Wild and windy out there! and an update on Lilac Hen.

Up early as Compostgirl wanted to go to the stables for the day. Spent rest of morning sorting out art supplies - I have a ludicrous amount of stuff so have had a sort through and some of it will be going to an artist friend. I still have loads of art stuff to play with but have now got my stuff in a large wooden box rather than many boxes :)

Foul weather over night and also first thing - very wild and wet and windy - but later on in the day it was sunny and a bit calmer so I pottered around the garden and polytunnel.

Terrible headache started late morning and developed into full blown shivers and aches after lunch. I feared I was coming down with something nasty so I drank some lemon in hot water and rubbed lavender essential oil on my temples to try to banish headache, eventually I sat down and had a rest for a bit as I felt most unwell.

Felt better later and went into Ledbury (again) to do a bit more shopping and to collect various prints and photos from the framers - he has done a lovely job and I will take some photos tomorrow in daylight to show you.

We were invited to the Wassailing up the lane but none of us feel that great and so we decided not to go. Now about to settle down in front of the fire to watch The Voice on TV, Compostgirl and I quite like to watch the blind auditions, at least.

Lilac hen still poorly - I had to milk her sour crop again this morning so she is now on 24 hours water only, as recommended by the vet. Hopefully tomorrow she will be a bit better and I can start her on natural live yogurt to help kill off the thrush in her crop.

Finally! I went to Ledbury, and a poorly hen.

Despite a reasonable quantity of sleep last night I woke up this morning at 7 am feeling dreadful so after decaff tea a and doing  normal morning routine  with Ellen to get her off to school I went back to bed         - up again at 10 am still very groggy and with pain in back. Slow to get moving but had a (rare) caf coffee with sm to get me going

Finally made it to Ledbury for shopping and stuff after lunch - and am very glad I did! I had an excellent time, despite the back ache. I managed to get a very short notice slot at my lovely hairdresser and she trimmed my hair and fringe just how I like it :) I also did a load of little jobs which have been on my "to do " list for ages, dropped off some stuff at the Red Cross charity shop, had a browse around it and several more charity shops, had a coffee with a friend, did some food shopping, tried on clothes and shoes, bought some of the clothes ( 5 sizes smaller now!) and generally had a good time. I came home via John our friendly organic farmer and got some veg and two bales of straw for the hens. That is now in the barn along with plenty of  food for the assorted animals.

I have a house hen at the moment - Lilac has sour crop so she is inside in a cat carrier and I am looking after her - unfortunately I had the delightful experience of her being "sick" all over me tonight when I was draining her crop. Yuck.

Titch the poorly Hen

Titch the last Ex battery Hen has been looking slower, and frailer as the Autumn progressed - not ill exactly but slow moving and tired. 

A few days ago I found her hunched in the run, not wanting to move, with her friend Bunty standing close by.

Top Ginger Hen Babs was not showing any concern though - she was off digging in the newly cleared raised bed!

I decided to bring Titch in for some warmth and care so went off to set up a cat carrier inside. But  when I went back to collect her she was not in the run - and I could not find her anywhere. I looked around the wood but could not see her and it was not until the next day that I found her, caught up in some undergrowth and very chilled. I am amazed she survived outside over night!

As soon as I spotted her I picked Titch up and oh, how light she felt! And she sounded a bit wheezy. So I started her on some Baytril and took her down that evening to see Mike the vet, who gave me more Baytril and said to keep her warm and try and get her to eat.

I have a poorly house Hen at the moment :( Not sure if she will survive, but am doing my best to help her recover. So far she is still alive and looking a little brighter. .

A house hen and a confused cat!

Marjoram the last of the ex battery hens from the rescue of Dec 2011 is poorly :( 

And has needed special treatment and is now inside as a House Hen. Hopefully she will recover, given special food and lots of love. She has gone into a full moult and I fear her poor little body cannot cope with the stress of growing back her new feathers.

Hopefully I can help her get through this difficult time and she will live on to enjoy her peaceful retirement. She is a lovely little hen and loves to be stroked and cuddled - she purrs and croons at me when I feed her treats by hand.

Gizzie the newest cat  is also confined inside at the moment ( as a  new cat she needs to be kept in for a few days) and looks a bit nonplussed at sharing the kitchen with a Hen in a cat carrier! They seem to be getting on ok, though.