Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Chicken Phantom Agents...

Our ninja chickens in action!

They were on the hunt for worms and grubs.  Bertie’s feet were a blur of speed and determination…

Stalking their prey…

When chickens dig for food, they scratch the ground with one foot, followed by the other, then leap backwards in a dramatic, ninja-like manner and peer intensely at the uncovered dirt, looking for anything edible…

Joanna once told me that this movement was known as “spuddling”.  We could watch them doing it for hours! (Click on the HD button if your broadband can handle it.)

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Posted in Frugal Living | 62 Comments

62 Responses

1. on April 25, 2012 at 12:40 am heidiannie

   ninja chickens.
   I like the imagery.
   You almost make me want chickens.
   Almost.

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:38 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     They’re lovely to have around, if you can find a way to manage them, Heidi. Otherwise they’ll strip your garden bare in a matter of hours. :)

     
     
2. on April 25, 2012 at 12:53 am Misky

   Now I have a tune tumbling around in my head. “you put one foot out, you put one foot in, you do the hokeypokey and then shake it all around….”

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:40 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     It is like a dance, Misk! :)

     
     
3. on April 25, 2012 at 1:09 am Sous Chef

   It’s very funny to watch! :) How lovely to have fresh fresh eggs.

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:40 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     Sue, it’s probably the best thing we “grow”. They’re laying less now as they get older – not sure how I’ll cope when they stop altogether!

     
     
4. on April 25, 2012 at 1:37 am Tandy

   They are amazing creatures to watch :)

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     Tandy, glad you enjoyed it. I’ll take more videos for you all! :)

     
     
5. on April 25, 2012 at 1:49 am SarahKate

   When I opened this post, it took a few minutes for the pictures to load on my laptop (slow wireless here) and I thought this was a post with a recipe called Ninja Chicken. Then I saw the pictures and I thought, “Goodness! She’s going to show us the WHOLE cooking process… from chicken to dish!” Very pleased that it’s just pics of your super cool chickens. :)

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     Hahaha…my friend Ellen thought the same thing! :)

     
     
6. on April 25, 2012 at 1:50 am cravesadventure

   Ninja Chickens – love that! Have a Great Day!

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:42 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     Thank you! Glad you enjoyed them!

     
     
7. on April 25, 2012 at 3:43 am Pat Machin

   That takes me back to my childhood. I have a clear memory of lying on my stomach in the grass watching this – though ‘Ninja’ was not a word I knew then!

   Thanks for the memories.

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:42 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     Pat, they’re pretty cute, aren’t they? I love the intensity with which they peer at the dirt after they’ve scratched it up… :)

     
     
8. on April 25, 2012 at 5:30 am Norma Chang

   Love your title. All the chickens are looking so healthy and happy, They are beautiful and so huggable.

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     Norma, they’re pretty docile, but not really huggable – Maggie in particular doesn’t like to be picked up. Mind you, she’s bonkers. ;-)

     
     
9. on April 25, 2012 at 5:50 am niasunset

   You aare amazing dear Celia, Ninja Chickens… I loved them… It was so nice to watch these videos, Thank you dear Celia, with my love, nia

   
   
   • on April 26, 2012 at 5:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

     So glad you enjoyed them, Nia! xx

     
     
10. on April 25, 2012 at 5:57 am Debra Kolkka

    I love your chooks!!

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:44 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I know you do, Deb! I took this video especially for you and Sally in Dubai.. :)

      
      
11. on April 25, 2012 at 6:25 am promenadeplantings

    I love the idea of Ninja chickens!! And I’m sure I could watch them all day :)

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:45 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      They’re very therapeutic to watch, Claire, especially when life is hectic. A bit like chicken meditation.. :D

      
      
12. on April 25, 2012 at 8:15 am priscilla

    spuddle – to make a lot of fuss about something trivial as if it were important –

    ninja chickens do make what seems to be inordinate amounts of fuss lol

    I love the way chickens ‘chat’ to each other whilst searching

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I suspect they’re saying, “bugger off, this is my patch of dirt!”.. ;-)

      
      
13. on April 25, 2012 at 8:23 am theintolerantchef

    Love love love them indeed! Awesome ninja moves, the worms don’t stand a chance!

    
    
14. on April 25, 2012 at 8:24 am theintolerantchef

    Big improvement with commenting Celia, I only had to log in twice before I could participate this time :)

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:47 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Glad it’s working a bit better, Becca, I’d miss your comments desperately otherwise! So…when is BigJ going to let you have chookies again? :)

      
      
15. on April 25, 2012 at 8:29 am lambsearsandhoney

    They look like a very happy flock of ladies, Celia, and huge thanks for the word “spuddling” – splendid!

