It was wonderful to return to the farm after a two-week period of separation. (Not a deliberate test of stoicism I might add, but admittedly, it was very nice to see the gang again).
Several changes had occurred in my absence. Among them included three hens going broody in various places around the farm: a Light Sussex under the holly bush outside the backdoor; the apricot Pekin under some aesthetically pleasing shrubs (off-side of the cars); and the mottled Pekin, under the ivy-hidden gate post in the Atcost Barn at the far-end of the yard.
Ok, I’m going to let you in on a little secret, I was previously aware of the Pekins’ circumstances, so nothing’s new there. The Light Sussex on the other hand, was very much BREAKING NEWS! To top it all off, she was incubating unfertile eggs (there is no Light Sussex cockerel on the farm) .. so when she came off the nest to eat and drink, I wriggled through the prickles and switched her eggs for some others (with a higher probability of fertility including a mixture of Orpingtons, Brahmas and Pekins).
In actual fact, this re-appearance confirmed her ‘alive’ status. When I had initially arrived back and surveyed Chicken Corner, there were only three Sussex hens, compared to the five I had left two weeks earlier. As you can imagine, I was suddenly struck with a mixture of confusion and horror. What had happened to two hens?! The situation was critical. An investigation had officially begun.
I asked around various members of the family; ensuring I remained composed throughout the interrogations. It proved effective as I managed to tease a confession out of GJH Rainey (each party shouting their replies from opposite ends of Chicken Corner). He revealed that one hen, presumably the older ‘retired’ one, (but I was non-the-wiser at this point) had been discovered dead in the orchard. Although I had no body to identify, I took the stance that I had solved one side of this case, but the search for the missing 1 year old was far from over.
A day went by, searching high and low. Finally, I received a tip-off from an unknown source. Come to think of it, perhaps I was channelling ‘Inception’ at this point – maybe this idea had been planted in my brain to make me think I had thought it (as I really can’t think who the mystery person was).. anyway I suddenly thought of looking under the holly bush. Hey Presto! I found a hen in the foliage. Yet, to ensure it was indeed the missing hen, I waited until the next day when I heard Olivia shout “is this the hen?” .. she was off the nest. I counted a total of four hens. Case officially closed!
In other exciting news, the incubator is (as we speak) welcoming the second batch of chicks into the world of Chicken Corner. Although it pains me to say that I am not there to greet them, they are in the combined-capable hands of Olivia and GJH.. having learnt from previous errors (please see March’s post ‘Technicalities of Incubation’ for the full breakdown) I took precautionary measures to ensure their safe passage from egg to incubator.
Over Easter, I was also busy preparing their first-few-weeks-of-life accommodation. The old bike shed to be precise (never actually used for storing bikes; its heart, like my own, always belonged to chickens).
Now, it might seem easy to prepare a shed for chicks: all you need is newspaper, wood shavings and a heat source. But have you totally forgotten about the first batch of 30 chicks currently residing there?! How naïve you are!
The next stage of planning took problem solving and a table-spoon full of patience. Re-assessing their living situation, I realised their only options were the stables, of which there are three. Sadly, each are burdened with their own immense limitations.
Stable 1). Belongs to Monty the Pony. He may require its use should it start raining.
Stables 2 & 3). Semi-detached living quarters, full of STUFF! But, alas, my only hope.
I took it upon myself to de-clutter 50% of one stable. I came across a whole manner of things, from dried paint pots to old art projects, from rags to tents as well as IzziRainey shelves (quite useful actually, hence why I didn’t throw these away! I may never have lived to recount this epic tale in writing if I had!)
Finally, hours later, my mission was complete; adding the bedding, appropriate security measures and heat source. The chicks moved in the next day and I held Tiva in my arms, repeating “these are my chicks, Tiva”. Just to ensure she got the point. No feline friends will be visiting these little chicks at night.
Well, what an adventure we’ve been on! There’s far more where that came from as I’ll be tracking the progress of these little ones over the coming weeks, so watch this space.
Until next time, chicks x
Written: 23rd April 2019
