Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Bird dog and birds.

Imagine. You've been bustled indoors while something interesting goes on outside. You have your nose pressed to the door the better to draw in those outdoor aromas; pongs of this and whiffs of that and.....................bird!

Your patience is rewarded when one of your Beloved People lets you out. With a leap and a bound you are on the case; no point in dithering. If you thought the words 'cartoon dog' were mentioned you would have heard correctly. You were bloody right too! There are birds! Let's get at 'em.
Sorry Chester, you and those chickens must stay on separate sides of the pen. No amount of text-book 'pointing' on your part will make me change my mind. I know they would be a tasty snack. Soft-centres too. You are a Pointer. Stick to pointing.

These are the chickens at just over two weeks old. How quickly they grow. They will need to be moved on from their 'tub' in the garage soon. Today was warm enough to bring them outside and let them see the outside world for the first time. I put them on the lawn in the dog crate, in the sun but with some dappled shade to retreat to. Quite an overwhelming experience for them I think. Sensory overload after a fortnight in a black tub under a warm red light. If they'd been under a broody hen she would have had them outdoors already, teaching them to peck and scratch. I am a poor substitute.

Their feathers are coming through and they are looking gawky. I wonder how many cockerels there are - it is a little too soon to tell from their appearance. One might expect 50:50, but with 13 birds that's never going to work out. Sod's law tells me that because I want hens there will be a predominance of males.

If you would like a cockerel in due course - please do speak up. They make excellent alarm clocks.

12 comments:

her at home said...

Kind offer but we have two already, I can however offer you a recipe for coq au vin if it helps?

Annie said...

Aw what lovely photos. Thanks for the update. Beautiful isn't quite the right word but I'm sure you know what I mean :-)
A x

Chris Stovell said...

Naughty HaH!

They're not as cute but how pleased you must be to have got them this far - even if your dog would like to get to know them better!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Good alarm clocks .... but better suppers .
Sorry!

bayou said...

How can one possibly think of "food" when it sees those thin little birds?!
I would like to lift my finger but.... a bit far the journey for them.
I love that typical Chester-ish photo! One foot up and the rest of dog immobile. Thanks for those great pictures and that the story is followed. I love it.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Like the Pointer sticking to Pointing! As opposed to Munching. Perhaps you could start a little cockerel zoo? I think I can probably send you two or three to add to the collection.

Pondside said...

Thank you, but I have a very efficient (0430) cockeral-alarm clock.
Love that pointing Pointer!

Diary Farmer said...

Drop one off when you're passing. I'm sure Doreen and Delia can do something with it!!!

Fennie said...

Or alarm cocks - even! Now if you were to breed a silent cockerel, or one with a snooze button......but no, thanks. Really I think my chicken keeping days are over. Mind you, I have an Elder Daughter who is just coming over all poultry minded. I'll send her your blog.

Maggie Christie said...

I love the pointing Pointer. I'll decline the cockerel offer too thanks. Much better au vin in my experience! Fingers crossed that they're all female...

snailbeachshepherdess said...

I'd love a cockeral but am so not allowed!!

Kitty said...

How sweet are those little birds? I would just love a cockerel, but maybe just a tiny bantam. Don't know what my girls would make of one though. However, it might set them off laying again. They just don't seem to realise that no more eggs = coq au vin (pass the recipe my way HaH!).