Thursday 29 December 2016

Bye bye 2016

we are now in the last few days of 2016!  There has been good and bad this year but we have lots to look forward to in 2017. I have never been one for looking back. Preferring to look forward. What is done cannot be undone but the future is waiting to be made.
Today we finished Duckingham Palace and I have moved the ducks and geese in. The ducks made a big fuss about being caught and carried which made it hard work. I had to take them one at a time. The geese just waited in the barn and let me pick them up without a fuss. They were both very heavy but are so gentle I have no fear handling them. They seemed pleased to have their own house back and went in happily. The ducks made a bit of fuss because it was not their house but a new one! The smaller ducks had a swim in the tractor tyre pond. This will be much better for them as they have all become very muddy without a pond to wash in. The chickens will be happy to have their home to themselves again. We are now set up to cope with the lock down long term. Disabled duck is still in the chicken barn in the puppy cage as she still needs protecting. With this project done we can now go back to finishing the Gites.
One casualty of moving the ducks..I lost a lens from my rather expensive variofocal glasses. I searched the barn where I lost it  but no joy. I will hunt again tomorrow. One of the big ducks managed to get a wing free and knocked them off! I have a spare pair but they are not variofocal.
The weather is very cold with frosty mornings and iced up water containers. I very much hope this is our last winter living in a building site. We are talking a lot about plans for our house now. I have lived like this so long it is a case of believe it when I see it now!
It is exciting starting a new year. Who knows what it will bring? What will the curved balls be this year?

Friday 23 December 2016

A full day of work....

Due to the problem with bird flu my birds are all crammed into the chicken run and barn. It is now over two weeks and they are getting rather stressed. My disabled duck has been picked on and has not  been able to get enough to eat and drink. So......
Disabled duck is in a puppy cage in the chicken barn. I have suspended two plastic tubs from the bars for food and water. She is able to use these without knocking them over. When I put all to bed this evening she was stood up feeding. I have been certain she was weak through lack of food. Hopefully she will recover being kept out of pecking distance of the others. The geesecare definetly the boss in the barn.
As it is looking like they will have to be in lock down until March next year, I have started building a covered run for the ducks and geese. We have moved the duck house into the orchard and will move the goose house to stand next to it. I have dug out a large hole within the compound and moved the tractor tyre pond into it. I managed to get it level with the ground which will make it easier for them to access the pond. We will tomorrow build the frame of the run. The walls will be chicken wire and we have a large fruit net to put over the top. It has been necessary to do this as cheaply as possible whilst complying with the order to protect them from wild birds. As soon as it is done I will move the ducks and geese in. That will make life easier for the chickens.
We have also started on the fencing for the new Gites. It is very cold now for working outside but it all needs doing.
Lots of crochet going on! I have finished the throw for the dogs bed and started the blanket for my new grandson due next April. A friend has given me loads more wool which will be made into throws. I love making them and like having them piled up around the house. They hide our scruffy sofa and armchairs and are washed regularly so I need loads! We also wrap ourselves in them during cold weather if the fire has not been lit!
This time of year can only be endured. People disappear and with fields emptying out it all feels very desolate. The good thing is the shortest day has past and we can look forward to seeing things improve. Before we know it there will be green buds on trees.
I took the decision after talking to the physio to remove the plaster from him indoors. With the order to lift nothing heavier than a cuppa his arm is now getting stronger. He tried driving this week but no go. We are now less than two weeks until we see the surgeon again. I very much hope the end is in sight.

Friday 16 December 2016

Chickens and such

So my chickens, ducks and geese have been shut in over a week now! I have spoken to many others who have them about the rule to do this, both French and English. No one else is obeying this! I find this very frustrating. At least I know my birds are safe. The chickens are still laying eggs which means they are not stressed. I put together a big bowl of green veg each morning which they all enjoy. As they do not have access to grass and such I have to provide the green stuff they need. The geese seem to be the guardians of them all, herding the ducks and pecking the chickens if they fight! The white ducks are looking very muddy now without the pond to wash in!
We have moved the new duck house into the orchard with the geese and bees. I have yet to break up the old duck house. I have decided to plant leylandi along the fence between the pond area and the orchard . I will keep this as a hedge to stop the ducks flying over. There is temporary pond made from a tractor tyre and we plan to build a new pond that will have drainage. Lots of plans for the garden next year.
Him indoors is now without the plaster. He is also having longer periods with no sling too. I checked with the physio this was ok. He still has no strength in his arm but can now straighten it. Yesterday we put the new electric cables in the gain, all 22 meters of it! My mini needed a new brake light so he told me how to do it and I changed the bulb! Amazing what you can do when you have to!
Had the news yesterday our community doctor is retiring. We knew it was coming. He said the replacement is a Spanish man who speaks little French and no English. Could be fun. The older locals  will not put up with it. The Mairie appointed him! There is a problem here recruiting rural doctors. It is very unusual for France to employ someone who does not speak the language.
Work continues on the Gites although it is slow. Next week we will buy the flooring as we are ready to put it down.
The weather is very cold and foggy most days so I am not getting much done in the garden. I still need to sort out the veg patch ready for planting in the spring.
I am doing lots of crochet now...I have nearly finished a blanket for the dogs bed and have started a blanket for my new grandson due in April. Next month I will do the crochet along! I love the way the house is filling with colourful throws!
Next week is the shortest day after which things will improve. Winter is hard here being so isolated.

Thursday 8 December 2016

What a day.......

Today came the news that the French government says we have to isolate all poultry and water fowl from wild birds. This is because migrating wild birds are thought to be responsible for spreading bird flu! I have been watching the progress of this and had already moved the geese into the chicken barn. This barn has a large run attached. I had tried to move the ducks down but they would not play.
I put the geese and chickens in as soon as I heard then started on the ducks. I have two disabled ducks who have a seperate house and area to prevent them being trampled on. The other ten are in one house and free range during the day with access to the big pond. I herded them into their house which they are used to. I then took them one at a time and carried them down to the barn. They were very distressed and it was hard work managing the big ones. Eventually they were all in the barn and run. It was rather chaotic!  And I was covered in duck poo feeling rather battered.The chickens huddled in one corner, the ducks running around quacking and the geese trying to herd the ducks!
At bedtime when I went to shut the barn door I went in to see how it was going. The ducks were still running about quacking unsure what was happening. They are used to being together in an enclosed space. I went out the back just now to send a text message...no signal in our house and the ducks were still quacking. After today's physio we went into Mayenne and bought a very big net. This will cover the run as the chicken wire we used for the roof has holes big enough for wild birds to get in. It will be fun putting this in place! I will also set up the puppy cage in the barn to put the disabled ducks in. Then I need to rearrange things to give more floor space. I will put in big piles of straw for the ducks.
At the moment the message is to keep them in for a month. This could be extended! There has been lots of discussion about how to keep them entertained! It will be traumatic for them being used to free ranging and no doubt the eggs will stop. Better this though than having to cull my birds. They will need extra food too as they will not find any bugs or insects in such a confined space.
I will go to the Mairie tomorrow to check on all this.
I have wanted for some time to break up the old duck house as it needs replacing. This has at least been achieved. I will deal with that tomorrow. I will also be spending some time in with my birds.
You never know what is around the corner!