motherhen Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 We escape some of the wind living in such an urban area and the backyard has 7ft or higher walls all round it. The extreme gales havn't reached us yet (expected midnight apparently) but I'm really pleased that a few days before Christmas we had the 15 ft high victorian chimmney on our offshoot (yes I did mean fifteen feet) reduced to 3 ft. We had an anxious couple of weeks when we realised it was unsafe with daughter, whose room is just below it, sleeping in spare room. The great thing about the eglu is that I suspect the shape and construction materials mean it will probably stand up to even quite large branches falling on it, even if the bang upsets the sleeping hens inside. For those of you from Lincolnshire and further north who are a bit exposed to the weather - good luck for tonight and tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 I'm at the bottom of Lincolnshire but it was really windy and noisy last night. So far we've only lost part of the weatherboarding on the summerhouse but the fence is incredibly mobile! Maybe that will save it as it moves with the wind! The girls don't like it at all - they keep getting gusted round the garden. Clarry being the lightest gets blown around more than Jenny but I'm sure they'll cope! Good luck to all of you and I hope that those further North haven't had any damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Letting the girls out this morning has taken on a whole new dimension - checking to see if the roof is still on the house! and that all three sheds are still in our own garden. I did find an errant tree - it was planted in October and obviously hadn't made much root growth. It was rollimg around the garden along with tops off the garden lights. Next doors fence panel is in our drive - again. Hopefully that will be all - hope "Ooops, word censored!"ody has sustained a lot of damage? Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imogen Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Goodness, that wind I don't live anywhere near the north, but the winds were still quite unforgiving. I barely got ANY sleep last night! In fact, I only just got up because I was so tired from last night, I went back to sleep. My parents always let the girls out at the weekend for me, because I'm never up early enough for them, but I always let them out on the weekdays because I'm up early for school. Anyway, the girls were already out when I went downstairs and I had a look round the garden but it seems we havn't got any major damage from last night, just a few branches down in the garden (and a large pile of leaves and twigs around the girls run, but they are enjoying having a good russle in them anyway!). The girls are certainly not liking the weather, and when my dad opened the back door this morning, they both leapt into the house before being removed promptly! Their feathers look particularly scruffy in this weather, and they do look a bit like they will just blow away in this wind! Poor chooks! I'm still on high alert for that horrible cat that seems to have taken to stalking my girls, so then they were making their slightly worried cluck (which you can hear from anywhere in the house because they become extremely noisy if they are bothered about anything) I went dashing out to see what all the fuss was about. I couldn't see any sign of the cat, luckily, but they were looking up into the trees. I think they're still getting the hang of this wind, because the trees do make an awful noise in these gales - the weather does such strange things to animals! My girls seem quite jumpy today, and whenever it's windy my dog always seems very excitable and crazy on her walks Still, I wasn't going to be taking any chances with that cat, so I sat outside in my bright pink dressing gown with the girls for a while! They attemptied another break in into the house, and than just stood by me for a while and quietened down and then I got them a little biscuit. I worry I spoil them to much, but then they spoil me with their lovely eggs. Ooops, sorry for such a long post (I hope I didn't ramble to much and didn't go off the subject!) I'm a bit of a motormouth and since learning to touchtype, I just can't stop myself! Sorry! But in conclusion - very windy and the girls do not like it Hope everyone's girls are OK (I'm sure they will be, the eglu seems very tough, and I have no worries about my girlies at night time) and I hope that none of you experianced any problems resulting to these bitter winds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Imogen, don't worry about how long your posts are - it's nice to see someone replying. I love to read all the others replies. It's a bit dispiriting when you come into the forum and no-one has posted! We have had four eggs again today, we have just come back from work. The girls are demolishing a whole, large, lettuce which is hanging from a hook. I expect it's gone already! The bantams at the farm shop we stopped at on our way home were all on their perches in a big open 'shed' instead of running around under peoples feet. They didn't like the wind either. Hopefully, the weather is changing. Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Well, my good news is that Clarry has laid an egg at last - it's her first since her poorly episode on Boxing Day. Kind of makes up for the hassles lately . Hang onto your hats everyone. I hope the wind has died down where you are and that no-one had any serious damage and that your girls didn't get their feathers ruffled too much. Keep up with the long posts, Imogen ! It's lovely to have something to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Well done Clarry I am sure it was worth the wait Kate. The wind has finally died down here the girls nearly took off this morning. We have no damage other than the shed roof blowing off we said an Eglu was safer, the brolly blew off the Eglu and got stuck in next doors tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Not THAT next door, I hope ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Yes Kate afraid so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 Well the wind was very noisy last night so I was off for an early night now but got waylaid here. The newly planted native British hedgerow (aall 9 feet of it!!) against the garage wall survived intact but the rain cover on the eglu run was trashed. The builders weight thick clear plastic I had used had just torn off at the corners where the hooks were tied. The girls have had to manage today in the horizontal rain, sleet and snow with just the summer shade. They were not amused . I'm probably not going to make a new one because we finally got round to buying the fence posts and netting to fence off the north east corner of the yard for them. When this is done we are planning to remove the wider half of the run leaving the small half attached to the elgu with a new rain cover and letting them roam freely over their third of the yard. I think they will really enjoy dustbaths in the dry soil under the hedge plants in the summer. We might in the future remove the run altogether and put the eglu on a platform like Lesley's so they have a dry shelter underneath and even more room. Are the hens taking over? YES!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imogen Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 Thanks to all those who encouraged my huge posts! The wind has died down a considerable amount today, so I got out in my brand new multicoloured wellies (good old Santa Got me something I could wear every week AND the chickens appreciate it ) and gave the eglu a good scrub down. Gerty and Flo had a wonderful dust bath together, but since all this awful wind, neither of them have ventured far from the eglu, and hang around the little courtyard bit and not round to the 'actual' garden, with grass etc. I'm not sure why, but they have favoured hanging around by the back door in case anyone opens it and then they are in the house before you can stop them! It's started to pour with rain now, so I went out and gave them some sweetcorn to cheer them up, since they look particularly bedraggled Why does it always rain just before you go back to school? It's just taunting me to stay in bed all snuggled up tomorrow morning!!! Still, I've got 10 pin bowling to look forward to... Anyway, I'll stop rambling! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend - I DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted January 10, 2005 Author Share Posted January 10, 2005 Well we survived relatively unscathed lots of trees down in the area but nothing too close to me. The river Tweed has lost its banks pretty much everywhere but I am high enough not to get affected although the garden is very swampy after the rain. Quite a few of my neighbours are on flood watch so fingers crossed I did get a few pics of the ladies at the weekend so I may have a go later at starting a picture album I'll see how the time goes. Looking forward to the predicted storms tomorrow and wednesday - not I have been watching North east News Motherhen as the problems in Carlisle have damaged the Borders transmissions it looks as though you have had it very bad by you are you all okay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted January 10, 2005 Author Share Posted January 10, 2005 Hi Just a quick note to say I have added a few pics to the album of the chicks when they were just hatched and a couple of the girls at the weekend not great pics as the weather was so shocking but you can see my 'teenage' chickens showing the cat (Mr Chips) who is boss - chicken and chips now theres an idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imogen Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Awwwwww soooo cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Just off to look at the new photos. Imogen - what a great Avatar!!!! Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imogen Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 The wind seems to be picking up again Is anyone at risk for floods? Luckily, I'm not Our house is on top of a big hill, where Flo and Gerty rule to roost.... It's also just started tipping it down with rain again! Just after I put the washing out ! As usual, when I opened the back door, Gerty and Flo were on the kitchen door mat faster than you can apologise to the dog because there's a chicken sitting in her basket! So I put the peg basket in the door way as I was hanging up the washing, to sort of stop them getting through, but it only encouraged them more! I'm not sure why it's so fascinating to them, but they love the pegs. So anyway, they went to see the peg basket and then scurried into the house with me in hot persuit. I picked up Flo easily and plonked her outside but Gerty wanted to have another good look at the peg basket ( ). She tried to stand on it, but it fell over so pegs went EVERYWHERE and Gerty just ran out with a large cluck. Then they stood from a distance just watching me clearing up all the pegs! Honestly! I thik they do it deliberatly to have a good laugh at me Still, they've stopped leaping into the house for a while. Now, luckily, Gerty and Flo are round on the grass, where they havn't been since Saturday so they are enjoying a lovely munch of the grass. Ever since that awful cat stalked them and chased them round to their run, they havn't been on the open grass area. It's hard to explain, but out back door leads out to a little courtyard with shrubs, washing line and the chicken run (this is where the pair of them have been since they were scared by the cat) and then you go round the side of the house and that's where all the grass and 'proper' garden is. Anyway, it's lovely to see them back where they usually are, although Flo keeps looking up into the trees in case any cats suddenly appear... So, I hope everyone is OK and that they aren't at risk to any floods and that these storms calm down a bit.... Big post again.