cock-a-doo

Today I went to visit our new cockrel. We hatched out a few chicks a few months ago for a neighbour and as she lives too close to other people to keep the cockrel from the brood, we're having him back. Apparently some people don't like the sound of cock-a-doodle-squark (he's still learning...) at all hours of the day. I love it though, especially when they're still learning; they flap their wings and puff out their chests, strech up their necks and open their beaks wide and... eeee-rkk! Nothing comes out, then they look at bit confused and get back to pecking or sunbathing or what ever it was they were doing...

Most of our hens (16 out of 19) and lovely Ducky the cock were killed by a mink before Christmas so it's been very lonely in the chicken shed recently :( But a few weeks ago a lovely white leghorn was left on our doorstep (in a sack!) so she's busy making herself at home and laying little white pointy eggs... and now (the as-yet unnamed) cockrel. He's black and white with a funny flat comb and orange legs, and he's still a bit stressed out from the move, but hopefully he'll be a beauty (and hopefully we'll have some little easter chicks to match!)


This un-chicken-related picture is to represent the other thing I've been doing today... 4 days until the book fair!