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1:41 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 21-Sep-09
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One of my Dorking hens has tricked me..........She has been hiding out in an outhouse & is sitting on a clutch of eggs, looking very smug.....!! 
I think she has probably been there for about a week from the floppiness of her comb. Tonight I will move her into the old rabbit hutch that I always use as the maternity wing; she will be safer there & the other hens won't be able to leave their eggs with hers.
Now I really feel Spring is nearly upon us.
Ooooooh......... I am so happy; I want to celebrate...........
......bless her...... 
Wooooohooooo.........!!!!!! 
"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."
from Les Miserables
6:31 pm
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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You've cheered up no end Hattie!
I'll try that again!
7:12 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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That is so good. I hope the weather improves before they hatch. Do you know haw many eggs there are?
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
8:02 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 21-Sep-09
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I moved her (&the eggs) at dusk & she was fine about it; they can be very upset about this but over the years I have developed my own technique which works very well. There were 6 eggs when I checked but when I checked these out I came to the conclusion some were older than just a week ....The shells get shinier the older they get due to the hen shuffling them around. So heaven knows when they will hatch....it could even be very soon. Oh. those hens are very crafty but often not very wise. Staggered hatchings are often not very succssful......well we will see......... 
I have just checked on her & she is sitting tight & chatting away to her eggs.....always a sign she is expecting one or more to hatch soon. I could not hear any peeping coming from the eggs.
So fingers crossed..........
I have done my best for her & she certainly looks happy & confident. I think I will have a wee drink now......
........Cheers...!!
"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."
from Les Miserables
10:25 pm
Supreme Being
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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Gosh Hattie, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the weather stays mild.
We got a pair of silkies last year as silkies are supposed to go broody at the drop of a hat. Nothing like that happened here yet.
10:38 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Hattie said:
I have just checked on her & she is sitting tight & chatting away to her eggs.....always a sign she is expecting one or more to hatch soon. I could not hear any peeping coming from the eggs.
Oh Hattie, this conjures up such a lovely picture. 
7:31 am
Supreme Being
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Mon 21-Sep-09
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Terrier said:
Gosh Hattie, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the weather stays mild.
We got a pair of silkies last year as silkies are supposed to go broody at the drop of a hat. Nothing like that happened here yet.
You need to get a Dorking or two......they only need to see two eggs together to go broody.....they sometimes sit two clutches a year....hence the large flock I have at the moment. This hen actually bought up 18 chicks last year as she took over a brood of 9 very young chicks another hen abandoned when they were 4 days old. She just walked over & herded them in with hers. It was so sweet all last summer to see this dedicated soul trying to keep all these little ones in order. They roam free in the garden so it is not easy....there is always a rebel chick or two......strangely it's the girls rather than the boys who want to go off & explore. The greatest fun is to watch 18 chicks discover the joys of a dust bath with Mama demonstating & supervising. It is 
..!!
"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."
from Les Miserables
9:29 am
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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Sound like I should get a couple of dorkings. I am trying to improve my flock this year as I am going to start selling the eggs. Other years I have given them all away, but now with the price of hen feed, I thought I would give selling them a go. I have a few customers lined up.
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
10:03 am
Supreme Being
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Mon 21-Sep-09
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danast said:
Have you got an incubator or a broody hen (or access to someone elses) because I could send you some fertile eggs. This is how I got mine. My tiny bantam Plymouth Rock hen raised hatched 3 birds out of 6 eggs I bought from a farmer's wife in Wales. The great think about Dorkings is that the pullets start laying at a young age for such a large bird. Also the males are good to eat......sorry if that offends anyone.....!! They are very gentle, good tempered birds.
"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."
from Les Miserables
12:34 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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Oh Nadine that would be just fantastic. I tried to incubate duck eggs last year, but it was with a borrowed incubator and I don't think I had the whole thing there. I shall let you know if I can get another incubator or I have a broody hen. I would just love some dorkings. Thank you so much.
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
1:07 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 21-Sep-09
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Hi Danuta,
Sorry about my previous post being muddled etc. I was having great problems with getting things to stay where I typed them.......!!! I have obviously got a pack of 
in my laptop.....it has days when they come out to play.
You just let me know when you are ready & I will start collecting. My email is listed so you can send the address etc via that.
"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."
from Les Miserables
4:22 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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Well there I was complaining about the price of hen feed and now what have I gone and done - I have bought a small incubator and it wasn't too cheap. I just get carried away. But I am pleased that I have. It will add a real zest to my interest in hens and ducks and perhaps expand my flock with different types of birds. So watch out all you folks with poultry. I may be after your eggs as well as Hattie's 
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
4:55 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 21-Sep-09
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>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> PHEW......!!!!!! That was pretty quick work Danuta..!! When will you get it.....? Are you going to practice with it before you start on the Dorkings? What make did you buy?
So that is how you celebrated the local school being saved......good for you....!!
"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."
from Les Miserables
5:21 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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I bought this one.
me=&seller=
It is small, but it will be all I will need. It says it will take duck eggs too, so I may have a go at that. However I will wait a while for Spring to come before I try any of them. You can rest easy Nadine, there is lots of time. I will try the blue eggs I have here first - that is if my new cockerel does his job!!!!
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
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