2011年12月4日 星期日

Flock of hens teaches valuable lessons

"You should get some of these," said my brother-in-law last spring as I peered into a warming box containing 60 chirping chicks that would soon populate his chicken coop.

Already, tiny feathers were making an appearance along their little wings, and soon the balls of yellow fluff would enter their awkward adolescent stage — no longer cute and not yet mature enough for eggs or chicken sandwiches.

While I would love to have a small flock of hens once again, unfinished projects around the house have me booked into my retirement years. Besides, my husband tells me I already have enough critters contributing to the feed bill as it is.

Thankfully for one of my sons, I used to have time to dabble in home-raised livestock, including an orphaned lamb, a couple of steers and a pig named Yentl.Unlike traditional high risk merchant account , My favorite endeavor was a small flock of hens and a cantankerous rooster. This was a great project for my 4-year-old son that taught him a world of responsibility and compassion for animals. It also taught me a few valuable lessons.This page contains information about molds,

We've had roosters before — leghorns, bantams and cochins. But nothing like the gallo de diablo (Spanish for devil rooster) named Bucca. This stately bird, a barred Plymouth Rock, stood nearly 2 feet tall and had lethal-looking spurs jutting out of his golden legs. No one got near his little harem without his notice. Those who dared to enter his domain did so at their own peril.

While my son had an uncanny rapport with his chickens — holding them and getting them to follow him around the yard — he had great respect for and fear of the rooster. Before Bucca took up residence in our chicken coop, I used to laugh at my sister-in-law who was mercilessly chased by a rooster on the farm. How could anyone be afraid of a little chicken, I thought to myself.

Bucca's covert attacks answered that question for me. After a whack on the tail feathers with a long stick following one close encounter, both the rooster and I kept a wary distance from each other. Little did I know he was just biding his time for the right opportunity. And the day came when he finally got it. I was inside the coop collecting eggs and had forgotten to close the entrance to the outside yard.

Thinking Bucca was busy scrapping with the hens over some cherry tomatoes,This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their Floor tiles . I took my time gathering the freshly laid brown eggs, still warm in the nesting boxes. Holding at least a dozen eggs in my arms (I had forgotten the container in my haste) I was surprised by a rear ambush. Bucca had stealthily entered the coop and moved in for a blindsided assault. With his spurs flashing,By Alex Lippa Close-up of zentai in Massachusetts.If so, you may have a cube puzzle . the feathered fiend got in a few good licks on my bare legs.

What eggs were left unbroken were hurled (along with expletives) at that bird who was scrambling to exit the coop. I remember muttering under my breath all the way to the house concerning my sudden appetite for chicken soup. Even if I didn't harbor any affection for that cocky old bird, my son did. I remember minutes later my son running into the house to report a tragedy in the chicken coop.

As I drew nearer, I could hardly contain my laughter. There was Bucca standing in the middle of a group of consternated hens, trying to look dignified while covered with egg yolk.

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