Swift Half update - 5th December 2010

• This blog is becoming a bit of a "hen update" right now, but needs must, I s'pose.


• We all saw the sun for the first time in what feels like months today - once the murk cleared at lunch, we were left with a glorious blue sky and a VERY cold night to come I guess.


• I took the opportunity to get the girls out into the garden and its clear that Cutters is still struggling - Conker kept picking on her incessantly and Cutters has no strength to run away - she just falls over, exposing her head - which is like a red rag to a bull for chickens.


• Conker eventually drew blood - and thats even worse -when a chicken sees blood -it doesn't stop pecking.


• Couven though seems to be asserting her dominance, at least over the (now "eeeevil") Conker - chasing her around constantly and pecking her on the back of the head. Unlike Cutlery though, when Conker comes in for a bit of bullying, she can run away. Which she does.


• So, far from Couven being the subordinate hen of the flock, she's on a par with trouble at least and much more dominant than Conker. Cutlery is quite rightly (I'm afraid), bottom of the pile.


• I rather think we've named "Trouble" quite badly, as nowadays she's quite easily the least trouble of them all - Cutlery is sick and very henpecked (vaseline all over her bloody comb), Conker is constantly standing on Cutlery and really pecking her hard, Couvster is chasing Conker around as a priority "to do", and giving her pretty nasty nips -and Trouble... just getting on with life, laying, eating -no bother at all!


• The other slight concern I've got is that Couven has seen the blood on Cutlery's battered comb and is pecking at that also.


• Do I give Cutters any chance at all now? Not much to be fair - she still can't jump onto the ramp up to bed and spends most of the day away from the flock, hiding. She was a little better today (a slightly more vigorous attempt at ruffling her feathers and scratching for food) but unless she is allowed to eat A LOT - she won't build herself up and quickly die in these cold temperatures I think.


• I was gonnae separate the girls again tomorrow, but I'll let nature take its course - I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Cutlery on her belly tomorrow, covered in blood. I hope not of course - and I hope Couvster keeps Conker away from her.


• She desperately needs to eat loads and drink LOADS (which I've not seen her do for some time) to get her strength up. Or she's doomed I feel.


• Its like a blummin soap opera here at Swift half!


• Other hen highlight today was when Trouble got scared by a half hidden neighbours' tabby cat. She screeched and lept about 5 foot in the air - flying as only chickens know how, to land on the pond. Just as well the pond is under about 3 inches of ice eh?


• Anyhoo.... crossing my fingers for tomorrow - the first day that all four chickens are locked in the coop until 1pm (when Mr.T comes 'round to release the Kraken, sorry hens).


• Will Cutlery get knocked over and pecked to death by Conker?


• Will Couven draw blood from Conker (they do NOT get on!)


• Will Couven be able to leave Cutlery's bloody comb alone (and not make it worse).


• Will Trouble give a hoot about any of all this?


• I'll see tomorrow, after work...
• By the way - I'm pretty sure Conker laid her first egg today. (Unless Trouble laid two...)

Photo above is of the once darling (now eeeeevil) Conker, in the low sun this afternoon.