Sad news

Sad news.
Both Mrs Floppy Head and Norma have passed away over the last 48 hours.

Norma was an ex battery hen and just went to sleep in her coop and didnt wake up. This is fairly common with ex batteries - they dont live for long and often have heart attacks and just die very suddenly overnight. I have no idea how old she was - she came from an auction, but I am glad that she had a nice summer in my garden, feeling the sun on her back and having the freedom to roam around. Something battery hens rarely get to experience after their 'service' is over.

Mrs Floppy Head however is a very different matter. She was never quite right from the moment I got her and for the last 5 weeks has been on antibiotics for respiratory problems. She was very much up and down; some days refusing to eat and sitting in the corner of the garden away from the other birds, and other days happily scratching around. Yesterday was one of these days - when I left for work she was eating a handful of corn and making happy cooing noises at me, but when I returned home she was sodden and rocking back and forth, unable to stand properly.
I brought Mrs Floppy Head into the house and put her in front of the fire to dry off, but sadly she was evident that she would not recover. Over the course of the evening she passed away, quietly and peacefully; just closing her eyes and going to sleep, in a nice comfy box of straw, in front of the fire.
I had kept the breeder informed of Mrs Floppy Head's illness from the start and they had offered to take her back and swap her for me, but I wanted to give her the best chance of recovery with medication and for a while it seemed to be working. I am sad that I wasnt able to save her 😭

Centre of Excellence Pet Care Award

I had a lovely surprise this morning, when I awoke to find an email informing me that I have won runner up in the Centre Of Excellence 2019 Pet Care Awards.

I have completed several diplomas with the Centre of Excellence over the years, these being:
Dog Grooming,
Canine Health and Nutrition,
Canine Behaviour and Training.

I completed these diplomas, and am currently working towards another - Animal Assisted Therapy; solely because I want to be as well informed as I can in everything and anything relating to my canine companions, so that I can best understand their needs.

When I received an email a few months ago, asking me what I have done since gaining these diplomas - I responded explaining the charitable work that I occasionally do - rescuing, rehabilitating, retraining and rehoming dogs. I also sent several images of the rescue dogs I have groomed.
I explained that in addition to this, the grooming diploma helped me to reach my lifelong goal of maintaining a standard poodle in show coat and showing at Crufts.
I certainly did not expect to hear anything back from the Centre of Excellence, but thought that my story might inspire others to learn with them.
I didn't actually realise that I had submitted an application to the awards panel when I replied to the email!

I was very taken aback to receive an email back this morning stating:
'Huge congratulations on your incredible achievements! The judges were blown away by your story. You have shown real strength and determination and are an inspiration.'

To say I am thrilled to have placed runner up is an understatement!

My certificate in currently in the post but I will share images of it once it arrives.

I *think* have a problem

Our friend Jade came to visit last weekend and, as I have passed my love of chickens onto her (sorry, not sorry!)
She decided that she should go and get some more hens to add to her flock, from our favourite poultry supplier - Sign of the Owl
I was adamant that I wasn't going to get any more, I didn't want any more.
5 was quite enough...
And then I saw the leghorns!
Leghorns are a pretty little birds, they come in array of colours, have very large combs and lay smallish white eggs. On the day that we visited the pen was full of blacks, with one particularly scrawny little white.
Neither of us fancied the white, so we got a black hen each and I also bought a lavendar hybrid.
I named my two new hens Myfanwy and Mrs Floppy head and took them home where they joined my flock. I then proceeded to tell Jade all about how she was a bad influence and that we were never going to Sign of the Owl again...😂
Well, Jade went home on Sunday and I have spent the last few days thinking about the sad little white chicken so today I went and collected her too!
I am now at maximum capacity with 8 birds, but goodness me I love them.
The new girl needs a name, but for now she will be Britney, because Oops I did it again!

Here are a few pictures of the new girls below:

These really are the last hens now!!!

A Doris Update

Little Doris is doing amazingly well.
Shes had a couple of setbacks (my fault - I put her back out with the other hens before she was ready and she got attacked again) But now after 4 weeks in the house shes back to being an outside bird full time.

The dogs really enjoyed her company whilst she was in the house recovering from her injuries, particularly Edna who just wanted to snuggle up with her in the evenings.
Although I was initially a bit apprehensive about bringing an injured, bloody, and probably very tasty smelling chicken near the dogs they just accepted her as part of the gang and Stanley even allowed her to sit in his place - on my lap most nights.

Although Doris is living outside with the other birds again she would far rather be a house chicken and runs inside every time I open the back door. She is a real character and so very friendly.

