So far this year I've harvested a few strawberries and hubby and I had a handful each for breakfast this morning, and I cut myself a lettuce for my lunch from a tub growing on the patio.
We've both been fairly busy in the garden this weekend. Unfortunately I'm quite busy at present, but I'm hoping I'll have some time to put some photos up at the end of the week.
Spring in the Garden
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Sex and Violence in the Garden
We didn't really do anything in the garden until a couple of weekends ago, more of which later hopefully. However, I did participate in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch at the end of January. We do get a fair number of birds in our garden for various reasons. We live near a small strip of woodland as well as farm land, the garden has hedges and bushes as well a variety of naturally occurring food for birds and, when I remember, food in bird-feeders. We also have a small pond, which quite a few birds visit for a drink, and some may have eaten some of the frog spawn and tadpoles, which arrived this Spring. Watching the birds can be a very peaceful and soothing past-time but nature is not entirely quiet and idyllic.
During the Winter months we noticed aggressive wood pigeons going chest to chest with any bird they thought was infringing on their territory and feisty blackbirds chasing other birds including chunky wood pigeons away from precious food sources. Already in February we had male wood pigeons pestering the poor females who did their best to remove themselves from their amorous attentions. The females were obviously more aware that the weather wasn't yet suitable to rear little chicks, while the males had only one thing on their mind.
More recently I looked out of the window after hearing a lot of chattering to see a sparrow hawk sitting under our hedge with some poor creature still squirming under its claws. A few minutes earlier a mistle thrush had bumped into our bedroom window and I'd seen it looking a bit dazed with, it seemed, a few feathers coming out of its neck, so I suspect that the sparrow hawk had chased it once unsuccessfully and then returned for the kill, which is a shame as we don't get many thrushes here.
On a more positive note, this morning I saw some greenfinches on the niger seed feeder for the first time I put it up over a month ago. We also have a robin who comes up very close when we are outside digging and weeding.
I've still got my results for the big garden bird watch somewhere, so I will try to look them out and add them later.
During the Winter months we noticed aggressive wood pigeons going chest to chest with any bird they thought was infringing on their territory and feisty blackbirds chasing other birds including chunky wood pigeons away from precious food sources. Already in February we had male wood pigeons pestering the poor females who did their best to remove themselves from their amorous attentions. The females were obviously more aware that the weather wasn't yet suitable to rear little chicks, while the males had only one thing on their mind.
More recently I looked out of the window after hearing a lot of chattering to see a sparrow hawk sitting under our hedge with some poor creature still squirming under its claws. A few minutes earlier a mistle thrush had bumped into our bedroom window and I'd seen it looking a bit dazed with, it seemed, a few feathers coming out of its neck, so I suspect that the sparrow hawk had chased it once unsuccessfully and then returned for the kill, which is a shame as we don't get many thrushes here.
On a more positive note, this morning I saw some greenfinches on the niger seed feeder for the first time I put it up over a month ago. We also have a robin who comes up very close when we are outside digging and weeding.
I've still got my results for the big garden bird watch somewhere, so I will try to look them out and add them later.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Chickens up close
Apologies for the wobbly camera, I was using it to shepherd the hens back inside as they looked like they were considering the idea of coming out to play in the snow. However, that has meant some very close up shots of their faces. I'd just brought them some spinach and a couple of outer lettuce leaves, which is what they are playing with down below.
My reward
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Frozen chickens
Well, not quite, thankfully. Whatever you think about battery hens, breeds such as Warrens are hardy, which is good considering the weather we are having. They have been confined to quarters due to the bad weather: hubby disconnected their run as it was full of snow, so they would have had trouble walking to the end of it to
drink their water.
We've had eight or nine inches of snow fall here since yesterday evening. The cold weather we've had since before Christmas means hubby has had to thaw out the chickens drinking water every morning for some while now and in fact he has started to bring it in at night to save time in the morning, although they need fresh water every other day anyway. The chickens now have straw on the ground, which hopefully gives them a degree of warmth. I've used wooden seed trays to give them some protection from the weather and especially to protect their drinking and feeding areas.
