We’ll, we’ve been here two weeks now. The farm is totally overgrown and uncared for. We love it!! Everyday, as well as unpacking, hanging curtains, trying to find things, put things away; we are chipping at the jungle.

Our first job was to clean up the driveway, where the people come for farm gate sales, and it looks tons better. We’ve planted some busy lizzies and begonias in some old water troughs that were outside.

Everyday we have had a huge bonfire, burning packing boxes and bits of hedge.

The 50 chickens we inherited looked very sad for themselves. They have red mite. Hopefully it is now under control. They didn’t look as though they had been cleaned out for a month, and there wasn’t any fresh water around. I think the people moved out weeks before we moved in not on the same day.

The chickens have been my personal battle. For the last 25 years I have been petrified of birds. I mean rigid with fear. From the moment we decided to move to a smallholding I have been conditioning myself to get a grip with this fear. I desperately did not want to pass this fear on to the children, especially as the haven’t noticed yet (a pushchair is great to move pigeons out of the way!!)

On the day as we moved in I slipped off, with my hat pulled down hard, and praying quietly and entered the hen house. I managed to collect the eggs out of all the nest boxes. The feeling of achievement has yet to beaten. I’ve since been able to go in everyday.

Three days ago, about 10 in the morning, I was about to cut Christopher’s’ hair (5) when we looked up and noticed a fox in the chicken run. We ran out but we were too late. It had already killed 15 chickens, biting the head off 8. About two hours later it came back again but we scared it off before it killed any again. We think we’ve found out were it came in and fenced it better. The others seam all right.

On a lighter note, we have ordered the new eggmobile hen house and have built the new duck house. The khaki cambells arrive next week. The very overgrown vegetable patch has finally been cleared and made ready to become the soft fruit garden. We have moved 5 caravans, pushing by hand, which is quite hard. The tractor arrives on Monday. I’ve picked and processed 6lb of blackcurrants, which we only discovered when we got rid of the weeds.

Sorry this has gone on so long but I feel so pleased with what we’ve achieved this week and I know you’ll know what I mean.

God bless you

Alison

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

Answers

Wow!! Wish I could say I've done as much lately!! Sorry you lost some of your chickens. If you were closer I'd give you some of mine--but Illinois is just a little far away!

I have to ask--what is an eggmobile hen house??

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Alison,

It does sound like a dream come true. Nothing like chopping your own weeds, eh??

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

Hi Alison,

Congratulations on your move. David and I would love to hear more about where you are. We lived on about 12 acres just north of Plymouth, along the River Plym. We rented it while we worked at the Plymouth Marine Lab.

Foxes can be a real problem. Can I suggest a dog. We had an otterhound cross in England. I am now totally in love with Great Pyrs. They have done a wonderful job protecting our stock here in Arkansas where we have coyotes, bears, and mountain lions. You might go to one of the animal rescue leagues and get your name on the list for one.

Your chickens do sound sad, they are lucky they have you to care for them. It sounds like you are doing a very good job overcoming fears. I hope you learn to really like them! My advice would be to give theses guys about a month to see how they laying does, with good food and water they may be fine. We once inherited a leghorn that the owners said was mean and only laid 1 egg a week. After being at our farm where she was cared for and not traumatized by dogs she became one of our best layers and foragers. We were so saddened when we lost her!

We wish you and your family all of the best, we'd enjoy corresponding with you! Kim

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001