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.

Nankin, Nankin, Nankin

Okay so the Nankin Bantam arrived and was introduced to the Seebright.....

and for once two chickens meeting for the very first time got on at once.

Amazing!

Sorry no pics at the moment I seem to have squashed the connector on the camera / computer cable ....

Pics will follow one day soon.

Oh and they now have names - Nutmeg & Mace.

Nankin Bantam

Gosh can't believe that I didn't post here during the whole of November.

So much for The Chicken "Daily" more like The Chicken Once-in-a-while!

Well the latest news from the Renaissance flock is that we've been offered a Nankin hen to keep our little Seebright Hen company.

Same story as our Seebright really, only one survivor from a clutch of eggs and noone to keep her company so hopefully she'll be coming to us soon.

I'll keep you posted....

really I will!

Good homes wanted

Jane of Snapdragon's Garden is looking for homes for some Light Sussex cockerels, they are free but you'd have to collect from Balfron Station, Stirlingshire, Scotland. If any of you are interested you'll find details here.