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:47 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Amanda, isn’t it the best word? We have to thank Joanna’s hubby Brian for that one! :)

      
      
16. on April 25, 2012 at 9:07 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

    Haha hilarious! I wish I had chickens. I’ll just have to live vicariously through you Celia.

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:47 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Claire, I’ll have to take more videos for you! :)

      
      
17. on April 25, 2012 at 9:17 am Jane @ Shady Baker

    They look like happy chooks Celia!

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:48 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Jane, I really hope they are! They do seem to enjoy themselves…

      
      
18. on April 25, 2012 at 9:21 am Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide

    They sure can move a lot of dirt!

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:50 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Greg, they’re little rotavators…they turn the beds over for us, eat all the slugs and onion weed bulbs, then fertilise the soil. If we stand to close to the chook dome when they’re in action, our shoes get covered in sprayed dirt! :)

      
      
19. on April 25, 2012 at 9:49 am Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

    What a funny bunch of chickens :P Hehe I really liked that video that you showed me yesterday! :P

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:51 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Haven’t found a way to post that one yet – the iPhone format doesn’t allow for editing. Lovely to catch up, love! x

      
      
20. on April 25, 2012 at 10:09 am hotlyspiced

    They are so cute Celia. What lovely pets and bonus, you also get eggs! Looking at this does make you feel so sad for the ones in cages. That’s not how it’s meant to be – they love to peck and scratch in the ground xx

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:52 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Charlie, it does make me sad for all the chooks that don’t get to muck around in the dirt. The eggs are a sheer joy!

      
      
21. on April 25, 2012 at 10:16 am Lizzy (Good Things)

    LOL, love this Celia, Peter and I look forward to the day when, perhaps, we might have some chooks.

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:52 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Oh, I hope you do get some, Lizzy! They’re such good fun!

      
      
22. on April 25, 2012 at 11:50 am jcosmonewbery

    More like Morris Dancers than Ninjas!

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:52 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      You may be right, Cosmo.. :)

      
      
      • on April 29, 2012 at 10:44 am leekennedywp

        I would have said barn dancers.

        
        
23. on April 25, 2012 at 1:06 pm Michelle

    I never grow tired of watching ours.

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      They’re such a treat, aren’t they? :)

      
      
24. on April 25, 2012 at 2:42 pm mykitchenstories

    aww they’re so funny. It is wonderful to watch chickens in there natural habitat.
    Lucky you my cattle dog would give them a heart attack
    http://www.mykitchenstories.com.au

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Yes, I think a yappy dog would scare them to death!

      
      
25. on April 25, 2012 at 7:50 pm Christie

    Super cute! Need to get your advice when I do my sea change and get a coop. Your chickens look so healthy!!

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:55 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Christie, best advice ever is from Linda Woodrow’s book, The Permaculture Home Garden. Our garden is set up following her plan – it works well for suburbia!

      http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780670865994/permaculture-home-garden

      
      
26. on April 25, 2012 at 10:34 pm Melanie

    So fun to see the chickens in action! They look perfectly content. I’d love to watch them all day too.

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:56 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Mel, Pete and I have whiled away many an hour sitting outside watching the girls – if only we could all be as content as the chooks are!

      
      
27. on April 25, 2012 at 11:14 pm Sally

    Spuddling! great word.

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:57 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Sally, as I was saying to Deb above, I took the videos with you and her in mind – I knew you’d love them! :)

      
      
28. on April 26, 2012 at 1:26 am marilynscottwaters

    I have the Mission Impossible theme stuck in my head. Bauck, Bauck -pa, Bumbum-pa, dada-DAH Ninja Chickens!

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:57 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hahaha…whereas I’ve been humming the Phantom Agents theme music.. ;-)

      
      
29. on April 26, 2012 at 1:28 am Joanna

    Brian’s Dad called it spuddling and it has more than one meaning, though they are related I guess. i liked the one about spreading out the embers with a poker. Love your girls Celia, they are so very charming :)

    
    
    • on April 26, 2012 at 5:58 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Joanna, I think it’s the perfect word for what they do! Thanks Brian’s Dad! :)

      
      
30. on April 27, 2012 at 2:18 am ChopinandMysaucepan

    Dear Celia,

    These chicken look so plump and happy. I’m a bit chicken of chickens. Do you dare catch them with your hands? I would be terrified lol!

    
    
    • on April 27, 2012 at 5:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Chopinand, I don’t catch them, but the boys do, and then I get a cuddle.. ;-)

      
      
31. on April 28, 2012 at 12:39 pm Platanos, Mangoes and Me!

    We have pigeons in Manhattan and a few falcons…lots of taxis…our chickens come in a bucket…LOL..they are lovely…

    
    
    • on April 30, 2012 at 1:09 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Norma, did you have some eagles there at one point? Amazing to have birds of prey in such a big city!

      
      

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