The sides are up!

Having spent time this week levelling the ground and laying the slabs, then buying and cutting the wood for the kickboards, today my DH started work assembling the run.


We've had to decimate a shrub which is now inside the run area, but we decided not to dig it out completey as it'll provide a source of amusement for the chooks.

The kickboards are in, and the sides and ends are up. It's looking wonderful.

Lots more to do, hopefully we'll get a chance to do some of it next week.

A flurry of activity

I've been putting off phoning the Breeder to ask whether they know the sex of the chick yet. I've been trying to work out a plan B. Would I wait until May or June or whenever a new female chick reaches point of lay? Or would I get a couple of chickens somewhere else now, and then try and introduce the TNN (Transylvanian Naked Neck) later?

Anyway, I decied yesterday that I might as well know one way or the other, so I phoned to ask The Question. And she's a she! I'm planning to go and collect her, and my Buff Sussex, at the end of February. I'm now calling some other recommended breeders to see if I can get a BlueBelle for the same date.

And so I was spurred into ordering the next lot of bits & pieces. Cardboard boxes to collect them in, pink egg boxes and red mite powder from one supplier; a set of tub trugs and covers - in fabulous orange to match my Cube; and a Foxwatch to deter Mr Reynard.

Still got a few things to go, will organise the rest when I have confirmed the pick up date.

And now I find I need some really basic help with my Cube, and I've had to post some realy basic bedding questions on the Omlet forum. I've no doubt that I'll have more questions over the next few weeks.

When my DH talks about the hens coming (which he's now almost looking forward to!), he says that I don't seem that interested. Actually i'm trying to control my excitement. Inside I'm bouncing off the walls, but I know that there is still 5 weeks to go and anything could happen in that time.

.

No News.

The time is really dragging. Still another 3 or so weeks til I find out whether "she's a she" or "he's a he". I don't know how I'll react if he's a he, as I am sooooooo fed up with waiting.

Work on the Run has ground to a halt. Weather has been atrocious, and it's been impossible for DH to go level up the slabs ready to erect the pen. It's also been too miserable for him to put the roof together.

I've got a few bits and pieces I need to order, but I've been rationing myself.

Oh, I've also picked the names for the hens at last. I've been trying them out over the last week, and I still really like them. Don't want to jinx things by posting the names yet.

Hugh FW and Jamie's campaigns have been airing on the TV, so there is a lot of interest in chicken welfare. Lots of talk about it, but I suspect that most of the people who are talking are those who are already converted. I wonder if there'll be a whole load of new people starting to keep their own chickens as a result?

Roll on end of January. And please let the TNN be a her.