More snow at the end of last week and the weekend, a welcome end to the rain...and now sun at last. 

Another sick hen - Henna - who quick suffered paralysis. Marek's virus or botulism were the obvious culprits. After 48 hours of nursing she has begun to recover - so botulism is the likely cause (there would be no recovery from Marek's). Chickens can pick botulism bacteria up from eating maggots or surprisingly rotting cabbage leaves! It's different strain of the bacteria to that which affects humans and so there is no danger to our health.

Today we headed out as the sun was shining, for as quick snowshoe up Cap de Bouirex.

 

A buried snow man giving us the finger

Where eagles dare

Montcalm and Pics d'Estats above the clouds

More field clearance

Once long ago (9 years) I got the field below the chemin to look like this, but house and gite building meant I had to let it go and the forest returned. With a little more time on my hands it's time to clear it again. Hopefully it will provide a link to the amphitheatre field. About 3/4 is cleared of brambles so far.

The top field has also been extended to the end of the parcelle, revealing an old quince tree.

Susie's garden keeps on giving - cauliflower, cabbage, carrots and rocket from the polytunnel.
I've been busy logging firewood for 2020!

Susie's Contemporary dance residential is now full and this week a record 7 dancers at her weekly dance class.

Another poorly hen

Despite being free range, well fed, watered and housed and regularly de-wormed, we have another poorly hen. "Moon Zappa" started her moult and as is often the case became quite lethargic and had low appetite. The moult is still going on but she has become more and more low and developed diarrhoea. We separated her from the other hens and have brought her into the porch, feeding her as best we can with a syringe. Some chicken food, some scrambled egg to boost her protein intake (needed for her new set of feathers) and a little propolis to try and combat any bacterial/viral infection she may have picked up.

It's been a week but there's little sign of improvement. No symptoms other than moulting, lethargy and diarrhoea. All we can do keep trying to feed and water her, and keep her warm and comfortable. Hoping she pulls through.

Mancave

After many years of nonstop building projects, I've finally found the time to give my workshop a damn good tidy and build some extra work benches.

Cranes migrating over the Pyrenees at the moment at quite some altitude, the cries of a thousand birds carries a long way!

More wonderful sunsets