Re: chicken terror
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: chicken terror
- From: L* P*
- Date: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 05:50:36 -0800
Damian, you do have my sympathy! When our children were young and I worked
in town, we kept chickens and had the same heartache. We were able to
train some of them to roost under our back porch and behind a stout wire
door, but eventually predators even dug under the foundation to get them.
We did find a solution that sacrificed some eggs, but at least allowed us
to keep chickens. We got a cross between Bantams and English Game Fowl
that were especially good fliers. With their small size and swift ways
they roosted very high in our cedars and evaded all predators. But alas,
they were also very good at hiding their little (but very tasty) eggs! Our
kids would go on "egg hunts" in the woodland gardens under the trees. Our
son did build some nests of straw and we did get more eggs that way. When
our kids grew up and I worked out of town, we gave the chickens to my
sister.
Falcons also take a fair number of them here during the day. Nature seems
so cruel sometimes. Yet the falcons are incredibly beautiful, so sleek and
handsome.
One thing that I especially liked about the Bantie crosses was that they
ate weedy oxalis with relish and also ate baby slugs. Their scratching
also cultivated my gardens a bit. Birds in general are a vital part of the
garden. I love to watch the sparrows, juncos, and thrushes scratch around
in the garden. They eat so many of the insects. The wrens and other birds
do a wonderful cleanup tasks too.
Sigh, maybe if we ever retire, we will keep chickens again.
Best wishes, Louise
At 12:09 PM 11/4/1999 +0100, Damian Martin wrote:
>Off list-topic, I know, but I hope sympathetic chicken owners in the
>group will sympathise with my need to vent my feelings...
>
>Murder most foul took place in the hen pen this week.
p*@peak.org
Corvallis, ORegon
Mid-Willamette Valley
Cool Mediterranean with occasional hard frost.
Co-Listowner, Penstemon-L
I see shining fish struggling within tight nets, while I hear orioles
singing carefree tunes. Even creatures know the difference between freedom
and bondage. Sympathy and compassion should be but natural to the human
heart. --Tu Fu.
