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Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Living well in the urban village

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« In My Kitchen, October 2013
Roasted Hazelnut, Honey and Buratto Flour Sourdough »

Old Chickens, New Chickens

October 2, 2013 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Grab a cup of tea and come and meet our new chooks!

As you might recall, a couple of weeks ago, we introduced five Lohmann Brown hens, purchased from City Chicks, into our existing flock of three ISA Browns.

At just 16 – 20 weeks, the new girls were awkward teenagers compared to four year old Rosemary, Francesca and Harriet.  On the advice of Linda, we put the newbies up on the roost at night (it’s supposed to make the integration process easier).

The following morning, I went out and found that only one of the new girls had been brave enough to come down, and she was being picked on mercilessly by the older hens. I couldn’t bear to watch, so Pete, bless him, sat in the dome and played rooster for a couple of hours, breaking up fights. I adore that man…

It only took a few days for everything to settle down, and the flock is reasonably harmonious and peaceful now.

Of the Lohmann Browns, Amber is the oldest and most dominant – she started laying just a few days after she arrived. She’s named after Amber Wheeler, a character in the hilarious new Aussie sitcom Upper Middle Bogan. In the series, Amber is cranky, foul-mouthed and surprisingly endearing, not unlike our new chook…

. . . . .

I think Mrs Gronkle will be the next hen to start laying. When she arrived, she made a funny little noise, which turned out to be a sneeze. Have you ever seen a chook sneeze? It’s comical to watch. Steve the Vet told me that, like humans, they occasionally get runny noses. Anyway, the noise passed, but the name stuck…

Mrs Gronkle has very distinctive dark brown feathers with a white collar around her neck. She’ll be easy to identify…

. . . . .

This is Billie, and she seems to be the third oldest of the Lohmann Browns. So far she’s kept to herself a bit – it will be interesting to see what she’s like as she gets older. Her beak is quite hawkish…

. . . . .

Baby Esme, named in honour of our friend Beej (her twitter moniker is @esmewatson) is very, very cute. She has a pert white tail that seems to stand upright. She’s one of the youngest two, as evidenced by her almost non-existent comb…

She’s quite similar in colour to Billie, so we’ll need to study them closely to be sure we can tell them apart in years to come…

. . . . .

And finally, we have…Not Quite Lorraine. When this beautiful white feathered chook arrived in amongst the others, how could we possibly name her anything else?

She’s adorable – impeccably groomed and cheerfully exuberant, just like her namesake…

NQL and Esme are the babies of the flock, and can often be seen hanging about together. The Lohmann Browns have very fluffy bottoms!

. . . . .

Our old girls haven’t exactly welcomed the newcomers, but it didn’t take long for them to accept their presence. Somehow their arrival has given the existing hens an air of gravitas – whilst the youngsters jump about on the swing and race around chasing flies, the old ISA Browns sit sedately like village elders.

Rosemary has clearly forgotten what an annoying youngster she was, and is now very impatient with the newbies…

Even though she’s no longer laying, she’s looking quite magnificent at the moment…

My darling Francesca has turned into a bit of a mad old chook. She used to be pedantic about her dust baths, but now doesn’t seem to care anymore, and is often a little bedraggled. I guess that’s what happens when we go through henopause…

And finally, Harriet was looking decidedly regal today, like a peacock displaying her feathers. Pete described it as “Harriet in her kaftan”…

. . . . .

And so, the adventures begin again! I’ll keep you all posted!

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Posted in Frugal Living, Garden | 90 Comments

90 Responses

  1. on October 2, 2013 at 6:39 pm lindaswildlifegarden

    Awesome post Ceila


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:25 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thanks Linda! :)


  2. on October 2, 2013 at 6:50 pm Pearlycow

    Henopause! Ha!


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:26 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It’s now part of the vocab here – the chooks and I have henopause empathy for each other. Well, I have for them, at least, I don’t reckon they notice my grumpiness at all.. ;-)


  3. on October 2, 2013 at 7:00 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

    Awww I loved this post! And not just because you named a chicken after me!! How wonderful is Pete? I knew that but he deserves an extra special hug after playing rooster to help them all settle in. xxx


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:27 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Isn’t he just the best? I couldn’t stand the one poor chookie getting picked on and he didn’t want me to get too upset… x


  4. on October 2, 2013 at 7:00 pm lambsearsandhoney

    I’m impressed that you take the trouble to tell your hens apart. I’m very fond of my girls, but don’t name them, although our rooster is named – we call him Fos. Your new girls have splendid pants on, don’t they?!


