Eena (RIP 24.5.2010) with Meena in the foreground

And then there were three..........

Eena, one of our first two hens, and the most interactive of our flock of four, developed The Dwindles ........ She just wasn’t quite right. Eating – but not as enthusiastically as the others. Scratching around – but not with the degree of endeavour that is the hallmark of a healthy hen. Only three eggs from the four of them for several weeks – but with all four being brown egg layers, we were sure that either Myna or Moe – or both of them – the youngers of the four - were the erratic layers.

We searched the internet ........ no signs or symptoms of being eggbound......... nor fully consistent with impacted crop.......... no evidence of abdominal distension, so seemed unlikely to be peritonitis....... and more.....and more.... loads of horrible problems that just didn’t seem to quite fit the picture........... they have grit...... they get greens........ they get corn (not too much)....... they get out for exercise.........

We brought her into the house for a few nights and she perked up......... for a while. We discovered that there were still three eggs each day, so realised it was Eena that was not laying. But she was now eating a bit more and seemed keen to be back with the others......... and keeping out of reach in case she got banished to the house again.........

Last Friday evening, despite still running fast enough to almost evade capture, she was looking less good........ she had evidently lost a LOT of weight (not that she has ever been either large or heavy). Vet Time. But no appointment available until Monday, and no indication that she needed emergency attention..........

Today is Monday. TH took her in, and I guess we both knew she’d not be coming back. The vet was very good – he has a lot of experience behind him from owning chickens himself, as well as professional expertise. Chickens, apparently, do not really do either ‘a bit poorly’, nor recover with treatment. If they seem ‘a bit off colour’ they are deteriorating, and can take a long time to reach the end, not showing signs of pain and extremely unlikely to respond to medications. He couldn’t diagnose the cause at that point – just that she was not a well chicken, and was not likely to respond to any attempts at treatment. Autopsy revealed severe egg peritonitis (retention of yolks in the body cavity), confirming the terminal nature of the situation, so revealing that quick, effective, and thereby kind dispatch had been the only humane option.

As essentially newbie chook keepers we had both been concerned that we were maybe failing to provide adequate care, or missing some clear signs to which we should have responded. Knowledge usually comes through a learning experience. We now know what to do next time a chook starts The Dwindles. Hope that’ll be ages away. They may be ‘just chooks’, but they’re part of our family.

A Few Brief Brush Strokes......

Greetings.  Apologies for absence. 

Last  Friday we went out to a local venue to hear the “Brass Monkeys” in action – a while since we’d had the pleasure, and a great pleasure it was too.  Brass instruments played with great aplomb, enthusiasm and expertise.  A very good evening out.  (Apart from not eating before we got there, and discovering that they don’t do food of an evening.........)

Saturday was “Chooks Re-location Day” – for the summer they move away from the shelter of the house and conservatory, down to the bottom of the garden (ie. a total travelling distance of about 20 feet !) – affording the hens more scope for sunbathing, a much more interesting outlook over the garden to view visiting cats/foxes/etc, better circulation of air currents, and much easier exit from the run when opportunities arise.  The hens had a fine time, and Eena, who had been looking decidedly ‘out of sorts’ most of the week, and had a few nights in the house along the way, was back to digging about with the best of them.  As for the peoples – well, we get chance to use the paved area next to the house again.  Maybe the BBQ will get dusted off this year......... 

Sunday started at 5am, with the chooks shouting their heads off......VERY loudly  (had they forgotten they’d re-located on Saturday ?).  Then was the usual programme of rehearsal, Sung Sunday Services,  and a fine sermon from the Provost (was it a good holiday then ?).  Tea and cake with friends in the afternoon.  A little light refreshment at the end of the evening.  (Why else would you sing ?)

After this weekend excitement, 9 month old Master Bart Catlet got hisself stuck up a tree on Monday night..........all we knew was that he took hisself out in the early evening, full of the joys and Master of the Universe.  He then didn’t come home before darkness crept in, and no sight nor sound was evident as we examined every area within reach.  Well, you can guess how the night went on....... late to bed in case he showed up...... TH was out looking for him at 3am......... Chickpea was checking around at 5am......... then out at 6am to check for RoadKill before the clearer-uppers would have been out..........  No Sign.   Mr Mutt got longer walks both evening and morning than usual, covering the likely area of disappearance.  Time to head out to work....... Then, a wee small cry.  Both consistent in response to encouragement, and verified by TH.  ......... Finally traced to Up A Tree.  Not a particularly LARGE tree.  But in Someone Else’s Garden, and high enough to be out of reach.  But – Pathetic.  Yup. “Heeeeeeellllllppppp !  I can’t get down !  Saaaaaaaaaaaaaave me !”  (Honest – you could hear him – thinking out loud, he was !) 

