Z counts her chickens

My friend came round with her metal detector – she bought a new one as my old thing wasn’t quite up to the standard she needed. However, though she hadn’t used it for long, it turned out, to her dismay, that the battery was flat. She said the rechargeable battery on her previous machine lasted ages, she’s not sure if she’s done something wrong or what. Anyway, she’ll come back another time. We searched again, still no luck.

I went to church this morning, which I don’t do very often since the services were put back from 9.30 to 9.00 am. I wouldn’t have been ready in time if I’d dealt with the animals, but I sneaked out of the front door so that the waiting barn cats wouldn’t see me. Wink went out soon afterwards.

I caught up on all the local chat, which was good. Casual social interaction has pretty well vanished over the last couple of years. A tree has fallen from my field on to the churchyard back wall – whoops – luckily, it has done no damage, it’s not very big. I’ll ask Wince to deal with it, the Rector is pretty relaxed about it.

Later, out in the garden, I heard a cockerel crowing from Wink’s garden. I was surprised, I didn’t think that Pillock ventured in there – but when I looked, there were a number of hens as well as the cock. I checked. The door latch hadn’t quite caught and the greenhouse door had come open and nearly all the chickens had got out. I offered mealworms and quite a lot of them came back in, but there was no point unless they all did, so I waited until it was 5 o’clock and a bit drizzly and checked then. No chickens outside, I shut the door and scattered mealworms. Then I went to feed the cats and returned to count my chickens. More than I expected, so I counted cockerels. Pillock had finally returned, after six months of reluctant freedom, with all the others. He was happily sitting on the perch with his sisters and cousins and I trust all will be well. Wink was very apologetic for letting them out, she thought she’d checked the door. They kick earth and stones about, so the doorway often has to be cleared. But I’ve done the same thing myself, I know how easy it is and I appreciate her taking her turn with bantam-care. I assured her that it wasn’t her fault, it just happened.

4 comments on “Z counts her chickens

  1. savannah49

    My Grandmother kept chickens in her backyard right here in Los Angeles back in the late 50s. I don’t remember when the law changed about keeping barnyard animals within city limits, but I do know she wasn’t the only one on our block! xoxo

    Reply
    1. Z Post author

      I don’t think I knew your family was originally from LA, I assumed you were a Georgia girl. Chickens aren’t as noisy as roosters, of course, though they have their moments. It might have been because they were judged to attract vermin xoxo

      Reply
      1. savannah49

        The interesting part of my backstory is that while I am originally from Los Angeles, I lived in Georgia far longer. We were in Savannah for 26 years! Back in the day, there were a few roosters on our block, but I do remember that they were the first to go! xoxo

        Reply
        1. Z Post author

          I’ve lived in this house over half my life and that seems so odd. You were in Savannah all that time, and I finally visited after you left! Stay in California, I surely will get there in a year or two!! xoxo

          Reply

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