Saturday, September 06, 2008

Happier!

I just received this from the school the hens went too!!

The hens are doing well! my tutor group loved them & we already have lots of pupils wanting to join the chook club.
although the hens are still shy, the move doesn't seem to bother them as we have had eggs on the first day (much to the delight of the head teacher who got the first one!).
I will send you a picture of the hens in thier new spot when i remember my camera!
thanks very much for all your help as well all the little extras you threw in!

Smiling now!

Jake decided to help me with my blogging!





I think he's bored, but we have so many toys and boxes and laser lights and things attached to string its actually quite dangerous round here!!
He yowls so loudly, and it is tempting to always reply to him but it actually encourages him to yowl more loudly!
Suggestions greatly received!

Friday, September 05, 2008

Avoidance

I have been avoiding my blog this last week!

Why?

After much discussion here it had been decided that I have to find a new home for the chickens!!! Something I'm not very proud of as I believe an animal is for life, but when it comes to back problems, the priorities change. Every week even when the chooks where at my neigbours enjoying a large plot of land I have to bend to move the fencing, bend to move and clean the Eglu and for two days after I suffer.
Even on a foggy morning with help, I still suffer.




So I tried to rehome the chooks seperately, but it became obvious that this was not going to happen. So I put them on the omlet forum where I received a very positive response, in fact the very first response was from a Green Flag School and an exceptionally enthusiastic teacher.

Anyway to cut a long story short they have now gone, lock stock and last bag of aubiose to there new home on the large allotment at a green flag school.

I shall miss them and there odd ways, mostly there yummy scrummy eggs, even buying free range eggs you could tell the difference. Last week I had to buy some and I bought the most expensive and you can still tell the difference look



but fortunately for me my neighbour has 5 chickens and is inundated with eggs, so we shall be coming to an arrangement!

In the meantime Jake is busily exploring places, whilst my two sleep



Sassy and Tango are aware there is another cat in the house, as they have now heard him and smelt him around, so T and I constructed a special door for her room, which is an exceptionally tight fit and means we can go out and leave her door open withour any fear of a fight occuring.
Here is T demonstrating!



I think it will be along time till we let him out, out, if you see what I mean. At first we thought he was deaf, although I still have my suspicions. K commented that he was the first cat to follow her into the bathroom and remain there whilst she flushed the toilet. He also does not respond to his name, which could be alot to do with the fact that I'm not sure he was ever called in? We tried various tests like ripping paper, jingling keys but I wonder did he see movement first? He never comes when called, is not bothered by the hoover, mine scatter and leave home when the hoover goes. When he enters a new room he searches it from top to bottom with no fear of exposing himself, stretching up to full height to reach shelves etc.



He has only one set of whiskers above his left eye and none above his right! He plays alot and has a really loud meow. So until he responds he will not be allowed out.
My two have passed the netted door, Sassy at great speed and Tango rather more slowly. On both occasions I witnessed it, Jake was sat the other side and did not seem in the least bothered. The next step will be a cage in the kitchen, my neighbour has one which we will borrow. But I think that will be awhile off yet!



In the meantime the feral is still about at night, my two will not use the state of the art, very expensive microchip cat flap I bought, unless it is in normal catflap mode. So I have to call them in at night and lock the flap.