Btw, here's a glimpse of Betsy, who has not yet completed her moult. (click on the photo for a better view.) She hasn't grown her flight feathers back yet so her wings look rather small when she stretches them. The purple patches are where she was a bit raw before Christmas, so we sprayed on some gentian violet in case she was being pecked or was pecking herself. She laid a few eggs for us before Christmas, but has gone off lay again. Apparently it is quite usual for hens to stop laying for a couple of months while they moult. She seems OK otherwise as far as we can tell. Robin and Amber are both laying daily at present.
I have been a bit remiss feeding the birds lately, although they have been able to access the seeds, berries and insects in our garden while we have remained snow free and the frost thawed out during the day.
However, I have corrected that today by hanging up a few fat balls and putting a good helping of bird seed on the bird table this afternoon, although I slipped and fell on my way back down the garden, which proves you have to be careful even on the shortest journeys. Luckily the snow provided a soft landing and no damage was done.
The vegetable garden is covered, of course.
The apple tree had a lot of snow on it, which could damage the branches, so I cleared most of that off while I was out in the garden.
Last but not least, may I wish you a healthy and happy year in 2010 as well as a green and generous one.
drink their water.
We've had eight or nine inches of snow fall here since yesterday evening. The cold weather we've had since before Christmas means hubby has had to thaw out the chickens drinking water every morning for some while now and in fact he has started to bring it in at night to save time in the morning, although they need fresh water every other day anyway. The chickens now have straw on the ground, which hopefully gives them a degree of warmth. I've used wooden seed trays to give them some protection from the weather and especially to protect their drinking and feeding areas.
Btw, here's a glimpse of Betsy, who has not yet completed her moult. (click on the photo for a better view.) She hasn't grown her flight feathers back yet so her wings look rather small when she stretches them. The purple patches are where she was a bit raw before Christmas, so we sprayed on some gentian violet in case she was being pecked or was pecking herself. She laid a few eggs for us before Christmas, but has gone off lay again. Apparently it is quite usual for hens to stop laying for a couple of months while they moult. She seems OK otherwise as far as we can tell. Robin and Amber are both laying daily at present.
I have been a bit remiss feeding the birds lately, although they have been able to access the seeds, berries and insects in our garden while we have remained snow free and the frost thawed out during the day.
However, I have corrected that today by hanging up a few fat balls and putting a good helping of bird seed on the bird table this afternoon, although I slipped and fell on my way back down the garden, which proves you have to be careful even on the shortest journeys. Luckily the snow provided a soft landing and no damage was done.
The vegetable garden is covered, of course.
The apple tree had a lot of snow on it, which could damage the branches, so I cleared most of that off while I was out in the garden.
Last but not least, may I wish you a healthy and happy year in 2010 as well as a green and generous one.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Moulting has begun
Just a quick update as I am up to my neck in writing Christmas cards, trying to make the house presentable for visitors tomorrow and making sure I'm ready for work in a couple of hours.
Last week we started to notice that Betsy the blonde was looking a bit shabby and pale as if she'd overdone the peroxide. We also started to notice a lot of feathers in the run as if a fox had made the chooks run around in a panic. Eventually we worked out that Betsy is moulting, which also explains why she seems to have gone off lay.
We think Robin has also started to moult, although she is still laying her distinctive small, speckled egg each day so far.
If I have the time and the sun shines this weekend I shall try to take a photo or two to post up here.
Last week we started to notice that Betsy the blonde was looking a bit shabby and pale as if she'd overdone the peroxide. We also started to notice a lot of feathers in the run as if a fox had made the chooks run around in a panic. Eventually we worked out that Betsy is moulting, which also explains why she seems to have gone off lay.
We think Robin has also started to moult, although she is still laying her distinctive small, speckled egg each day so far.
If I have the time and the sun shines this weekend I shall try to take a photo or two to post up here.
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