[wighty]

I don't know whose side to be on - Foggy or Alphie's.  Perhaps we should have a poll.

[devonbarmygardener]

I couldn't choose between the 2 handsome boys!

[New shoot]

Foghorn's diary

Well new names and a change of address for the new girls    They have been resident with moi for the last couple of days and are called Mabel and Millie. 

Mum says they are flapper girl names and is it because they are a couple of independent girls who know their own minds    More like they flap round the place at about a million miles an hour    They are cheeky and will nick food from under your beak if you let them, but having to be in a run with the others has sobered them up a bit.  The old girl and Miss B aren't really bothered by them, but Patsy and Eddie have their beaks out of joint. 

When mum peeked in last night to see if they were settled, she found them in a nest box and me in the next door box, making sure they felt safe.  I can't tell you how much trouble I'm in with the others for that 

Of course the pipsqueak had to come over to interfere as soon as he got let out his run today.

I soon told him who was boss and made him think again 

He eventually got put back in his coop and we got out for a run.  If this week could get any better, it just has.  The grapes on the grapevine are ready!  Mum says she has still got the grape jelly she made last year, so we can have most of them.  Miss B was only too happy to make a start.  Take a breath there girl   

[devonbarmygardener]

I do love your chicken diaries!!

[New shoot]

Thank you 

Foggy was camped out in the next door nest box again last night, so I think he may be a bit loved-up 

[New shoot]

Foghorn's diary

Run clean out today, so we had a good rummage around the garden while mum put a load of new wood chips in and built us a new climbling frame of logs and branches.  There were some windfall apples to peck at as well when we got back in    The girls were off into every corner investigating while I stood and supervised.

It was about then that mum noticed a bit of blood on the front of my comb.  While she had been working, I had been having a face to face with the white pipsqueak through the wire and the little swine managed to land one on me    She went to fetch the purple spray, but I was having none of it and she had to give up trying to catch me after a while 

I got a lecture instead, but no way I was going to be walking round with a purple sprayed head.  I mean, a lad has his image to keep up you know 

Alphie's diary

Well the big run were out and about today and you know who came over to show off    He started having a go, but I managed to get a shot in and he had to retreat beaten and bloodied 

I thought no more about it until mum came over and said 'What's this blood on Foggie's comb you little horror'.  I did my best innocent look and looked suitably blank 

I'm not sure she believed me but I got away with it I think.  We got a run out ourselves then and those two girls of mine were following me round all in awe of my fighting prowess    I'm expecting extra big cuddles tonight in the coop 

[nerdle]

 

[devonbarmygardener]

Norty Alphie!!

[New shoot]

Foghorn's diary

Deck the halls with corn and mealworms, falalalala la la la la   

It's Christmas and mum gave us a clean out today so we are all spick and span for Santa Claws to visit.  He brings us chickens special treats so the place has got to look good before the girls hang their stockings up.  The great thing about chicken stockings as that you have lots of toes just right for packing in goodies 

Mind you, the party started today with greens and some nice seeds to peck. We got stuck right in I can tell you. 

Merry Christmas everyone from me and the gang. Hope you get so many mealworms to eat your eyes bulge and your coop is full of festive fun 

Alphie's diary

Well the ginger showoff reckons he got extras for his girls today, but it was me who got mum running for the treats.  May I recommend Alphie's guide to getting everything you want for Christmas 

First, make sure you are in sight and then adopt the standing on one leg, looking cute, pose. 

Krutial   crooshal  very important next phase, is get that foot tremble exactly right, while gazing up at mum looking hopeful.  You might need to find something shiny to stand in front of and practise this bit, until you get it spot on. 

Repeat until you get what you were after.  See what did I tell you.  It never fails 

Finally, make sure you mind your manners and make the appropriate happy chuck chuck noises, so they know you appreciate the gift 

Follow those simple steps and you will always be the coop-meister, with adoring girls and a fully trained mum or dad to take care of you    

and much as I love to hate Foggy I have to agree with him about one thing.  Have a fabulous Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone from me and my girls 

[devonbarmygardener]

Merry Christmas Foggy and Alphie and all your lovely chicks 

[madcat]

May your feathers always be fluffy (and photogenic!).   

[sunshineband]

And may your diary continue happily into the coming year 

[New shoot]

Foghorn's diary

Huge excitement in the coop today    We get regular run clean outs, but 3 or 4 times a year mum goes to town and digs deep down ready for new litter.  She was muttering something about mulching the fruit bushes with the old stuff, but we were too busy helping to dig to listen.

We got kicked out in the end for being under her feet, which was fine, because we then had free run of the garden    While mum puffed and panted hauling bags of old bark chip out, we found loads of leaves under the shrubs and kicked them all over the lawn so we could have a good sort through.  Mum wasn't too impressed at first, but then got a rake and gathered them up for our run. 

We always have logs and bark chips, but mum likes to give us other things to play with and the girls loved the leaves - just look at them go    Mum had a job getting them to stand still for a picture 

I was busy on coop inspection as that had been cleaned out as well.  We got a telling off for digging in the sawdust straight away, I can tell you.

I did my best 'me mum, no never, I would never do such a thing look', but mum was having none of it. She knows me too well     

Alphie's diary

Well Foggy's lot were out today causing havoc, but we stayed out of it.   The Lilac Love Palace is home to my real ladies, not a bunch of old grumpies and young hooligans like that lot thank you very much.

I stood on my bit of wood and looked down on distain like usual.  I do think I get this look off to a tee you know    Naomi and Eva agree I can look very distinguished when I want to.

By the way, did you notice the new clear plastic run cover?  Mum treated us so we could be dry and warm, but get more daylight in these short winter days.  We have 3 now    This one, our big green shade and weather protector one and our small summer shade cover.  It pays to be mum's favourite you know 

We think it is great and it makes the run so lovely and light     

[New shoot]

Alphie's diary

Well its been a few days of bad behaviour from mum    She trimmed my spur the other day as it was curling up back against my leg.  Say's its for my own good.  I ask you !  OK so it is more comfortable, but what a liberty !

Then I got a bath on top of it, because she said I was a smelly boy sitting in the nest box with Naomi overnight and pooing in there    I was going to clean it off ......... just hadn't got around to it 

Naomi is now fuming with her as the sitting in the nest box has turned into being broody, so mum has blocked off access to it.  So I have my hurt pride, Naomi going on like a fish wife and she thinks a few greens are going to swing it - pah 

I gave her my hard stare and told her where to stick them.  But it was greens and I couldn't resist forever.  I still kept the new 'dead hard' stance I've been perfecting lately going though.  Just in case she got any ideas about grabbing me again.  Wings out, chest puffed and no messing thank you 

[sunshineband]

NO messing with you. my boy