Easter Sunday on the Plot

This afternoon, we both strolled down to the plot to get going on some jobs before the forecast washout for the rest of the week. It’s frustrating as the plot is only just beginning to drain after the last deluge. Our first job was to check on the new girls in the Main Coop. There seems to be an uneasy truce between Polly and the new girls. Both sides had some scabs on their combs but all the time we were down there were no skirmishes, thankfully.

Whilst my husband got busy hoeing over the three remaining beds, I began cleaning out the Nest Box. I’ve been putting off cleaning the coop because it’s such a hassle to do it when the water on site is off.  But to celebrate Easter and the beginning of the new growing season, Derek has finally turned on the water! Fortunately, it didn’t take too long to remove all the old bedding however, it would have been easier without constantly having to chivvy the new girls away from the open door! Cleaning the inside of the coop, removing as much of the dirt as possible required elbow grease and perseverance. Pleased with my progress, I turfed out the chickens who insisted on getting in the way and headed over to repeat the process in the New Coop.

Cleaning the other nest box is usually easier and quicker thanks to the closing door and its smaller size. Mavis is still terrorising the little bantams but I think she is slowly softening towards the others. I tipped out the old bedding  from the mini nest spaces and in doing so spotted something enormous with many legs out of the corner of my eye. I managed to stifle an ear-piercing shriek, merely letting out a whimper before yelling for my husband to save me. He appeared, with a very patronising expression on his face. I even think he rolled his eyes when I pointed out the monster living in the nest box. He gently removed it while I hid behind Sarah’s compost heap, sensibly staying a good distance away in case the spider decided to make a break for it.

With the spider removed, I cleared out all the old bedding. Taking a short break to stretch my back, I noted the grey clouds gathering accompanied by a temperature drop. With the rain rolling in faster than forecast, I sped up, cleaning out the coop and putting in the new bedding. I walked round into the coop and opened the nest box door. No one seemed particularly interested which felt spiteful after all my hard work!

Leaving them in peace, I headed back to the Main Coop to see how it was drying. It was still wet but the bottom boards were dry. I put them in and added a thick layer of fresh bedding. I’m hoping this will encourage the girls to lay more consistently. Before I left, I threw out some corn for the girls in the run. Interestingly, they seem to have paired off, Flora and Dotty, Polly and Rey and our two new girls. I’m not sure how long these alliances will hold but it’s always fascinating to see how the dynamic changes.

My husband had done a stirling job on the beds despite the clay soil being waterlogged. All that’s left to do is to rake up the weeds and put them on the compost heap. With yet more rain forecast for the entire week, it seems unlikely that we’ll manage to do anything much until the plot drains after the latest monsoon. It’s frustrating as it delays us in planting yet again.

But such are the challenges when dealing with the ever fickle British weather and the lowest lying plot on site!