My Sunday Photo...Hen Night

Our girls have everything they could possibly need...(and more) and they are certainly happy chooks, but I still wouldn't want to be one. 

This week we've had Mr Fox come snooping around the garden...in daylight!!! 

So hubby has had to add a few armaments to their accommodation.

The old ruined barn that houses their coup now has barbed wire above the high walls. 

It also has a cobbled floor so no fox could possibly dig under to get in.

The barn is not quite the 'Folly' as we used to call it... it's now more 'Fort Knox'!

(Annie does not look happy at someone switching the light on does she?)

The girls move out of the folly into the garden during the day. 

They have a large secure pen that we move around under the trees, so no worries there about Mr Fox paying a visit.

We also set up the night vision camera last night, to see if the fox returned under the cover of darkness...but all was clear. Phew!

I've just been out now to check that the girls are okay...and here's the photograph. 

They'd all put themselves to bed and I just couldn't resist snapping them all sitting on one perch. 

They actually have three to choose from, but obviously they like to snuggle up at night. 

How they sleep balanced up there is beyond me. 

I have trouble in a 6ft x 6.6ft bed! 

Thanks for stopping by my place.

I'm linking up with My Sunday Photo as usual. 

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The Plot Thickens

It's time for an update of the veggie plot today.

Before I start let me just explain that it's quite a challenge growing certain veggies here in the North East of Scotland. For example today started off with sun, then the hail arrived and we've had quite a snowdrift after lunch and now we're on to rain! 

I think other than fog...that about covers the whole range of weather.

So let's begin our update...

The raised beds are finished and have parsnips, carrots, cabbage, sprouts and fennel.

I'll be sure to show you the plants at a later stage. 

Hopefully they'll survive this coming week of wintry weather.

The pot at the end of the middle bed is actually a collection of herbs that I used to keep by the kitchen door. We need to replant these....making sure that we keep the mint contained.

I don't want mint taking over the whole plot as it is prone to do if left without any restraints.

The observant of you might notice the new chuckies (or gravel).

We underestimated just how much was needed so we are waiting today for another delivery of 3 tonn.

The old telegraph pole that I managed to convince the authorities to replace has now found a new home. Hubby used his chainsaw and split it down the middle and laid this rather impressive edging.

And so on to the next stage of the plot...the chicken coup.

Hubby put the coup together as it was flat packed and he said it was the easiest instructions he's ever had to follow (thanks Chicken Coops Direct)

This particular coop is the Devon design.

I was surprised by how small the coup actually was when assembled, so we've decided to buy an additional run for here and also a tunnel for the other garden, so that his 'girls' will be safe, but happy.

(I actually caught him looking at a girlie website early one morning...but thankfully it was the feathered clucking kind!)

I'm not sure when his 'girls' will arrive but we're nearly ready. 

Or I think we're ready...it's like a penthouse, but the flooring is supposed to be arriving any day.

Hard wood chippings apparently are the best! 

As I said...nothing but the best for his 'girls'

I just hope they actually lay an egg!

(New's hot of the press...Gust of Arctic wind whipped through and carried two cloches and smashed them against the granite wall of the wood store...ho hum. We've only had them a few days!
Heaven knows where the little plants maybe by now...maybe on their way to Norway)

Have a great day whatever you're weather is doing...we'll just keep hunkering down for now.

Thanks for popping by my place.

I'm linking up with Image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk apparently Elvis has been spotted over there,