Mrs_B Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Hello, everyone! I haven't been on here for ages, I haven't been well with my illnesses and not been online too much on the laptop. My girls are great...except I am still having pecking issues after 18 months now but I am still persevering with it (bully goes into broody cage for a couple of hours everyday at the moment) Anywho, I wanted to come back as I missed posting and chatting with people on here. But I also wanted to show everyone my article which was posted on White Stuff's blog!! It's just a little something about keeping chickens, but it also features fab chicken clothing and my gorgeous lavender girl Audrey http://www.whitestuff.com/keeping-chickens-by-emma-stone-blog127/ My name is Emma Stone at the mo - I will be Mrs B for real early next year!! Hope you like the post and 'hello' all x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 What a lovely article and picture, you are famous now and a lovely ambassador for chicken keeping. Def agree about being time wasters, spend ages either pottering around with them or on here! Sorry you haven't been well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 Thank you I actually got my chooks originally to help me with my mobility as I have a lot of pain in my body, so they're very therapeutic as well as something for me to focus on responsibility wise - even if they cause a lot of stress sometimes Who knows, someone might read the blog post and take the plunge and get their own chickens x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Thats interesting, I finally got my girls as having a period of reduced mobility and illness and haven't looked back. I'd been pondering on it for years and wish I had seen an article like that then I may not have waited so long. I find them very therapeutic if I'm having a bad day too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Hello Mrs B - love the article and love that skirt too I see you are going to get a cockerel - Hope we get to see him on here - hint little hint. I love my boy. My girls are super but my boy is extra special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Lovely article (and photo!), well done . Sorry you've not been well - it's nice to see you back and congratulations on the forthcoming nuptials . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Thank you everyone for your replies, and thanks also for taking the time to read my article!! ANH - Thanks, nice to be 'back'! I've been engaged since 2010 and been with my other half for so long we call each other Mr and Mrs LOL we just need to actually get married The date's been booked so just got the fun of waiting and booking everything x Chortle - I looooove my chicken skirt and jumper (I also have a tunic!) It's guaranteed to get compliments and it's so comfy. I'm not getting a cockerel yet, but what I didn't mention was that I want to get one when I can merge the flocks which will only be possible when two or more of my girlies are no longer here (which I obviously hope isn't any time soon!) But am excited about my long term plans as I've been looking at the 'quieter' male chickens and am looking forward to not having the WIR split in two How long have you had your boy? Does he keep bullying in order? x Molly - That really is interesting!! It's amazing what animals can do for people who have illnesses. Thanks for sharing that info and also for saying the comment about my post may have encouraged you to get chickens sooner. Mobility problems is a real struggle for many people of all ages - I used to be an editor-in-chief for a magazine and had a very busy lifestyle but since having to quite work life is slow but since the chickens arrived they have really helped me keep focused and positive. They even helped me write my article as writing is difficult compared to what I used to do, but having a passion for keeping chooks really helps the writing flow Is your mobility better now? I hope you don't have many bad days x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Very nice article indeed. Also sorry about your illness but sounds like you are back on track. And yes, too distracting. And if I am planting anything I have my helpers. It takes 10 times longer because they do fill the holes up again for me - before the plant is inserted! My girlies recently lost the queen bee there and interesting to see who filled the gap - I'm constantly looking at them and yet I'm still not sure because I think the 2 likely ones (there is only one at the bottom and always has been so not a contender out of the 3 left) don't seem to know what they are doing. I would love a cockerel but we are not allowed because of the potential noise so I wish you good luck in finding a quiet boy for your ladies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Well done Emma aka Mrs B Welcome back, it's nice to catch up Oh please could we have some up to date pics of your little (now probably not so little ) lav girlies?? I've been suffering some bullying issues in my little flock since my Florence had to be PTS Never a dull moment hey??