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imogen Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Oh, thanks Lesley for saying you like my avatar!! I wanted something animated.... well, what I really wanted was a picture that intergrated both my passions in my life - ice skating AND chickens, but so far, no luck If anyone does find a picture that has a chicken ice skating or something like that, then please send me a PM!!! But I'm not surprised chickens and ice skating don't go together All I found was an animated penguin on ice skates... still, a chicken ice skating could be interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Hi Louise thanks for the concern. Fortunately Carlisle is the other end of Hadrien's Wall and most of the rain seemed to get dumped on the west side of the Northeast. Nearest flooding was about 20 miles west of us. Wind really bad though - trashed the girls' rain cover much to their disgust. Luckily we had had work done on the roor, including the unsafe tall chimmney shack, just before Christmas so all was dry and secure. I suspect you got it much worse than us re potential flooding. Just finished reading Crichton's latest book which has interesting ideas about global warming (not really happening!!!?) and extreme weather events (fewer than 60-80 years ago??) Come to think about it we haven't had a winter like 1962/63. Any further views on this had better go on a new topic - I disgraced myself last time by going seriously off topic re Brad Pitt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 I hope you told yourself off Jane because Kate and I certainly weren't going to Glad to hear all is well up there in Newcastle - I was wondering as well. Perhaps we should have a Sticky for weather? - Kate can come along and move us Just really windy here and going to be worse today and tonight. We have fencing which needs replacing before 'her next-door' comes back at the weekend - not much chance of that then. I only cut you short on your Brad Pitt dream because I can't think of him that way - my son's name is Brad!! Anyway - give me Monty Don any time! My Brad is supposed to be here now doing the fence - taking liberties as usual! Kate, you'll have to dump us in the chatroom questions! Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammi J Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 I only cut you short on your Brad Pitt dream because I can't think of him that way - my son's name is Brad!! Anyway - give me Monty Don any time! My Brad is supposed to be here now doing the fence - taking liberties as usual! Kate, you'll have to dump us in the chatroom questions! Lesley Sorry Lesley, who? Monty Don, who is he? I don't get out much Sorry Kate go on move us all, but be gentle, I don't want to get travel sick! Sammi-x- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Monty Don, Lesley? He's more Monty Python than Brad Pitt ! Give me Tom Cruise anyday - please??!! As for moving you - I can't move you anywhere! You're already in the chatting dumping ground !! I think that's why James gave us the Nesting Box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammi J Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Monty Don, Lesley? He's more Monty Python than Brad Pitt !Give me Tom Cruise anyday - please??!! As for moving you - I can't move you anywhere! You're already in the chatting dumping ground !! I think that's why James gave us the Nesting Box! HaHaHa I just googled(oh- er ) Monty Don, Mmmm, know who he is now, Kate's right his no Brad Pitt!! You guys do make me laugh. Take it easy Sammi -x- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 Monty Don, Lesley? He's more Monty Python than Brad Pitt ! Give me Tom Cruise anyday - please??!! As for moving you - I can't move you anywhere! You're already in the chatting dumping ground !! I think that's why James gave us the Nesting Box! No - I need someone to dig the garden Can't imagine Tom Cruise sorting out the compost heap Moving? - only because we're in the middle of someones diary and not in the chatroom questions bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted January 12, 2005 Author Share Posted January 12, 2005 Hey I don't mind Brad Pitt in my diary and I'm sure the girls would be happy if he showed up to help in the garden Glad to hear you all survived the storms and it certainly wasn't as bad last night as the news has made out where I am. I won't know how much (if any) damage has been done until the weekend when I will see the garden and the chooks in daylight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted January 17, 2005 Author Share Posted January 17, 2005 Still no sign of Brad Pitt - oh well I had better wake from that dream I have added another couple of pics to the album one showing the girls grooming each other and yet another shot of Mr Chips doing his damndest to get into the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
