Thursday 28 July 2011

Some girls like diamonds .......

Earlier this week I reached the milestone of Halfway to 70 (not quite halfway to 112 yet though Miche'le?)     I'm one of those girls who really wants her husband to 'know' exactly what I'd like for my birthday, but of course without me having to tell him, and this year he has absolutely come up trumps.  This chook house arrived home on the trailer with he and the girls on Tuesday night, and I couldn't have been more surprised(and totally thrilled!)  Funny thing was he went off to town telling me he was picking up my birthday present and ended up running a little late getting home.  I left work and was on the way home, drove up to an intersection only to see hubby and the girls driving past with this on the trailer.  My jaw hit the floor, and I laughed hysterically as I followed my birthday present all the way home.  Their plan had been to get home before me and decorate it with lots of balloons.  The girls were even blowing them up on the drive home  ...................so a grateful thanks to my beautiful family for a wonderful surprise!

I had chooks in an old falling down hen house years ago, but we had a lot of stoats around one summer and they slowly but surely killed them off.  The hen house was pulled down and buried, and I've been keen to get some more for ages now.  SO, if you have any recommendations on your favourite kind of laying chooks I'd love to hear them ............. and one day soon I shall share photos of some hens in their new house.

Till then ....................take care ........ Nicky


33 comments:

Annie said...

It's wonderful to have a husband who knows your tastes so well! A hen house is not exactly on everyone's wish list. (Had too look up 'chook'... not a term I've ever heard in the U.S.).

Happy Birthday and be sure to read Mainely Stitching's blog. Barbara has become the chicken queen recently!
http://mainelystitching.wordpress.com/

And don't miss the latest block on the Carriage House Samplings blog --- you will love it I'm sure.

http://carriagehousesamplings.blogspot.com/

Nicki said...

What a briliant present! I was going to recommend Barbara's blog too - she's amazing! I'm thinking of a couple of chooks too. Never had them before but it would be soooo good to have fresh laid eggs. Our neighbour is getting some so I'll have a look and she how she does :)

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday..LOL You are Very Easy to Please...Love the Story.
cheers..
what's a Stoat..we don't have them here!

Seams Sew Together said...

Happy Birthday and I love your present, I'm hoping to one day have a chook shed like yours.

suzitee said...

Happy belated birthday to you Nicky! Fantastic present...and best of luck with your new family additions when they arrive :)

By Hoki Quilts said...

Yahooo, I love home grown eggs. I used to go to a nearby egg 'farm' and get their cul birds for a whole 25cents each. Yep they were bald and yep they needed to grow feathers but eventually they ended up looking healthy again and always produced many many eggs. I think they were Red Shavers.
Good luck.

Wendy said...

Happy birthday Nicky, we have red shavers and they lay really well, particularly the first couple of years, mostly laying an egg a day. Your hen house is gorgeous!!

Michelle said...

Happy birthday Nicky, I also love the chook house! Well done family!!! I am hopeless, we have red, white and black ones! As long as they lay I am happy. Although the ones that lay blue eggs would be cool but not sure of their bred?
Michelle.

Katrina said...

Belated birthday wishes Nicky! what a most wonderful surprise from your family, have fun!

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

I would love one of those houses for chicks too!! Great Present!

Anonymous said...

what a funny story Nicky and happy birthday hope you had an awesome day

Raewyn said...

What a funny story!!! One to remember. Happy birthday wishes from me too. Hope your day was great all round :-)

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday Nicky!!!
I love the chook house! Here in NZ a lot of people have red shavers... I have has them for many years and they are good layers... but this year I have bought one Araucana they lay blue eggs... and three brown leghorns, they have just started laying... I would also like to get some wyandottes one day...
There is a book/magazine all about chooks at the moment at most bookshops my DSIL bought it for my birthday it is a fabulous book well worth reading before you decide!

Lynda said...

Happy Birthday! What a thoughtful, fun present.

Razzle Dazzle Quilter said...

Hi
Must give you my 5 pennethworth about chooks. I have had White Leghorns, Black Orpingtons and Brown shavers. The brown shavers were the best.I have also rescued a few hens from the battery farm. Poor we things, they could hardly stand up and were pretty featherless. With some good hearty feeding and fresh ground to scratch they soon recovered.
BTW I have been following your blog for sometime. I have recently started my own. You may like to pop on by some time.
Cheers
Linda
in Taupo

carole brungar said...

I'm so jealous!!! Lucky you, sounds like your birthday was the best!!

Leanne said...

Now that's what I call a gift!
Bet you loved following them home.

Enjoy!
And Happy belated birthday

Love Leanne

Marlene said...

Belated Happy Birthday Nicky. Love the story of the journey home. Great present but sorry I can't help on the choice of chooks.

Anonymous said...

NICKY! You are a sneaky girl! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! :) What an awesome chook house!! We have decided to get some chooks here... there is an old chook house on the property... we're going to dismantle it and move it to our house! Hope you find the 'perfect' chooks to give you lots of eggs!!

Fiona said...

Fantastic present - well done to your family... and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you.....
I would love a chook house sometime.... fresh eggs are the best..... and the chooks are such fun for everyone...
Hugz

Bev C said...

Hello Nicky,

Oh this post made me smile,Happy Birthday and I love your present.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Vinniey said...

Happy belated birthday to you, Nicky! What a thoughtful gift from family. Love the story of your journey home. :) Hope you will find the chooks very soon.

rosie said...

Happy Birthday Nicky..What a fantastic present! Us country girls are sooo easy to please!! Wish I was half seventy again!!!

Unknown said...

Oh Nicky great story! I had a great giggle as you were following DH and the kids in the car..... very funny. Bet you dine out on that for a while. Happy Birthday too!

Lyn said...

That is some hen house-what a great present!- hopefully whatever hens you choose will be safe from the stoats- just one of many pests introduced here over the years. I'm no expert on types of chooks - a lot will depend I suppose on what is available nearby.

Poppypatchwork said...

It's our 25th wedding anniversary this year, and for me a new small green house, so I glad you love your present xxHappy Birthday

barbara said...

Hi - thanks for you post on my blog! :D I would LOVE to talk chickens - it's one of my favorite subjects, LOL. I'll send you an email, okay? And how great to have found your blog!

Chookyblue...... said...

Happy birthday...........I love the hen house and it would be my kid of birthday present too...........LOL

Kiwifruit-Shiree said...

nothing nicer then fresh eggs!

Anonymous said...

Love the chook house....always so nice to have something that looks good and 'just works' when you've had to make do for quite a while. Enjoy!!

Leeanne said...

Cool birthday present, fancy following it home!Yes we have to hint quite strongly don't we!I'm sure your chooks will be happy too.

Sheryl said...

Belated birthday wishes, Nicky, what a great surprise, love the story of following your pressie down the road..
I have 3 Isa Brown chooks and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, we have had three eggs nearly everyday since we got them back in April 2010, they are gentle, quiet and well mannered, the only problem I have is they are identical so I can't tell one from the other, not that it really matters :)
ps whats a stoat, is it like a ferret??

Jody Herbert said...

Love the hen house! What a great birthday present. Just what I need at the moment too. My poor chooks are living without a hen house as the old one had to be pulled down several months ago. I have lost a few to foxes - but the 12 that have survived are pretty smart and seem to roost in high places. Can't wait to see your hen house with chooks in it! Happy birthday!

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