This afternoon I researched the month of February: its origins, symbols and astrological meanings; just the general things all budding philosophers should enlighten themselves with. In short, I found out that the current Gregorian Calendar month we find ourselves in derived from the Latin term 'februum' meaning purification. The Romans called it 'Februarius' and performed a cleansing ‘ritual’ called 'Februa' on the date of 15th February. It just so happened to be the day after Valentine’s Day in honour of the Christian martyr, Saint Valentine of Rome. (interesting? I think so). But, apparently the romantic loving side of Valentine’s day did not come about until the 14th century when courtly love began to flourish .. only to be later enhanced by 18th and 19th centuries which developed traditions including presenting flowers and letter writing to loved-ones.
All very interesting, but you may be wondering how this relates to the quotidian lives at Chicken Corner. Well, it does, and I don’t need to prove it, yet as always I will!
Over the past few weeks I have seen a shift in individuals’ temperaments. To say it bluntly, its simply been like Piccadilly Circus on the Farm lately! No one has been quite themselves and to further my angst, the general vibe Wikipedia is churning out about February’s mood is not quite matching up with that of the chickens.
‘What’s been going on?’ I hear you ask.
‘What hasn’t?!’ I reply.
It all started when the gang that had been so happy (for way too long), having had access to every corner of the farmyard, suddenly met the chicken-proof wire fence as I segregated the specific breeds off into their designated enclosures. From that moment, everyone was slightly perturbed – one Buff Orpington hen performed a classic ‘stressed-out’ chicken-ritual, walking up and down the fence trying to find a hole, alas without success… I knew she wanted to continue adding to her clutch of eggs in the barn, but now I had intervened and set her on a different path .. to lay in the proper house. She was not having it and has been on egg-laying strike ever-since, so stubborn! I don’t know where she gets it from?
If I was to give that hen one redeeming feature however, I would say at least she was quiet about the whole thing.. because gosh.. many others were and to this day ARE NOT.
Every day, I hear the tremendous squawking of the Light Sussex hen, having laid, yet another egg, right outside the backdoor under the holly bush. What is it with this breed and shrubbery?!
To add to the raucous affair, one of the retired Light Sussex (no longer expected to lay; just chill) has decided to re-emerge into the working-world and foster eight 12 week old chicks after their original mother walked out on them. At night she cuddles them under her wings and during the day, creates unusual motherly clucking noises to call to them. Such a matriarch – I love it!
Finally, the three Brahma hens are the chatter-boxes of the orchard, constantly got something to spout about. We were all finding worms in the soil together this afternoon. Their male companion (of considerable younger age) hasn’t quite found the confidence to make his romantic move on them yet. For now, the hens are in charge and he is way down the pecking order. Cupid’s arrow may have been lost in transit?? Here’s hoping.
So as you may have already recognised, February hasn’t been the conventional contentment, love and romance for many at Chicken Corner. Well, perhaps the retired/new-career-girl Light Sussex is just enjoying Cupid’s more sentimental off cuts, who knows?
One thing I do know: its all gone a bit awry here!
Bye chicks! x
Written: 23rd February 2019