Eventually separated from high perch, returned to terra firma, food, and sleeeeeeeeeeeeepppppppp............

The other end of the day brought us a house guest.  TH had become aware of a fine long-furred grey tabby stray from a local housing scheme, thin, bedraggled, matted coat, bad breath, unkempt and uncared for............ One vet visit and several pounds’ transaction later, with an anaesthetic booking arranged for ‘grooming’ and teeth review, flea and worm treatments......... and the menagerie had increased .......  temporarily ?  Time would tell.  TH having a certain tendency to cat allergy would be a factor........

Cat smiled......... and scoffed anything that came his way......... and purred...... and purred.........

Meantime, Bart scowled, cursed and swore.  Mr Mutt retreated to his bed and hoped none would bother him.......  TH succumbed to the viral infection which had probably been out enjoying the Brass Monkeys’ gig at The Ferry last Friday.......

And so to today - Ascension Day.  Next step along the way thru the Liturgical Year.  TH somehow managed to shake off his virus enough to sing, (Miracles certainly DO still happen), but has set off away to The Land of Nod.  Now nearing Midnight, Guest Cat has washed his feet for the night and is hoping to be allowed to stay, please........ Bolshy Bart is at the lounge door feeling unloved and abandoned (and probably hoping for some more supper)......... Mr Mutt has his head down, hoping someone will put the light out......... Domestic bliss.   ChickPea has bored you silly – Thank You for calling by. Have a Great Friday and a Fab Weekend ! 

Bright and Shiny New Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway (photo by Gordon Smith)

High Jinks, Holy Days, Consecration, Celebration and Community

This past week (and more) has been a time of great preparation for Saint George’s Day (yesterday - Friday) and for tomorrow (Sunday). If you are a Church singer-person, a church-flower-arranger-person, a church-server/steward/organist/cleaner/administrator-person, or any other variety of person-in-the-pew-type-person, you may well have insight and understanding of this phenomenon of preparation for a Notable Church Event. The best ones see church folk exploring concepts of community – AND still speaking to each other - as they wield mops, dusters, polish and glass cleaner to ensure clean and sparkling surroundings, whilst administrator-persons type Drafts 1 – 10 of the Order of Service, negotiate the many minefields of ticket allocation, and arrange marquees, seating and coat hangers, and senior clergy meantime dream nightmares of Everything Being Other Than Ideal, and pass sleepless nights planning processions.

Yesterday the Scottish Episcopal Church was adding a new member to our College of Bishops, drawing clergy and others from not only our local diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, but from all over Scotland and – despite the best efforts of a certain volcano in Iceland – a few visitors managed to arrive from across the seas as well to join the gathering.

A Local was wielding his camera, and has produced a most creditable collection of photographs of the proceedings, which you can find here.

The High Jinks continued today as ChickPea weeded and re-arranged pots, and TH heroically wrestled with the lawnmower to achieve the first cut of the season (anyone able to recommend a small but reliable lawn mower ? – our current machine needs to be pensioned off to the Local Dump........).

Tomorrow evening we look forward to welcoming singers from around the diocese to a collective Choral Evensong for further Celebration to welcome Gregor as Bishop. 

Do join us at 6.30pm for the service – you, too, will be most welcome.

Going.......... going............ GONE

Got up.  Got dressed. Walking around the house – all well. Chooks n chores – all well.  Nothing much amiss. 

No giveaways.

Halfway into the quarter of a mile walk to work  (ie. Absolutely NOWHERE for retreat or modification of arrangements).......  slight technical hitch....... oooops............. VPL heading steadily southwards.......... re-arrange jacket in hopes of a modicum of disguise.........

BUT - even wearing trousers, VPL has somehow reached midthigh.......... (and still all day to get through........... would ‘going commando’ really be worse ? ......... dunno - there’s years and years and YEARS of conditioning to get through before I could address, let alone explore that one........)

QUESTION: How come lingerie just ..... kinda gives up........ lets go...........no warning whatsoever.............

I guess it’s an age thing........... (another one)

Going.......... going............ GONE !

Got up.  Got dressed. Walking around the house – all well. Chooks n chores – all well.  Nothing much amiss. 

No giveaways.

Halfway into the quarter of a mile walk to work  (ie. Absolutely NOWHERE for retreat or modification of arrangements).......  slight technical hitch....... oooops............. VPL heading steadily southwards.......... re-arrange jacket in hopes of a modicum of disguise.........

BUT - even wearing trousers, VPL has somehow reached midthigh.......... (and still all day to get through........... would ‘going commando’ really be worse ? ......... dunno - there’s years and years and YEARS of conditioning to get through before I could address, let alone explore that one........)

QUESTION: How come lingerie just ..... kinda gives up........ lets go...........no warning whatsoever.............

I guess it’s an age thing........... (another one)