I started a row in this section a while back. Not felt brave enough to post much since! Come and say Hello!

[Doodlez]

I know, i know - who the boogery hell finds summat to fight about in chicken keeping? . Can't remember what it was about now but no matter. i just wanted to swing by and say Hi to all chicken keepers, new and old!

Does Porridge still post? She helped me with a problem I was having with Silkies a while back?

waves Hello Doodlez! Bit new to all this, me.

I am intrigued to know what you started a fight about!! Was it plastic vs. wood? straw vs. auboise? Pure breds vs. ex-batts?? Oooh the possibilities!!

Doodlez

It's Porridge here, I'm undercover.

I totally missed the fight - wtf did you post? How are the girls?

Mine are miserable here because it's been so wet, although better today.

The big news on the chicken front is;

1. Got some firsts at the Norfolk Show (yay)but one of those chickens has gone broody and has no gone AWOL
2. White silkies hatched behind the breadmaker are looking beautiful (yay)
3. White silkies are being shown in November (yay)

4.White silkies are covered in mud and need a bath (boo)

1. DS1's favourite chicken laid a double yoker (yay) and gave herself a prolapse (boo) but I pushed it back in and it seems OK.
2. I have 40 chicks and not all of them are cockerals (yay)

Let me have some chicken news from your end please!

I can't remember Goodish - I did a quick search back through the topic but can't find it.....I'm wondering if the thread got deleted! How long have you had chickens for?

Porridge - that's some disguise! Does it reflect a new interest - bee keeping?

I wondered about the eggs behind the bread maker!

I just got back from the Poynton show - Tinson & Hidden had some STUNNING Silkies - bantams too but only black and whites. So beautiful though! My fave bird in the whole show though was a pure white, yellow beaked and foot calling duck. It's like the most perfect duck ever. I'm thinking of branching out!

My two Silkies are much happier now that Coco and Chanel (or Coco and Crystal) are here! They are 20+ week old Light Sussex, not laid yet but any day now. They are massive compared to the Silkies but the Silkies are still very much in charge!

They do mooch about together though. Silver went broody, but Star was occupied with keeping the Sussex in order and then she went broody and Silver took over. Your plan worked!!!!

Call-Duck picture. How perfect are these little cuties?!!

doodlez are you the doodles that went to my school? I haven't seen that doodles for ages.

Yes - that's me Mrs! There's a few 'Doodle' names at the minute though!

How you doin'?

....and what's with your name change?

hello haven't seen you for ages! There are some confusing doodley names about for sure. My name change is to make my ramblings less searchable should I be outed.

So, I've had this little feeling of disquiet for about 2 weeks but just thought I was being a bit paranoid. Turns out, I was right - Coco and Chanel are actually Chico and Carl

Read the sorry tale here

and about the cockerels. What are you going to do.

Take them back!!!

Did I tell you how I came by them? I was visiting a local visitor farm with the children and some friends. I just casually asked the woman in the shop if they ever sold POL's. She told me she'd taken some fertile eggs to hatch at home (she keeps chickens in her garden too - she doesn't live on the farm, just works there).. Anyway, she'd brought these two "POL's" in to work that morning, to put them in with the farm flock but she was a bit worried about them because they were used to so much pampering etc.

So, I took them and she did say, if they didn't turn out as expected, then just bring them back.

So.....I'll ring her tomorrow and arrange to drop them back !! The farm is fabulous, so I have absolutely no worries that they'll be fine, much loved and petted by 100 children a day

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I have loved the fact that Silver & Star have had company (see lower down thread). It has really helped them both to have 'mates' to boss play with. So, I'm going to stick with what I know (Silkies) and try to find a replacement. I'm just looking around the internet now, to see if anyone has any POL's for sale. I need a reputable breeder who knows how to sex a fackin' chicken

Oh good. Where are you? I can check my breeders list for someone close if you like.

Stockport - so, any where within 30 miles of Manchester (or there abouts).

I got Silver and Star from the Wernlas Collectionin Shropshire. Twas a great place but a full day out to go and get them.

I also came across Pear Tree Poultry but I never managed to make the trip. They're quite a way off near Preston.

Any and all suggestions welcome....

OK - I'll check and come back to you.

Thanks Porridge.

Phoned the farm this morning and the 'boys' have now gone back. No problems, no fuss and I feel happy in the knowledge that they'll be really happy on the farm.

Silver and Star look a bit lost on their own again.

Local breeder who specialises in Goldtops has 4 eight week olds. Any views or opinions on them?

Doodlez - have found my year book - can I CAT you?