Our hens had not been producing many eggs lately, one or two every day if that, which is a poor show given that we’ve got 8 of them. Of course, some are molting but still, there has been a question on our mind: what is going on?
They get fed first thing in the morning in their pen, after which they roam free all over the farm while I work at getting the donkey field ready for them. They love the roaming. They disappear for the rest of the day only to be found under bushes and trees where the vegetation is thick with no access only to them. They have the time of their lives and it’s been such a joy knowing that we can give them that sort of life…
We hear calls from time to time and usually it is to let everyone know that they have laid an egg somewhere. I never thought they would lay anywhere but in their coop. I was naïve of course.
Today while clearing an area under the big conker tree opposite the garden shed, I found a nest with a dozen eggs and that little white hen, the one that had gone missing a few weeks ago, jumped in the air screeching and ran off. I was bending over to move some old palettes when I saw her. The poor thing got such a fright when she saw my face a few inches away from hers…
I was so pleased to see her as I thought she had been taken by the fox. But it made me realise that probably some other hens were doing just the same: laying their eggs in a secluded place and hoping for the best.
Alright then, change of plans. I need to finish the fencing of the donkey field and in the meantime no more roaming anywhere for these ladies unfortunately. I was expecting some squabbling today with the girls staying in their pen, but to my surprise they were really quiet. They even seemed content, all huddled together under the wild rose in the shade, napping.
The young ones that used to crawl under the fence and into the vegetable garden, are unable to do that anymore and I was concerned about them being bullied by the cockerel and the older hens but it doesn’t seem to be the case. Previously as soon as the pen door was open in the morning, they used to run out together as if the coop was on fire.
Late afternoon, carrying a bucket with grain and kitchen waste, they would all appear suddenly from under the cotoneasters and the rock-roses at the sound of my voice. What a sight! They would follow me then with such anticipation….
With a head torch last night, I went to get that little hen that had returned to her nest, to bring her back to the coop. I had left some of her eggs for that purpose. She didn’t make a sound when I lifted her up and held her on my chest, as if she knew what I was doing and didn’t mind it. I know she minded and wanted to be a mum, but it’s too late in the season for a new brood. This morning, she was feeding with the others as if nothing had happened….next spring girl you can have your brood.
I went on line for chicken fencing and the price of it got me worried. I have done a couple of hundred metres with 350 metres left to do and I can’t find anything for less than two euros/metre. It’s a lot of money…
Okay then, change of plans again. I am going to get more bamboos and forget about chicken fencing for now. It’s amazing what can be done with no money. Imagination is essential and so is elbow grease. Luckily, I have both of them…. Ah! ah!
The lagerstroemia, the tree me and Nicky bought the summer after mum died in 2019, has flowered for the first time on Nicky’s 98th birthday. It had not flowered for the last 6 years and I was more than sceptical about its survival. It had not grown either, not an inch. I had talked to it lately, pleading for it to stay with us, and not die please…. did it hear?
Kyria from “la table de Gaya » is on social media, sharing about her walk starting in November. With her husband, their donkey and their mule, they will start in Marseille then cross over to Biarritz, then up to Bordeaux then across again to the other side of France, through our area where we’ll walk with her for a while, and so on zig-zagging all over France to cover as many different areas to end up at the Elysee in Paris.
Her quest is to meet and talk and share with who ever wants to walk with her on her journey. The question will be: how do we want to live together? With the authorities clamping down on free speech, walking is not yet illegal she says. Let’s do it. They are now working on the logistics of such a project. It has become so big she said. Thousands of people have responded positively and committed to do part of the walk with her. It is much bigger than she ever hoped for and getting bigger by the day she adds.
With her husband they had become organic farmers 10 years ago, opening an organic restaurant at the farm with their own produce to survive, working hard, and helping neighboring farmers in financial difficulties.
But because they had refused to get their animals vaccinated ( they wanted to know about the side-effects of the vaccination on their farm animals but never got an answer for the veterinary), the government had closed and confiscated their bank account. They have had so much difficulties with the authorities for no fault of their own, they decided, enough is enough.
A very courageous, intelligent and loving young woman indeed. There is no hate where she stands, which is extraordinary, only determination.
With The price of fuel going up we might leave the car under the barn this winter and cycle the 16kms to Caussade to shop.
If nothing else we’ll be eating butternuts and peaches, thankfully both crops have been plentiful.
