The Start of a New Year

Already we are coming to the end of the first week of the New Year - 2014. A week of storms - gale force winds, torrential rain, hail, thunder and lightening and worst of all floods.The bad weather began just before Christmas and so far there appears to be no let up. Unlike many we have been very fortunate and suffered little damage. The road to the village where we keep most of our birds has flooded at the time of the high tides adding 10 miles to our journey each morning, a few branches have come down, other than that just the inconvenience of wet clothes, mud and not being able to 'get on' with the usual winter jobs of hedging , treating empty houses etc. My heart goes out to all those who have suffered so much more.
Despite the dreadful weather the birds are on track, most are now laying and the cockerels are treading the hens. At the weekend I am hoping to add a few Exchequer Leghorn eggs to the incubator as a test hatch.
All the pullets are now at the yard and the spare young cockerels culled, so the growers pen at home is empty. It will be rested and the arks ( when they have eventually dried out) will be treated ready for this years youngsters.It is very strange not having any birds at home.
Over the next few weeks i am hoping to add a few trees to some of the grass pens giving the birds extra shelter, shade, sense of security and in the Autumn fallen fruit to enjoy.
For now though we will sit and ride out the storm hoping for better weather soon.

Happy New Year .