General Update

Well, the plot still looks like a bombsite but at least it is safe for another year. Got my rent notice last week, got to go to the office and pay for the coming year. Works out about £29 which is quite reasonable given the size of the plot!
Chooks are doing well, egg laying is tailing off but feathers are re-growing and they are starting to look less 'plucked'. Worried about my chicks as the bigger girls have started ganging up on them and one of my little Marans may be under the weather. She sounds chesty, its the only way I can describe it, going to treat the babies to a marmite sarnie tomorrow, give them a vitamin boost. The littluns have started staying in the shed a lot, staying out of the way, but at least it keeps them out of the cold as much.
Was sitting in the shed talking to the girls, as you do, when one came in, settled herself down on the nest and started straining..... and kept on straining. I was getting quite nervous and beginning to think that she may be egg bound when a look of sheer relief came over her face. When I saw the egg I knew why!

Got a fantastic bargain from B&Q. A 6'x2' greenhouse by £20. It was an absolute bastard to put up given how small it is. but it is going to provide extra valuable space for young plants in the spring and toms/chillies in the summer next year.
Got a few new pics as well.

Cheers

Wrapping up

Well, lost toms and late spuds to blight, beans are finished, got a few bits in the ground but mostly I'm trying to clear up the mess from where I hardly got down here over the summer and prepare some ground for my overwintering plants.

While clearing out and de-lousing the chook house I saw a funny little thing on the floor. Closer inspection showed it to be a wee lizard, only about 2 inches long and dead cute. Took pics then let it go outside.

Cleaned out greenhouse and the area around it. Going to take some slabs out of greenhouse and open up some beds for toms and chillies next year. If I clear out the shed over the winter, I can use that for potting and sowing and keep the greenhouse for growing on.

Jeepers Cheepers and Ex-Bats

Well, due to the depradations of Mr Fox I lost my last two girls and can quite honestly say that I was gutted in a resigned sort of way. I have had a month without girls so decided to check out the Battery Hens Welfare Trust to look into adopting some of those. Found out that there was a rescue happening on 6 Oct so put my name down for 12 then spent the last month rebuilding part of the run and fortifying it.
Have also got 4 chicks, a Light Sussex, 2 Marans and a Silkie. The wee ones were first out yesterday morning and showing the big girls how its done!
The ex-bats have been laying fairly well, and with winter approaching, I will enjoy them for as long as I get them before the girls rest up over the darker months. I have been told that the babies will lay next spring.

Some pics.