Apart from the ones bullying the ones being bullied, they were just adorable. I still have a big hole in my heart from losing my darling Henry last summer, but I could never get another African grey, because it wouldn't be him.
When I was a little kid, my parents kept chickens, and I can just about remember them and the crowing cock. It was still soon enough after the war for a lot of town dwellers still to have some chickens. But I have no idea about looking after them, or what they would need.
I'm drawn towards rescuing some battery hens. Farmers wear them out with constant laying in tiny cages inside artificially lit sheds. Their life is a nightmare. Then they go to be slaughtered.
But there are charities that buy them from farmers and rehome them so they can have a few happy weeks, months or (hopefully) years before meeting a more natural end.
A recovering battery hen.The trouble is, I would not be able to let them range free except in my presence, and that may not be enough. Also, positioning a henhouse with run might be tricky in my "natural" (ie. overrun) garden, which is "designed" to be a wildlife haven - including foxes...
This is going to take a lot of thought and planning.
AW! So CUTE! Well you know what they say Val, 'where there's a will, there's a way'. I'm sure you could fashion a little area for some hens to have a forever home. I know you would love them and treat them well.
ReplyDeleteWhatever it is, Val, I know you will make the right decision!
ReplyDeleteYou must really be a great animal lover, Val. Good for you! I was raised on a farm and milked cows fed baby lambs, slopped the hogs and gathered eggs while trying to keep the hens from picking me. The hens were not my favorite. Give me a pig or baby calf anytime. Ha, Ha. Good luck whatever you do. The animals are lucky to have you around.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin keeps chickens. Sadly, her first attempt was cut short by a fox who killed the lot but ate nary a one. She now has something akin to a large aviary in her (large) garden, so the chickens are 'free range' but protected by their wire enclosure.
ReplyDeleteNot easy to combine chickens and foxes. Good luck with that.
ReplyDeleteThey couldn't ask for a better home!
ReplyDeleteYou do the most interesting things. We aren't allowed to have certain animals in our community, otherwise I'd get a couple of goats to "trim" my grass for me so I wouldn't have to cut it all the time.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that project Val!
ReplyDeleteA neighbour of ours has chickens in her garden, the henhouse is a plastic pod type thing with an attached run..looks quite good, but I'm not sure the run would stand up to foxes..or cats if they were determined enough