The Kitchen Garden

January/February 2004

The Kitchen Garden

Church Lane

Troston

Bury St. Edmunds

Suffolk

IP31 1EX

01359-268322

What happened in:

Nov/Dec 2003
Sept/Oct 2003
Jul/Aug 2003

May/Jun 2003
Mar/Apr 2003
Jan/Feb 2003

Nov/Dec 2002

Sept/Oct 2002

July/August 2002

May/June 2002

April 2002

Mar 2002

Feb 2002

Jan/Feb 2002

With the last of this year's cockerels in their new homes, my flock is as up to scratch - one cock, four hens and three pullets....and one Old English Game hen visiting from next door. I don't know why she prefers the crack here, but it has been interesting watching her insinuate herself into the group. Very, very gradually, keeping her distance at feeding time and keeping a very low profile, she sleeps in the yew tree and just tags along in a casually offhand way on the periphery when the troupe is on the move. Patience worth remembering next time the flock needs augmenting.

Talking of cockerels, I miss my beautiful, boisterous boys and it got me thinking that if you didn't like the eggs and lived off the beaten track, a trio of three batchelor brothers would make wonderful garden pets. Without hens, they would get on well together and brighten up the darkest winter day. A lot of what ifs, I know, but it seems tragic to be expecting breeders to cull so many unwanted birds.