yolko]

Anyway, things are returning a bit to normal Chez Yolko the 'girls' do seem to have forgiven me after a welter of treats, comprising fresh picked strawberries, newly shelled peas, poached brocolli (they turned up their beaks at raw) and some corn. Clarrisa who has obviously sussed out that Billy (admin assistant) isn't quite the dog he thinks he is, has taken when he runs at the fence, to fluffing up and running at him. Not sure who is the most surprised by this but think it's doing the trick, Billy now running in a more thoughtful way.

 

Still no eggs yet, we're having a mixture here of thunder storms, very hot sun around 37degrees, and some rain. Not to mention a stream of visitors, so think the 'girls' are all a bit distracted !

 

The Egloo continues to fascinate my local community, and I have just had a visit from a group of walkers (all very serious with clipboards and rucksacks and everything) who have had their pictures taken with it in the background. I'm on a cycling and walking route so quite often as it's now the tourist season come out into the garden to see people standing in amazement at the sight of my chicken house. Can't imagine why myself as to me a bright pink chicken house is the norm, don't know why everyone hasn't got one.

 

Rural France is gearing up now for the big July 14 celebration, and my hamlet is hosting a swing band from Holland who will play for us locals on the grass at the front of my house just prior to the main event in the square at Bourganeuf. To facilitate this, I have 4 of the orchestra members camping in my small orchard at the bottom of the garden. Don't know what the 'girls' will make of this, Billy (admin assistant) has already been on patrol and no doubt will be limbering up with all the authorityy he can muster (considerable for one with short legs) for their arrival at the weekend.

 

Whoever said life in rural France was quiet, don't know what they were talking about.

 

More soon, Thanks for all your comments, not writing a book, having more fun with this. luv Yolko

 

Billy (admin and voice of authority)

Blossom, Blubell, Korky (rodent operative), Benji, Rupert and Blossom

Nigella , Clarrisa , Delia

[Gamebird]

Just caught up with this.

 

What great stories. Looking forward to the next installment.

 

Carry on writing.

[frenchlayer]

A pink hen house in France, are you mad, of course they will look, they will think you are totally barmy, vous avez depense combien pour cette truc en rose la?

 

Lovely postings tho.

[Chickvic]

Billy now running in a more thoughtful way.

 

Makes me laugh out loud! Keep up with the writing!!