Madpam's Weblog

Mosaic Butterfly

madpam — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:26:41 +0000

Well, my son got me a mosaic kit for Christmas. It took me longer than I expected but it has started up my interest in mosaics again. It is only the second mosaic I have done.

Decided it was better at the back of the house as it catches the sun.

I had hoped to mosaic my coffee table, it was working its way up to the top of my list. However my son decided to drop it at Christmas and broke it! The hunt is on for another one…………same size……

On the subject of the Marans……………………

madpam — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:09:56 +0000

According to my diary they have been due to lay for the last few weeks. I was, indeed, amazed at how large they have grown. Every day I checked for an egg but none were forthcoming. I let them out in the sunshine and was concerned at how aggressive they were getting, they kept chasing the other birds around, they hand’t done that before. The next day I hear a cockeral crowing……………yes they are both cockerals. I must have been in denial! The neighbours are cracking up.
I have adverts out but so far no takers. They are going to have to go, someone has sent me a receipe for braised Maran…………………………My sojourn into hatching eggs has hardly been very successful. Two eggs hatched out of six, both cockerals.

Magnificent birds, such a shame.

Maran chicks week 5

madpam — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:51:36 +0000

I shall be somewhat relieved to get them out of my kitchen. It doesn’t smell as bad as I imagined but its not the most desirable thing to have birds in your kitchen! They seem to be growing daily. It looks as though I have

Or theres always the window

three females, 2 cuckoo marans and a silver duck winged Welsummer. She seems quite a bit smaller than them and her comb is nowhere near as red. My Skyline is producing a small pretty green egg every other day or so.

Not very prolific.

madpam — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:57:24 +0000

79th post

madpam — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:28:24 +0000

It appears that that was my 78th post and it had 78 words. The world has been waiting for that statistic.

Possible reprieve!

madpam — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:26:21 +0000

Someone on the poultry forum I belong to thinks that both Marans are females! It very difficult when you don’t have another one to compare them and you are just using photos. I am almost totally certain the Welsummer is a female, which is just as well looking at the size of a Welsummer cockerel. They have taken to perching on the edge of the box and watching me all day long. It seems even chickens get bored.

Chicks growing

madpam — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:31:05 +0000

LOOKING WORRYING MALE

The left hand one is a particularly suspicious. Its even more worrying if you are the chick.

Cuckoo Maran chicks. Four days old.

madpam — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:52:20 +0000

Looking decidedly cute

I have had some Maran hatching eggs. Out of six only two hatched but I think it might be my inexperience, I think the incubator was too cool. Anyhow they are handsome little ladies, both female I think. I had no idea it takes so long for a chicken to come out of an egg, its worse than giving birth!
I now have three hens laying, the Skyline still isn’t laying despite the fact the others have been laying for several weeks, the Speckeldy is laying eggs which are low on the speckle scale! The grandchildren have decided to give them names, much to my disapproval- the recent acquisitions are Sylvia, Goldie, Blacky and Snowy. No guesses as to which is which! The new chicks have been christened Sid (!) and Booby! God help us. I really enjoyed raising the chicks and will definitely do it again. The chicks are in a cage that would grace Alcatraz, as a security device against the cats. although so far the cats have ignored the chirping, obviously considering it to be some sort of auditory hallucination. A bird in the house! Whatever next!

One of the few simple pleasures in life, a comfortable pillow!

madpam — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:01:52 +0000

Well, at long last I am now starting semi retirement. Thanks be to God.
I have managed to get my hands on some bolsters. I put them out in strong sunlight to disinfect them as they have been in storage and have just recovered one. I have memories of these from my childhood,and seeing them hanging out of the window for airing in a French hotel. They are not mainstream any more. I suspect its because manufacturers don’t like making them. I have found some on Amazon but they seem to be considered a pregnancy aid and I was not happy with the quality, only feather will do!) I have also found a company in Edinburgh which sells real feather ones (termed bespoke, which is another word for pricey) for £30. Fortunately my friend gave me three. It seems that the Great British Public is likely to be denied such simple comforts just because its not profitable, so isn’t liked by the men in suits. Clearly we must all have our heads fall down the ‘gap’ just to keep business happy. I have stuffed it with Sweet Woodruff from the garden. They are so comfy.

A bit more effort needed!

madpam — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:48:52 +0000

I suppose she is doing her best