                   


Here is a video of Doris falling asleep on my lap whilst having a cuddle.

Poor Doris!

The ugly side of chicken ownership. Poor Doris is being beaten up by the other girls. The odd scrap to establish pecking order is quite normal with chickens but unfortunately with Doris things have gone too far and some of her tail feathers have been pecked clean out! The problem with this is that chickens are an omnivore so once they see blood, they will just keep pecking until they potentially kill whatever they are pecking at. Doris has been treated with antibacterial wound powder and put in an isolation pen until she is healed. She should then be able to re-join the flock.

Here is a short video of Doris enjoying a treat in the garden. She should recover in no time.

Chickens!

Alongside the poodles, I have another love - chickens!
I have kept chickens for over 10 years now. They are incredibly low maintenence, make the perfect backyard pets and keep the garden pest free.
As well as providing eggs, their manure makes great plant fertiliser and they keep the grass down.  So what isnt to love?

Allow me to introduce you to my five current free range girls:

The black girl above is Morag who is a Copper Maran. Morag lays lays dark brown speckled eggs. Morag is a cuddly girl and will happily sit on your lap for a snuggle (especially if there is food on offer!)

Brenda is a Cream Legbar. She lays small green eggs. As much as I have tried, Brenda isn't the friendliest girl and does not much like being handled.

The two Rhode Island Red ladies are called Norma and Sharon. They lay large creamy pink eggs.
Norma and Sharon are overly confident and will wander in the kitchen and through the house if I have the back doors open. They also think nothing of stealing the dogs food!

Doris is a Buff Orpington, she is young at the moment but will eventually lay light brown coloured eggs. Doris is a sweet girl and likes a cuddle on your lap.

The problem is that chickens, much like poodles are addictive and it is tempting to keep adding to the flock! For now I'm trying to be sensible and not add any more.
The dogs are absolutely fine with the chickens roaming the garden. They mostly ignore the birds, with the exception of Edna who will play bow and try (unsuccessfully) to get them to chase her 😂

Keep an eye out for more chickeny updates soon!

Jade came to visit!

This week Stanley, Edna, Peggy and I were joined by our friend Jade who was visiting from London.

We had a fantastic few days during which many exciting things happened.

On Monday we met up with Lenny and his owner Pat for a walk on Dartmoor. Lenny has grown into such a handsome dog. It was a real pleasure to see him again.

On Tuesday Jade and I went to a poultry auction and we picked up a couple more birds to add to my flock. (Ill do a separate post about them soon!)

Wednesday saw Peggy get clipped off by the very talented Chris Briggs into continental, which I absolutely love.

Thursday and Friday, Jade the dogs and I went to North Devon where we spent a few days in a cottage and did lots of beach walks.

Here are a few pictures from our adventures.

Lenny

Lenny (looking very much his Mother's double in this picture)

Lenny

Stanley paddling at Westward Ho!

Edna

Edna and Peggy

Stanley

Peggy

Edna and Peggy

Edna

Stanley - the windswept look!

Peggy

Stan and Edna

Peggy daydreaming

Stanley

Beach babes

Jade with her poodle pjs and poodle socks in a poodle themed bedroom with the poodles! (Do you think shes a tad obsessed? 😂)

Paignton Championship Dog Show

Yesterday we went to Paignton Championship dog show, where we had a fantastic day and qualified for Crufts 2020!

Peggy did extremely well and placed in all of her classes:
Special Beginners - 2nd
Junior Bitch - 2nd
Post Graduate Bitch - 1st
Special Beginners Stakes - 3rd
Junior Bitch Stakes - 2nd

I have to say, the stakes classes were really good fun. I quite like being in the ring against other breeds and watching how they are judged and the classes are so friendly too.
I know a lot of show people don't bother with the stakes classes and think it is a waste of time because they are held at the end of the breed classes when most people want to go home, but I think its really great practice for the dogs and you have a chance at winning money too. Whats not to like?!

Unfortunately I have no photographs of Peggy in the ring but below are some of her showing off her placings when we got home.

Me and My Girls

I usually hate having photos of myself taken, but yesterday my lovely friend Adam captured these images of the girls and I together on our walk.
As a person who struggles with weight due to a medical condition, I thought I'd feel uncomfortable looking at these images but when I look at the love in my girls eyes I feel like that doesn't matter one bit. I am so very proud to their owner/ breeder/ handler/ trainer/ slave!! 😂
They have taught me so much and we have been on so many adventures.

Heres to many more!