Murder

A slight drizzle this morning sent some of the hen clan into the workshop.  Not put off by power tools or petrol they stay in the dry and inspect for any lonesome insect or dropped dog food pellet.  They're a big fan of the dried dog food.  No matter what I do to move them away they always come back.  It can't be good for them.  And I don't want that passed through the food chain into my eggs thanks very much.  But for now they're just interested in staying warm and dry.  If I left the back door open I would easily find a few sitting around the fire amongst the collection of assorted indoor pets casually arranged around the living room.  If there is ever proof of reincarnation, I'll plead right now not to come back in my next life as a rooster.  They get a rough deal.  They never get a day off and are frequently dispersed for just being a rooster.  We have many as we're not the type to murder anyone on our farm so as a result you can hear the sound of crowing at just about every hour of the day and night.  Quite ok if you don't live cheek by jowl next to your neighbours.  And there lies the problem.  People dispatch roosters because they make noise.  Jeez, if that's all they do!!  A neighbouring property did exactly that recently only to leave his hens wandering around with no one to protect them, point out food and set boundaries for other predators and roosters.  As a result no doubt, and exactly what has happened before, one of our maturing gentlemen will wander over one moonlit night and serenade and woo and before long they'll have a rooster.  Although, if the rumours persist that it's a bit of a chook Midsomer Murders next door, he might encourage his girls to move in here.  But I just don't need any more, truly.  We're all full here.