Simple living in the country - back to basics

KajiKita

Sending happy chicken 🐔 🐓vibes!! 

KK

KajiKita

PS - also voting for llamas …..

My friend next door to some for a while - they are very characterful 😉😊

KK

Cheery_Daff

😂😂 you lot. How's about this fir a deal - if Agent Million rings and I can give up work, I'll get a couple of llamas and you can all come and visit them 😂

New chickens now have names 😁 Skippy is the smaller, more lively one, and Daisy the larger, quieter one. We left them for half an hour then nipped back out - Daisy was looking slightly more awake, so that's promising. Hoping she'll feel properly better after a good rest. I'll make up some wet food tomorrow with some poultry power drops in to see if that tempts her and acts as a pick me up. 

Going to attempt making soap this afternoon! I think I've only done it once since we moved, although I did it several times before that. It always turned out like soap, but never looked very professional 😂 I've got a slightly different recipe this time with some extra ingredients so let's see if that makes a difference! Not entirely sure what I'm going to pour it into mind you... Will have to raid the Tupperware cupboard...

Karmacat

Aww, welcome to Skippy and Daisy!

KajiKita

“ 😂😂 you lot. How's about this fir a deal - if Agent Million rings and I can give up work, I'll get a couple of llamas and you can all come and visit them 😂”

DEAL!!! 😂😊

I’m intrigued but almost hesitate to ask what is in ‘poultry power drops’ ….??? 😳😂😉

KK

themadvix

Deal is seconded by me.

 Totally get where you’re coming from re holiday/city. It’s one reason I haven’t found space for chickens yet - getting cat care is tricky enough and it doesn’t seem fair to be away all the time.

EssexHebridean

Cheery_Daff said:

themadvix said:

*Starts petition for Cheery to get llamas* 

😂😂😂 you lot 😂😂😂 I think there are plenty of people in real life who would sign that petition 😂😂

I'll tell you the same as I've told them - no more livestock (other than chickens) until I've retired! 😂 (and by then I might fancy either a holiday or a move back to the city - possibly both!)

Yeah, there are… 😏😂

Happy new chicken day and welcome to Daisy and Skippy! 

Fingers crossed for your soap making exploits too - looking forward to hearing about the results! 

Cheery_Daff

Well, first of all I am delighted to report that all the ladies made it through the night 😊 Although four out of five of them opted to stay in bed when I opened their little house doors at 7.30 this morning. To be fair, it was extremely dingy, and there were a few little noises of protest and groaning, rather like I'd do if someone started disturbing me when it was still dark 😂

Daisy was snuggled up in her bed, but she was actually moving and did make a sleepy noise, so that's a good sign. Skippy actually came to the door of the house - but for all I know she might have gone straight back in when I left 😂 No movement from the older ones, they just made slight sleepy noise and I left them to it and left them some pre-breakfast treats (they're sleeping separately at the minute).

Pouring with rain again 🙄 Very tiresome. 

Not much in the way of plans for today, thank goodness. In a minute I'll get dressed and check on the ladies again. Other than that? I might see about painting the final kitchen wall. Might wash some bedding and see if I can get it dry with radiators/dehumidifiers. 

Ooh, and my soap making! It went well, I think! If you don't make soap this probably won't mean anything, but I managed to get it to trace within about an hour and a half with a balloon whisk - in the past I've always struggled with this, but this new recipe seems to have made a difference. This morning it's still very soft and not sliceable, but definitely on the way to setting, and is a lovely golden colour 😊

Right, dressed and morning porridge for the ladies first I think!

Cheery_Daff

Delighted to report that both Daisy and Skippy have enjoyed breakfast, and are pottering about exploring their new environment Wish I could say the others were so cheerful... but they are marginally less shouty today, so that's something, at least.

Mr Cheery is off out in a bit, so I need a plan! 

2-3.30 - INDECISIVE!
Take the chickens some afternoon treats, then either paint the final wall of the kitchen... or sneak off to the cafe for an hour of plotting and scheming... 

3.30-5 - IT DEPENDS
* If I've been to the cafe, I'll paint the kitchen. If I painted the kitchen, then I'll probably have a sit down  
* Retrieve new chickens from whatever random perch they've chosen and deposit them in their little house

5-7 - COOKING
* Make something tasty for tea, and something for the freezer for meals during the week. I've got a Linda McCartney pie, so might cook that, and fill the oven with a pasta bake or something while I'm at it. 
* While everything's cooking, get ready for tomorrow. I'm travelling first thing, so need to check directions and pack bag ready (and check email to make sure it's not been cancelled)

7-8 - ADMIN
* Transfer some dosh to the savings account
* Check dates for the car and house insurance - work out when it's three weeks before their due date
* Renew membership to a charity organisation I support
* Check banks

8-9 - CHEERFUL THINGS
* Write a letter - I promised I'd send out letters with Christmas cards, and then didn't send a single Christmas card! So I'd like to start writing to the few people I do occasionally write to, and it won't happen unless I make a specific plan for it!
* Yoga video

9pm - SOFA
* Get myself installed on the sofa with the next episode of Lark Rise to Candleford. Rock n roll. 

Definitely leaning towards the cafe right now!

greent

Have you ever considered a stick blender for making soap? I used to use one all the time - makes achieving trace a matter of minutes at most 😁 - although is obviously not an arm workout, if you're looking at that at the same time 😊