Autumn

The rain has lashed down all night, and this morning the field, as it did last year, has become a mud covered swamp. It is cold today, almost autumnal infact , and I have made sure that all of thew hen runs have extra cover as hens do not like to become wet AND cold!

Kate Winslett had to be prised off her nest this morning and would not eat and drink in her desperate efforts to return to her now six chicks.....not a buff amongst them as we have 5 black and 1 white baby, but all seem to be doing ok. I have put water and chick crumbs in small containers inside the broody box and will construct some sort of awning to cover the front poop hole as the house is tiny and driving rain could well get in with mother and babies.

The circle of life continues on its small way here: Poppy went yesterday and one of the very old hybrids, Rose (Blanche's sister) died in the night....yet we now have these 6 new babies, the 2 scruffy bantam chicks still in the shed and the 12 "teenagers" in the main run, which makes an extra 20 mouths to feed.

The turkey eggs in the incubator have not hatched as yet (they are due today!) I bobbed them in warm water earlier and no movement could be seen....shame! perhaps young Boris is firing blanks????

I will do the basics outside today and will, I think make some rhubarb jam and start to organise some of my teaching course which starts on the 27th!