Best liner/ bedding for drop tray

[dancing cloud]

So there I am this morning, sat outside under the carport with the wind rattling the fence panels and the rain (no snow here ) bouncing in the yard, wearing lots of layers and a waterproof, watching five hens all busy eating their porridge and pellets and telling me their plans for the day, with Hope in the nestbox giving us all regular updates, and I felt SO happy ! Utterly, ridiculously happy!

 

Does everyone else enjoy the same thing every now and then (or should I be keeping very quiet about it and hoping no one notices )

[Lesley]

I have the odd moment when I think "If I didn't have chickens then I would be nice and warm inside".............

 

but most days, I feel just like you

[Egluntyne]

Does everyone else enjoy the same thing every now and then (or should I be keeping very quiet about it and hoping no one notices )

 

Don't keep quiet about it...spread the word! Chickens are life enhancing.

[The Dogmother]

I was doing something similar too - don't be ashamed... Be Proud!

[bluekarin]

I do!

 

I am so glad I have my girls. Some mornings I look outside and think urgh, I've got to go out there! But when I'm out there, all wrapped up and wearing my wellys, having a good chat with them, I don't notice the cold. I notice things like the early morning mist down in the valley, or an amazing bit of blue sky whilst everywhere else its pouring.

[chickencam]

Having chickens does make you happy, it makes you apreciate your warm house when they are sitting outside the patio doors giving you that 'it looks warm in there girls do you think they will let us in' look

[Guest]

dtto to that, this morning it was blowing a gail, dark and persisting down and after I got the food out, refreshed the water and let the girls out I stood there in my dressing gown, DH's fleece and DH's donkey type jacket over that and my wooly hat on, just watching them and then I thought "Hang on a minute, I'm getting soaked here! "

[GKH]

oooh!! me too. I love being out with my girls what ever the weather - my OH says i'm mad 'cause my favourite chore of the week is cleaning them out - with them helping of course

[Snowy]

Don't worry, I also had a moment like that this morning! I like sweeping the patio when it's raining - best way to remove chicken poo! So there I was - in wellies, raincoat and stetson, sweeping up chicken poo in the pouring rain, and chatting to the girls who were rummaging through a huge pile of dry leaves that I'd just chucked into their run. Lovely!

[Guest]

where did you get dry leaves from in the rain? scratches head

[Snowy]

where did you get dry leaves from in the rain? scratches head

I have several bags full, collected on a dry day and saved for a rainy day!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I enjoy cleaning out the eglu too . Not sure why, I suppose because it's fun being in the garden with the girls .

 

So, yes, be proud and spread the word .

[earthmam1]

I know exactly what you mean - it can be beautiful in the early morning even in the rain.

I was outside the other early morning letting out the ladies into the run , it was raining, my jim jams were pegged up at the bottom of the trouser legs, dressing gown on, short waterproof cape ontop,talking to my girls . Only thing was next doors DS was looking out from his bedroom window - I did get a strange look

[cathybc]

I have been going out to see my girls at 7am in my dresing gown...they are so pleased when I fill their grub and give them some melon, I forget the cold....

[mostin]

Yesterday in the snow I slipped and fell on my way to egg collect from my girls. I landed with a right whallop and winded myself (haven't done that since I was about 6!). Twisted my knee really badly, bruised two ribs, cut my nose and was covered head to toe in a mixture of snow, mud and chicken poo.

 

And yet still, I was so happy because I didn't break the eggs , and my girls came to talk to me as I was lying there in the mud, bless them .

 

So I agree, spread the word, it just doesn't get any better.

 

(Must go now though and apply more deep heat and stink the house out)

[Sheilaz]

Aw, hope the bruising heals quickly Mostin, but I can identify completely with the happiness in having saved the eggs. Such a small thing, but I love this topic. For me it is the simple joys in life that bring real happiness, its so true, and I think we've all had that feeling reinforced by our chickens.

I remember once telling my sister that I'd had the best ever Mother's Day. Why? Because I'd spent the afternoon moving the compost heaps.

 

This week LSH came through from adjoining room & asked if DS1 was home. No. Well, who had I been talking to then, he'd heard me happily chatting for ages.

 

Well, I'd brought the 2 guineas in to watch a TV programme. But, you weren't talking to them all that time were you?

Of course I was, a completely blissful & relaxing half an hour, and I had to explain that they did indeed talk back to me.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mostin, that sounds painful . Hope you're feeling OK this morning?

[mostin]

Mostin, that sounds painful . Hope you're feeling OK this morning?

 

Still very stiff and feeling sorry for myself . I am no light weight so it was quite a thud when I landed . Still on the codeine and ibuprofen today but once again my girls cheered me up and made me laugh. They are so impatient that I am not moving as fast as usual with their treats . You wouldn't think a few extra seconds from the back door to the run would would make that much difference but there have been big complaints.

 

I'll get my own back, once I can move with speed again there will be extra cuddles all around .

[laurmurf]

Oh Mostin -poor you!

but you saved the eggs.... what a hero!

 

I can only agree with everyone else here: I could stand in the cold morning drizzle watching the girls eat their porridge for ages and ages and feel completely content.

[mostin]

I agree, I have no idea of the true meaning of Zen, or universal harmony, but i think I find it everytime i stand and watch my girls chickening around.

[Plum]

Poor Mostin. I am so scared of doing that on my steep steps down to the run.

 

Best thing is sitting on stool in the run with the rain beating down on the cover and being nice and dry talking to the girls. Inner peace - its very therapeutic, if a little crazy if anyone sees you.

[dancing cloud]

Glad to know I don't need to keep quiet about it and that others have ridiculous moments brought by the ginger hen of happiness too . Thankfully my chicken yard is not overlooked at all, as I doubt it would be a pretty sight, and the neighbours do hear me chatting to the monsters and think it's very sweet

 

Mostin, I hope the injuries soon heal - next time save yourself not the eggs! There can always be more eggs

 

Would that the ginger hen of happiness could visit work too - my staff seem particularly lacking in smiles this Monday morning

[The Dogmother]

Sorry to hear about yoru fall Mostin - I hope that you're feeling better today.

 

I always chatter to the girls when working in the garden - great therapy

[mostin]

Thank you all for feeling so sorry for me after my tumble. i certainly need the pity as my hubby has run out . My ribs have stopped aching but my twisted knee is still really hurting . My work colleagues threatened to ban me from the lab today as I stank of deep heat .

 

Just to keep on topic though I had another ridiculous moment of happines yesterday when I had to give one of my girlies a bath. Her bottie was such a mess but she was so good and when I dried her with the hair dryer she just closed her eyes and swayed in the warm breeze. A perfect moment

[bigmommasally]

Gosh Mostin hope you're feeling better, I had to do a double take at part of your last post

 

i certainly need the pity as my hubby has run out

 

I hoping that you mean he has run out of sympathy for you and not run out literally! Shame on him he should be rubbing the deep heat on for you.

 

Wish you better. x

 

Back on the theme of this thread, I've been off work today with a rotten cold but my girls managed to make me feel loads better this afternoon with their funny antics. I found Alice making her way to the garage where the corn is kept and she looked very shame faced when she realised she'd been rumbled. And the other girls gathered round and muttering to her as is they were hatching their next plan