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:28 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Amanda, you have LOTS of chooks, I don’t know how you’d ever keep track of who was who if you named them all! They’re very fluffy bottomed, aren’t they?


  5. on October 2, 2013 at 7:35 pm Fran

    What a gorgeous post. Love the stunning pics of all your hens.


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:28 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thanks Fran! We’re already very fond of them!


  6. on October 2, 2013 at 7:37 pm thecompletebook

    Go Pete! Well done! Not sure my Pete would have been as patient.
    Celia, I love how you name your girls!
    Have a super day and here’s to the oldies and newies settling in nicely together.
    :-) Mandy xo


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:29 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Mandy, they seem to name themselves, actually. The last one to be named was Billie, but I knew it had to be something beginning with B! :)


  7. on October 2, 2013 at 7:42 pm My Kitchen Stories

    This was a lovely post. It is no surprise to me that you know them all and there characters cause thats what you guys are like. Glad Lorraine likes her namesake AND awwww Pete is so beauiful


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:30 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Because we’re mad and obsessed? Maybe just a little bit. :) They’ve really settled in since you saw them! xx


  8. on October 2, 2013 at 8:00 pm Joanne T Ferguson (@mickeydownunder)

    G’day and great post Celia, true!
    GREAT name for NQL and nothing like freshly laid eggs for brekkie, lunch or dinner too!
    Cheers! Joanne


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:31 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Joanne, it’s such a treat to be getting eggs again! :)


  9. on October 2, 2013 at 8:09 pm niasunset

    beautiful post and photographs… Thank you dear Celia, love, nia


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:31 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Nia, I’m so glad you enjoyed them, I always get so much from your gorgeous photos it’s nice to be able to return the favour a tiny bit! xx


  10. on October 2, 2013 at 8:09 pm saucygander

    I love the care you put into naming your hens, especially NQL!


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:32 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Saucy, it takes a couple of weeks to figure out who’s who! But we knew NQL right from the moment she arrived! :)


  11. on October 2, 2013 at 8:22 pm Claire @ Claire K Creations

    They’re all beautiful! Henopause.. I love it!
    Welcome to the family girls!


    • on October 2, 2013 at 8:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thanks love! It’s so nice to be able to share them with all of you! x


  12. on October 2, 2013 at 8:35 pm Hannie Poll

    Dear Celia, I am looking every day on my p.c. if there is another divine story of you !!!!! You make my day !!!! Every time I send your story to my daughter in Australia to cheer her day too.
    Much dear greetings from Hannie Poll – The Netherlands


    • on October 2, 2013 at 9:09 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hannie, so nice to hear from you! Thanks for sharing my blog with your daughter! Hope you enjoyed reading about our new chickens, they’ve just been so much fun! :)


  13. on October 2, 2013 at 8:39 pm hotlyspiced

    This is just gorgeous. I just wish there was a video. And how wonderful is your Pete sitting there like he’s one of those guards outside Buckingham Palace. And I love how all your girls have regal names befitting of their looks and personalities – but you might get a bit of trouble out of NQL! xx


    • on October 2, 2013 at 9:09 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hahaha…NQL is already such an interesting chook! Can’t wait to see how she grows up!


  14. on October 2, 2013 at 8:43 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

    OMG keep writing this post. I hated that it had to end. :) Pete in the dome is clever and Not Quite Lorraine does have a fluffy bottom. LOL And henopause? stop already because I’m cracking up.


    • on October 2, 2013 at 9:10 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Aaahhh my fellow chicken fancier! I wish you lived closer and could come and visit them – as you know, they’re very therapeutic! xx


  15. on October 2, 2013 at 8:46 pm Rose

    Pete I applaud you for being a chook whisperer!


    • on October 2, 2013 at 9:11 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      He’s a treasure, isn’t he? :)


  16. on October 2, 2013 at 9:38 pm andreamynard

    Lovely post Celia, they’ve clearly all got great (and very different) personalities which you’ve captured beautifully in your words and pics.


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:50 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Andrea, thank you! They’re all adorable – it’s just so fabulous to have fresh eggs again!


