The Aftermath of Storm Eunice

The above title is rather optimistic as it’s still windy and pouring with rain. When the storm hit on Friday, it was pretty spectacular, even though we are nowhere near the worst hit areas down south. As the wind rose, I dashed down to check on all of the chickens. Happily, they all had enough sense to huddle inside their nest boxes, only popping out to grab a beakful of food. Unsurprisingly, there were no eggs on Friday.

Both yesterday and today have been wet, impressively so with a generous helping of wind. At home, one of our fence panels got blown out, weirdly in one piece which suggests the wind got underneath the panel and pushed it up. The wind dumped it in next door’s garden. When the wind eventually drops, we will put it back. On the plot, we seem to have got away quite lightly. The shed still has a roof and solar panel, the greenhouse is in one piece and all chicken coops are still standing.

As the next band of rain closed in, I dashed into the new coop to check on Gordon and his girls. The tarpaulin was still securely attached to the coop – a miracle considering how often these are ripped off in high winds. But one side was being weighed down with a massive puddle of water. Grabbing the ‘Poking Stick’, aptly called as I use it to poke the water off the roof. It’s rather satisfying watching the torrent of water cascade off the roof (always provided you don’t get drowned in the process). Gordon and his girls took one look, shrieked and legged it to the other side of the coop. When I turned around, I discovered to my amazement that all five of them were hiding inside the nest box. Inside the nest box! All of them have steadfastly refused to go in it ever since they moved into the new coop. Apparently, all we needed was a once in a generation storm to persuade them to use it!

Due to the weather, the pond renovation had to be cancelled but I am hoping we will be able to it next weekend, always assuming the weather improves! In the main coop, all the chickens were hiding in the Nest House. They ventured out for their treats before heading straight back into the warm. I collected two eggs which I hope bodes well for the next few weeks. Usually, our girls go berserk in the spring, laying eggs at an eyewatering rate. There comes a point where you can’t eat anymore three egg omlettes…

Before I left, I walked around the site to check on how other people’s plots had survived. Apart from a handful of plots being sunk under several inches of water, most plots are intact bar a few blown over pots and chairs.

So assuming the rain eventually stops, the plan is to clean out all the chicken coops and to work out where Leia and Flora will go as the greenhouse needs to be reclaimed for the growing season!