![\"A](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/a_basil_plant_for_the_girls.jpg\")
<\/a>A basil plant for the girls<\/p><\/div>\n
I know it will only last minutes once it’s in the run but it’s part of my plan for keeping them distracted and giving them a little fun.<\/p>\n
The whole cabbage I put in the run two days ago has been reduced to a tiny lump. It has kept the girls pecking at it for a couple of days.<\/p>\n
These photos will be the last ones of all eight girls together, for a while at least.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/the_girls_surround_the_basil.jpg\")
<\/a>The girls surround the basil<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Butterscotch](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/butterscotch_isnt_interested_in_the-basil.jpg\")
<\/a>Butterscotch isn’t interested in the basil<\/p><\/div>\n
I love the way Barley’s floppy comb stands up as she swings her head.<\/p>\n
![\"Ten](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/ten_monutes-later.jpg\")
<\/a>Ten minutes later<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"I](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/i_empty_the_flower_pot.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/a>I empty the flower pot with a little help from Speckles<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/the_girls_spread_the_compost.jpg\")
<\/a>The girls spread the compost<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"It's](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/its_soon_smoothed-out.jpg\")
<\/a>It’s soon smoothed out<\/p><\/div>\n
This afternoon we visited Jackie to fit the gate my husband had made, for her separated part of the run, ready for Topaz and Honey.<\/p>\n
Jackie and I fitted some netting above her fence to make the garden more enclosed. I am taking Topaz and Honey to her tomorrow.<\/p>\n
We plan for her to keep Topaz unless she has any problems with her and to have Honey for a holiday. Honey will not be let out of her separate part of the run. She will stay long enough to give her a break from my girls, take her down a peg or two and hopefully help her forget about the feather pulling. She will also be company for Topaz until she is settled.<\/p>\n
We hope that Jackie will gradually be able to integrate Topaz with her girls. Topaz won’t be able to reach to pluck the big girls necks and nor would they let her whereas my little girls offer themselves to her.<\/p>\n
I am now feeling more positive that this plan will work out for both of us. As long as Topaz behaves herself I think Jackie will enjoy having a little girl. I think there will be a lot of posts to come on Topaz and Honey’s progress. Watch this space!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When shopping at Tesco I always check out the yellow stickers on the marked down items. The basil plants were reduced. They were starting to go limp but only because they needed water so I bought one for the girls. … Continue reading