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Hello, Mimi!! Really good to 'see' you My Lavenders are the only well behaved girls - the other flock are forever doomed to have bald patches but I will keep trying different things and never give up. I think when mine all caught Blackhead over a year ago and became really ill that changed them in some way (even their attitude towards me) I'm going to put bump bits back on two hens in the summer - they haven't long had them previously and I worry about their beaks as my Sussex has slight dents from one use. The bumpas all fell off naturally which was good, as putting them on was something I didn't enjoy doing. Have you tried them? They're good but it didn't break the habit for me Bullying is really horrible and I sympathise - as I'm sure many do! It seems like an easy solution but sometimes it just isn't. I'm always moving things around the WIR, spraying the chickens or trying something new. In fact, not long ago this happened with purple spray: http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/emmachooks/media/purple_zps9824dc99.jpg.html Here is a photo of the Lavender girls that I have, but it isn't the best shot - I'm due to take some updated ones http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/emmachooks/media/IMG_9966_zps525c3468.jpg.html How has everything been for you and your flock other than bullying? Any recent photos I can see? x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Very nice article indeed. Also sorry about your illness but sounds like you are back on track. And yes, too distracting. And if I am planting anything I have my helpers. It takes 10 times longer because they do fill the holes up again for me - before the plant is inserted! My girlies recently lost the queen bee there and interesting to see who filled the gap - I'm constantly looking at them and yet I'm still not sure because I think the 2 likely ones (there is only one at the bottom and always has been so not a contender out of the 3 left) don't seem to know what they are doing. I would love a cockerel but we are not allowed because of the potential noise so I wish you good luck in finding a quiet boy for your ladies. Thank you, Valkyrie My neighbours are a little more relaxed about chickens since both me and another neighbour have had them. They joked that the hens' 'egg song' was pretty noisy first thing and perhaps a cockerel wouldn't be so bad. Of course I'd get their permission first but it's a dream for me to get a boy for the girls one day at least Hmmm I get what you mean about the top hen thing - my flock seems to swap between the White Star and Amber sometimes, it's very strange that you can't always tell...chickens are definitely funny and interesting creatures x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Well haven't they grown in to real beauties Always a saga with me and my little pekin gang Even considering having another boy Still miss Monty, even after over a year......this would never have happened with him in charge My recent woes are due to Florence (who was top girl) having to be PTS Polly decided seemingly to coincide with her later then everyone else moult....that eating feathers was a good idea......oh and when you peck you can pull out feathers to eat So her sister poor Tilly has virtually no tail left , as for the others they are terrified of her I was having to chuck them out of the cube in the morning and lock them out for the day...or they'd hide inside and didn't eat Wanted to try bumpa bits, but can't find then small enough!!!!! Then to add insult to injury only Tilly and Polly laying.....Polly in cell block H (aka the classic- alone!) Has decide to go on an egg withdrawal protest Poor little tuffty tailed Tilly my only layer Oh the joys......let's just not mention mud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 What beautiful birds your Lavender Girls are! Such a lovely colour. I'm I have noticed that a troup of the same clour does look stunning. Regarding my cockerel, I've had Dill for 4 years now but he is 9 years old so getting on a bit. When he goes I'll certainly be getting another. He is such a love and yes, he does keep his girls in order. Touch wood I've never had the least problem with integrating new girls. I just introduce the newby to him and then he protects them; sitting between them and the other girls on the perch. Such a sweetheart! His crow has never been exactly loud (much less loud than my Doodle silkie's egg song) but it has never been a full cock-a-doodle-doo and sounds a bit like a badly played . When the time comes for me to get another cockerel I'm going to make sure I can go somewhere where I can hear several together and then I'll pick the one that sounds the nicest. Something like the Reading show or a good breeder such as Newland Poultry should do it. I do however have a hankering for a Sumtaler pair . . . one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 Ahh Chortle, your cockerel sounds like such a gentleman!! Thanks for letting me know about him (makes me want one more ) I go to Newland Poultry and they're absolutely fantastic - it's such a fab place! That's where my Lavender Orps are from! But they have far too many nice breeds there... Mimi - If it's not one thing...it's another, right? x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Mrs B, when the time comes for me to go to Newland Poultry to get me another cockerel, I may need a companion to stop me getting anything else . . .watch your PMs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 LOL! To be fair I'd probably be the worst person to go with you as I give in far too easy with their lovely birds!! Ha ha sounds fun x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
