About Me

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Crete, Greece
Married to the lovely Geoffrey, my soulmate. I have two fantastic big kids,both married, whom I love and miss every day I'm not with them, but I know they're living and loving their lives and we make up for time when we get together.I now have three granddaughters too...

Monday 4 January 2010

Welcome the Dixie Chicks!!!

Just a quick post to introduce you to the newest members of our little family.
They are the Dixie Chicks....I'm not naming them individually for obvious reasons!
We've had them a couple of months now, they were scrawny little things when we bought them, hardly a feather between them!!
Now look at them, fat, shiny feathers and a sparkle in their eyes.
Geoff sits and talks to them and, of course, he says they understand every cluck and coo.
So, I ask you, why are they not laying?????
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20 comments:

Janet said...

Welcome to the Dixie Chicks! My two 'girls' - Bonnie & Chloe are very jealous as they are having to survive freezing conditions here in Yorkshire. If it is any consolation they are not laying either - due to a massive moult. Have the DCs been moulting?

Rob-bear said...

Perhaps. since they're all gals, they need some "encouragement" from the presence of a rooster. An urban perspective (or is it urbane?).

menopausalmusing said...

They don't look very old Jude, their comhs are usually longer when they are at "point of lay"...........

Ours tend not to lay too much in winter after moulting.

Lynn Cohen said...

I was going to mention the rooster too, but not being a farm girl I have no idea about the rest of it.
will you also eat them eventually?
I can see why you wouldn't name them then.
The photos are beautiful.

arosebyanyothername said...

Lovely looking birds. We used to keep chickens - a long tome ago and I seem to remember that egg laying was sparse in the winter.
If they are not laying in a few weeks when the weather gets better I should ask for a refund!

P.S. What is Geoff saying to them? Perhaps the problem lies there!

bindu said...

Cute girls. I wonder what Geoff is saying to them too. :)

Martine said...

1. Its too cold.
2. Is there a male around? Chickens like (need) them.
Wish you lots of eggies in springtime.
XXXm

Graham said...

Just the right size for the pot. lol.

snailbeachshepherdess said...

they dont actually need a male about to make them lay - ask my other half he has 250,000 laying hens to look after and not a cockeral in sight. They won't lay during the winter season - but what are they eating? Can you get layers pellets over there?

laughing out loud here the word verif is 'ovendeer'!!!!

Calico Kate said...

Can't help you with that question I'm just very jealous that you have any at all! Lovely lovely girls.
CKx

rowbarnet said...

Hi to the Dixie Chicks. They look great. It is nonsense that they nood a fella to lay, he will be entertaining but needs feeding and does nothing for egg production. When they are ready to lay their combs will be red and larger. They start about 22 weeks of age and laying will be regulated by day length and feeding. If they start in the spring they will stop in late summer for a moult and start again the following spring. Good luck, the eggs will taste great when the arrive.

Katiejane said...

Ha! I had to laugh at your title! How cute. They really are pretty birds and I'm so relieved to learn that they are not intended to be dinner. Hopefully they will give you lots of yummy eggs soon. At least in time for Easter!!

MyCretanlife said...

Yes Jude they are getting big. We really must come and see them.

FeatherDuster said...

If they don't lay eggs, they'd be great feather dusters! (Oh come on....you know I couldn't get out of here without saying it! LOL)

Lx @ Twelve said...

Happy New Year Jude

Can't comment on the egg laying situation though....

Lx

Nutty Gnome said...

Perhaps they're not quite old enough to lay yet - or perhaps they don't lay much in winter anyway?

No idea really, but they look great!
I'd love chickens but as we've got a family of foxes at the top of the garden it wouldn't really be fair on the chickens! :(

Genie said...

Happy New Year to you and the new addittions.

Sue Pinner said...

Hi they look like happy chicks very important
I found this old blog link about chickens but the whole blog might be of interest to you....
http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/when-will-my-chickens-lay-eggs-229
Hope it helps with the none laying chicks
Hugs Suz xx

BadPenny said...

my girls took a while to settle in - three out of four laying now ( no cock around here !!! ) They do need a lot of energy to regrow their feathers so be patient.

Lx @ Twelve said...

Hi Jude -

Thankyou, you made me smile....

The little pots are full of edible glitter - & yes I did make the cakes! Jars are from Jamie Oliver's website. Will let you know how the decopatch is going....

Have the hens laid any eggs yet??

Lx