Well I absolutely completely and utterly was going to give it a rest on the subject of the chickens. But every day their little bird brains dream up some new way of winding me up.
This afternoon I went out and there was not a chicken in sight. I checked next door front, side and back. No no chickens. Checked the woods and the chemin. No chickens. Came in found cat ball with bell in and got jug of tasty chicken treats. Checked next door front, side and back, woods and chemin shaking jug of food and ringing bell in cat ball. While keeping an eye out that I wasn't spotted by any passing French folk as explanations would of been quite difficult in English.
The bell by the way is what we thought we had trained the chickens to respond to by ringing it when we fed them treats. Normally it brings them running (and there is nothing funnier than the site of a chicken running towards you) but not today.
Anyway I was looking out of the bathroom window torn between worry and thinking well good riddance I've got a fridge full of eggs anyway when I spotted them. In the other side next door neighbours garden. So I was out there again trying to get their attention with bell and jug peering through the hedge. Of course I could of just gone in there and got them but this is strange next door neighbour. The one with an electric fence instead of a gate whose cat wears a collar and is chained up outside a kennel. Honest. (Before you start worrying about the cat I have to say that it looks perfectly happy and healthy and quite often roams through our garden and scares Mimo) So no I was not about to knock on the door and say please mister can I have my chickens back that is the kind of job I normally send Tech Support to do.
I decided they would come back of their own accord round about treat time which Dolly and the two Jeans did but Anita didn't. So many more forays into the woods peering through hedges shouting bup bup bup ringing my bell followed. Strange next door neighbour is probably reading this now and thinking yes the words pot, kettle and black spring to mind (but in French obviously).
About an hour later Anita was spotted next door (the other side) and reunited with the rest of The Dinnerladies. So we still have four chickens and I don't have to go buy another four before TS gets back.
No more now on the subject of chickens
Till tomorrow
17 comments:
What a great blog! Just came over from MOB's place, and will be back to check up on what's going on with them there chickens.
One thing I learned during our first chook-laden winter is that Smaller Runs Are More Easily Fenced. Have you clipped their wings yet, by the way?
Silly biddies!
The people I bought my house from mentioned that their new neighbors (they're not far away) keep chickens, and I passed by just as Mr. Chicken Owner was coming back from a walk with his daughter and his corgi, named Welly, so I said I'd heard they had chickens and would they like to sell me some eggs sometime?
"Oh, we we were practically bathing in eggs this year. They're slacking off a bit now, but we plan to get two more birds this winter, so come by in the spring and we'll be happy to give you some eggs. No need to buy them."
Sweet! And easier than bashing about in the weeds with a bell, eh?
I had to smile when I read this post, could just visualize you skulking about in the hedge and woods with your bell and chicken treats. Glad they all got back safe and sound anyway:)
Swearing Mother (what a great name)
Thank you for dropping by
Hedgewizard no we've not clip their wings I think a smaller run (with machine gun towers)would make it easier to plug the gaps
Kitt that's cheating!
Rowan it's only funny after the event and once I know they're all safw
Now then Mrs - you are going to morph into Mrs Tweedy very soon unless yor tech support gets back to assist you in your chicken ranch. You need a sheep dog to herd them all back and you can sit with your feet up!
Chicen curry..........Yum, lovely!
Please excuse the typo's on previous post - I am a complete numpty for not checking my comment before posting.
MOB I knew what you meant. Strangely enough I have asked TS to bring curry spices back from the UK mwuhuha haha (that was supposed to be my evil laugh by the way) as the French palate does not run to hot curries or even mild ones really. Whereas we have the Asian influence in the UK here it's North African We buy stuff here that says it's hot and you can barely taste it.
Oh and another thing check out my spelling/typing higher up
Little gits aren't they. Ours are generally to be found in the field behind the chemin at the back of our house. I go out and call them and they just ignore me until I appear with a tin of cats food.
I would be OK with the woods the chemin or even the fields it's when they are in other people's gardens that I squirm (and then go round with lots of eggs)
I just love reading about your battle of wits with the chickens although they do seem to be getting the better of you. But keep it up - it conjures up a wonderful picture and it really makes me chuckle.
BTW when is TS (aka God of Chickens) due back?
Hi SITH yes its a bit of a showing up really isn't it. TS has been saying he would book the ferry for Sunday or Monday but actually I think he is on his way right now. Wishful thinking? Maybe keep your fingers crossed for me
Oh I was right! He is back home I just knew he was fibbing
Welcome back TS - watch out chickens!
ok...what a busy day...do the local foxes speak english or french...better enquires...and what about the hens...(lol)
Mousie have not seen a fox here to ask which I bet the chickens are glad about!
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