Usually laid at start of lay, or when a hen is coming back in to lay after a break. Occasionally, I've had them from old hens, who later went on to develop peritonitis.

The linseed doesn't seem very noxious but it will get in all the cracks of the new houses unlike the limewash which runs off really quickly. The old house is a problem, it's boarded so awful to reach the little critters, thought I might try and steam them out I've never (touch wood!) had red mite, ...

Moths used to freak me out too Lady A - I think it's the way they flutter around in lampshades and then zoom out, seemingly straight at you. Since I discovered there a day flying moths as well, which are beautiful, I've become less panicky at night. Saw a Tiger Moth on my runner beans a couple of d...

Tweetypie wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 12, 2019 9:34 pm

I think some moths are more beautiful than butterflies. I love the emerald one. The firstpic looks like a cornetto

"The Cornetto Moth"! I like that.

Have to admit though that for some reason, moths completely freak me out!

Not sure how many units of electricity I use per day. The standing charge (51c per day) and VAT make up most of my bill. I cook with bottled gas and heat with a multifuel stove, which in Winter, heats the water and the entire house quite economically. When it's not cold enough to light the stove, bu...

I did try making dustbaths years ago, but none of the hens ever used it. They preferred to excavate their own, outside. There's quite a large area (communal baths!) under a tree that they seem to like. Of course, when it's wet, it means they don't have a dustbath. Thankfully, right now, the ground t...

I'm going to leave the area another couple of weeks at least, and then cut it. I've definitely seen an increase in bees and butterflies this year, but that may be coincidence. My son in law had 3 beehives out in the back of my property, and this year, they moved one over to their own garden, but at ...

These white flowers are feverfew. I had a pot of feverfew a few years ago, and now it comes up in several places.

I took pics yesterday of part of the land that I'm "re-wilding". I'll see if I can upload them. I'm really pleased with how it's going, for it's first year. By next year, I hope to have a bigger variety of flowers.

Wow! That is amazing Shadrach! Also known as an "earth ship"? I love the chickens trotting over your house!