  17. on October 2, 2013 at 9:50 pm Melanie

    Loved meeting your new chooks Celia. So fun to read how each one got their name for certain qualities, habits they exhibit. They do have beautiful fluffy bottoms! Would have enjoyed watching Pete sit in the chook dome disciplining the older ones:) What a trooper!!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:52 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Mel, he’s such a star. I think HE was happy to let the girls fight it out, but he knew I couldn’t bear it… ;-)


  18. on October 2, 2013 at 10:16 pm Jan

    Such beautiful chooks Celia and I just love Pete playing referee in the hen house – he could have handed out yellow or red cards and sent them off for fowl behaviour!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Jan, you made a dad joke!!! :D


  19. on October 2, 2013 at 10:52 pm two engaging goldens

    Gorgeous girls – it can be hard on the newcomers learning the pecking order. Its a jungle out there :) I loved how your hubby kept an eye on them. Joy


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Joy, everyone seems to come out of it relatively unscathed – no bald heads yet! :)


  20. on October 2, 2013 at 11:01 pm Jas@AbsolutelyJas

    Celia, your hens look so healthy and gorgeous. I have such a soft spot for chickens, they’re such fabulous punks, and it sounds like you have a very entertaining little flock :)


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      They’re such mad things, Jas, we can lose hours watching them! :)


  21. on October 2, 2013 at 11:14 pm Lisa the Gourmet Wog

    Pete’s a keeper Celia!! He’s like a new dad, protective of his newborns!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:55 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Yep, he’s a keeper alright – I’ve kept him for 30 years and I’m not giving him up.. :D


  22. on October 2, 2013 at 11:18 pm heidiannie

    I love the way everything is done with enthusiasm in your family!
    Pete sitting guard to spare your feelings and the young hens-
    Naming the girls according to looks and personality-
    and of course, sharing the experience with us!
    Thanks for this post, Celia, you have made my morning bright with laughter!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:55 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Heidi! I’ll try and take some video for you all soon.. x


  23. on October 3, 2013 at 12:20 am Glenda

    Lovely chooks, lovely shots, Celia. They are beautiful, I am sure you and Pete will be good parents.


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:56 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Not parents, they’re not really pets (she says), but it IS so nice having them in the backyard!


  24. on October 3, 2013 at 12:47 am dianeskitchentable

    Great one Celia – Henopause! I have got to find a way to use that one myself. I don’t think I would have been able to stand the bullying either but it’s good that they don’t take that long to work things out. They all have such interesting coloration but I do have to say NQL is stunning – hope it doesn’t go to her head. I love how you’ve figured out their personalities so quickly.
    I hope you keep up updated on how the girls are all doing.


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:57 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Diane, it’s part of the house vernacular now! :) NQL is gorgeous, although she’s one of the youngest, so the others are keeping her humble! :D


  25. on October 3, 2013 at 3:04 am Manuela

    Lovely chickens. The oldies still look very nice too. Nice names. They seem to name themselves, don’t they? Even chickens have their own personalities! Lol.


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:58 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Manuela, the old ones don’t move much any more and they’re getting fat. We’re not feeding them too many carby scraps any more, but they’ve turned into grumpy old women nonetheless – it’s so funny to watch!


  26. on October 3, 2013 at 5:13 am Norma Chang

    This is such a fun post, thanks for sharing your girls. Love to read about how each has her own distinctive looks and personality. Looking forward to future posts.


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:58 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Norma, thank you, so glad you enjoyed it! (PS. Self-sown snake bean seedlings have started coming up!)


      • on October 4, 2013 at 8:59 am Norma Chang

        How nice, now you can just sit back and wait for harvest. Your weather is so much milder than mine, I would never get self-sown beans of any kind.


  27. on October 3, 2013 at 5:57 am Misky

    What a lovely intro to the brood. And ‘henopause’ – what a giggle!!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 7:59 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      We all have to go through it at some time, Misky.. ;-)


  28. on October 3, 2013 at 6:14 am Lizzy (Good Things)

    LOL! Love this post, Celia. Sent it to my friend, The Dog, who is in DC now, but they had chooks in Australia and would like to read this, I’m sure. ‘Henopause’ = hilarious!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:00 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Lizzy, thanks for doing that, hope The Dog enjoys reading it as much as I did writing it. New chooks! They’re so much fun!


  29. on October 3, 2013 at 7:29 am Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen

    Oh.. how very very exciting it must be around there! I can just see Pete now, “break it up girl, break it up”.. I feel for your little Francesca and her “henopause”.. I hope I don’t give up my dust baths one day, lol! I would have my nose, er, beak out of joint if some fluffy bottomed youngsters showed up around here one day:D xx


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:01 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Barb, poor old Frannie really has gone a bit bonkers – she used to be so finicky and quirky! She still seems to be enjoying herself though! :)


  30. on October 3, 2013 at 7:41 am EsmeWatson

    You Figjams are adorable. When Matt and I move to the country (that’s the/ a plan, anyway), I shall name our mother hen Ceels and our rooster Uncle Pete.


