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The Kitchen Garden |
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Diary
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August 2001
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Our handsome Orpington Cockerel has been a problem for some time. Raised by a breeder as a subsidiary cock, he spent the first year of his life penned and watching the action in the main breeding cage. Arriving here to six wives, he was in free range heaven, but he over-egged the pudding. Elderly matrons, pullets, broodies and hens with chicks were romanced all too regularly, however frosty the welcome. A gentleman in every other respect, two seasons on his ardour hadn't dampened. One old lady dropped dead in coitus, the others spent their days hiding under the kitchen table, bare of back, stressed and off-lay. Coping with problems of our own, a well wisher asked en passant if I knew of a mate for their fourteen hens. I suggested ours would be available for a sabbatical, and so now, renamed Beau and cock a hoop, he is kept busy with his new harem. My ladies have relaxed enormously, skipping about in their new feathers. The pretty little Orpington chick is a hen and next Spring I shall buy some hatching eggs - inevitably one will be a cockerel who will be brought up here to hopefully respect his flock and the status quo - and the black hen has started crowing....
(It has been very interesting watching the reaction to this story. It varies hugely, depending on the gender of the listener!) |
The Kitchen Garden Church Lane Troston Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk IP31 1EX 01359-268322
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