The Country Mice

Introducing new birds into the an existing flock requires understanding, patience and a strong constitution.

New members are, after all, outsiders and intruders and should be driven away to protect the integrity of the feathered unit.

So the first thing to do is lock everyone up together for a few days.

Nobody gets out.

It’s good for the new kids because they can ascertain their position on the roost. They can thumb their beaks at the original members and cackle, “Ha! You thought you owned the rung! Well it’s mine now, chickie!”

These Blue Cochins, survivors of an original group of five, are less than thrilled about the new kids and keep to themselves, watching, studying.

This Barred Rock is the last of an original group of seven. We had a large group in the spring which experienced some particularly bad luck from marauding mammals.

Barred Rocks are an old heritage breed — not hybrids — and are what’s called dual-purpose. Eggs and meat.

And she’s been queen of the flock for the last several months. *Not* happy about the intruders.

She’ll get over it because she’s outnumbered.

But it’s hard to watch the goings-on as they work out their family issues. It’s a feathered roller-derby in the there — peck, chase, challenge, gouge, claw… they don’t actually manage to peck out each other’s eyes but they give it a good effort.

So sometimes you just have to turn away, shut the door, take a deep breath and focus on something without sharp edges.

aaaaahhhhhhhh.