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:01 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      That’s a very exciting plan, hope it comes to fruition! Esme is seriously cute, Beej! xx


  31. on October 3, 2013 at 7:59 am Jane @ Shady Baker

    Your chooks look perfectly contented Celia! They are amazing animals aren’t they? Happy days with your chooks x


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:02 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thanks darling Jane, I KNOW you understand! They’re so much fun to watch!


  32. on October 3, 2013 at 8:55 am Jacqui good

    What a beautiful article – thank you! I recently added new girls too – always a terse time!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:02 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Jacqui, thankfully it went ok – I was very apprehensive! But it was largely over within a couple of days, and they’re all wandering about reasonably peacefully now.


  33. on October 3, 2013 at 10:33 am EllaDee

    I just love your naming process, and slipped back over to read about Rosemary and the early times of the old girls. I’m not so sure as you have acquired simply chooks, but rather family… such goings on ;)


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:04 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      ED, you know that thing about not anthropomorphising animals? We’re really bad at that.. :)


  34. on October 3, 2013 at 12:21 pm Kim Bultman

    Henopause… you made me cackle out loud. ;) Wonderful post, Celia!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:05 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I feel great empathy for them, Kim! I keep telling Pete that all the girls in the house are going through henopause together! :)


  35. on October 3, 2013 at 12:57 pm Eha

    This should take the title of ‘blog of the year’: how you have let your imagination roam and what a darling husband your Pete is being willing to play ‘chook police’ in such a manner . . . hope I have time tomorrow to share :) !


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:05 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      So glad you enjoyed it, Eha! :)


  36. on October 3, 2013 at 1:57 pm Tandy | Lavender and Lime

    I didn’t know the rooster was there to keep the peace – I’ve been awake since 4.30am from our local rooster disturbing mine :) love the names and they look adorable!


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:05 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Tandy, he’s there to keep the peace, but not for you and me. :)


  37. on October 3, 2013 at 6:36 pm Anne @ Life in Mud Spattered Boots

    I love that you give them all names. Ours have boring names like The Brown Hen or The Hen with the Crooked Back End. Ruth used to name her hens – the most memorable being PeckerSmith and Cuddles – no guesses for the names.


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:06 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      “The Hen with the Crooked Back End”? LOL…you crack me up, Anne! :)


  38. on October 4, 2013 at 4:05 am ChgoJohn

    My admiration for Pete grows each time you mention him, Celia. Playing rooster for the new hens? Incredible. How many would do that? Love the new girls and the names you’ve chosen. May they live many long, productive days. :)


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:07 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      He’s pretty special and I love him to bits, John! :)


  39. on October 4, 2013 at 7:52 am teawithhazel

    what a handsome rooster you have there! x


    • on October 4, 2013 at 8:07 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Jane, he IS a looker, isn’t he? I won’t tell him though, or he’ll be preening.. :D


  40. on October 4, 2013 at 9:52 am Lury

    What a sweet man, gotta love a man that is sweet and protects his flock.


    • on October 4, 2013 at 4:49 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thanks Lury, he IS a sweetheart..


  41. on October 4, 2013 at 1:37 pm marilynscottwaters

    They are beautiful. Hugs, Maz


    • on October 4, 2013 at 4:50 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Maz, I wish you could see them in person! :)


      • on October 5, 2013 at 1:28 am marilynscottwaters

        Me too! I’d sit and draw them all day, pretty ladies that they are.


  42. on October 5, 2013 at 1:02 pm Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

    Oh, bless Pete indeed. What a wonderful rooster! ;) Your chicken family is looking wonderful and I’m glad the new additions are settling in.


    • on October 5, 2013 at 1:02 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thanks Kari! So far so good! :)


  43. on October 6, 2013 at 8:14 am Andrea

    Hehehe, this post gave me a giggle, I love how you named one Amber! I want chickens desperately, but can’t at the moment because we above adopted a Siberian husky, somehow they won’t mix ! Love the photos!!


    • on October 6, 2013 at 8:57 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thanks Andrea! I can see how chooks and a husky wouldn’t work together! :)


  44. on October 9, 2013 at 7:37 am The Life of Clare

    They’re lovely!


  45. on October 10, 2013 at 6:25 pm Debra Kolkka

    What lucky chooks they are to have arrived at your place. Pete makes a fine rooster.



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