Weekly Roundup and Giveaway announcement

So this week we have successfully rehomed (fingers crossed) our juvenile cockerel and been rather amused by a report from the Sun about chickens killing a fox , you should read it for yourselves the puns are really groan worthy.

Since the beginning of March it has felt really Spring like and we've turned our thoughts to window boxes, and displaying Spring bulbs indoors in vintage china pieces. We've also been looking at a tutorial for making floral necklaces.

Whilst in our dreams we've visited Pedlar's castle in reality we've spent some delightful time watching the boats on the North Norfolk coast.

Far more mundane but never the less worth a mention, we renewed our car tax online, it was very simple to do and personally I would highly recommend it.

There has even been time for some reading, I've been dipping into Gisele Scanlon's The Goddess Experience and I've finished the first of my Georgette Heyer dectective / murder mystery books. Which leads me nicely to the announcement of Renaissance's first giveaway.

Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer

I've finished reading it and would like to pass it on to someone else, so if you'd like to read it yourself please leave a comment over here at Renaissance Newsletter.

If there is more than one person interested in the book we'll do a little draw and announce the winner next Friday in our weekly roundup.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend and good luck in the giveaway.

Revenge of the Killer Chickens

Apparently 4 "plucky" chickens "hatched" a plan to take revenge on a fox who had been killing off their flock.

"It seems they kicked over the table and knocked the fox out, then pecked it to death." Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2874450/Fox-comes-last-in-pecking-order.html#ixzz0h8sqSjHh

Amazing!

Ruling the roost

So as regular readers will know all these little chicks made it to maturity but only one survived the severe winter and what did it turn out to be?

You've guessed it a cockerel!

And one that really likes the sound of his own voice.

Yesterday we moved him to the orchard, to a large chicken house with run and lots of hens.

Unfortunately the large chicken house and run is also temporary home to a trio of fancy fowl, I forget what type, and what was the first thing our youngster did?

Why he went and picked a fight with the other cockerel...

Fortunately no harm was done this time.

Success

From my in box:

"Great news!
Yesterday the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers rejected Poland's attempt to delay the Europe-wide ban on barren battery cages. As a result, the ban is still due to come into force as planned in 2012.
Thank you to the 10,214 dedicated supporters who lobbied the UK government by sending emails, post cards and letters - once again, you have shown that we can get things done for farm animals when speaking with a united voice. This latest campaign also reiterates the need to be vigilant about the threats that remain, even when victories such as the forthcoming battery cage ban have been gained. Whatever the challenge, Chicken Out! and Compassion in World Farming will continue to take decisive action until the battery cage ban is fully implemented across Europe.
Thank you for your support; we share this victory with you.
Rosie, Siân, Hayley and CarolineOn behalf ofThe Chicken Out! TeamCompassion in World Farming"

Urgent message re battery cage ban from The Chicken Out team

Help protect the 2012 battery cage ban!
The EU barren battery cage ban is under threat, and we need your help to lobby Defra to protect it.
Barren battery cages present serious animal welfare problems and prevent hens from carrying out their natural behaviours, such as dust-bathing and perching. Yet, last week, Poland proposed a delay to the EU ban on conventional battery cages to 2017. This would allow Member States to continue keeping hens in these cages for a further five years.


The EU Agricultural Council will address this proposal when they meet on 22 February and Jim Fitzpatrick MP, the Defra Minister responsible for animal welfare, will be present. We need him to vigorously oppose Poland’s suggestion and for the Council to reject it.
Help us oppose the Polish government’s proposal. The EU Agricultural Council meets on 22 February so, if you’ve not already done so, please click here today to urge Jim Fitzpatrick to protect the ban.

Fox alert

Fingers crossed, we're lucky, our little flock lives in town and we don't (yet) have urban foxes here. Sadly though a friend has been less fortunate, he had 13 chickens killed last night.

Reynard went on a killing frenzy.

Lock up your chickens my friends, it has been a long hard winter and Foxy Loxy is hungry.

Catch up

Still no photograph of the Nankin Bantam, sorry, weather stopped play.

The snow, ice and freezing weather has proved fatal to some of our little flock,

very sadly the younger members just couldn't take it and we are left with only

one survivor out of the five. The older hens were fine including our resident

OAP ex battery.

Surprisingly the Seebright didn't seem at all concerned by the weather and is still

living happily with her Nankin friend.

The above photograph is from last year, I've actually just spent a few days sifting

through 2009's photographs and posted them over on the

website in the What we are doing section

Do pop over and take a look when you have a minute, if you do you'll find my Christmas present from my family - her name is Maddie.

Wishing you all a lovely 2010.