Nutnut and Peggy meet the allotment hens

[nat]

I took Nutnut and Peggy the 2 hahns to the allotment this evening for the first time to meet the chickens. It was hilarious. The chickens went beserk and made a hell of a racket and the usually very viscious rat killer cockerel actually did a runner and forgot to protect his hens. The hahns screamed blue murder for 2 minutes then Peggy decided the chickens were a bunch of cuties after all and then said 'hello' alot followed by 'its very quiet, gis a kiss'

Then the hens decided to come over closer for a look and Peggy told the firmly to 'be quiet' which at that point they were being Pegs still hasn't grasped the appropriate time to say that lol.
Bert the cockerel was still hiding 30 ft away. Never known him so quiet!
After which we all spent 40 minutes chilling out from either side of the fence together. Peggy loved watching the magpies, but Nutnut generally pretended none of it was happening as he usually does with anything which doesn't involve favourite food and car rides and averted his eyes.

[mizloco]

How funny. Sounds like a great trip out for all. Any pictures?

[OP]

It sounds like you all had a whale of a time except for Bert.

[Hezz]

That would have been an interesting meeting to see. But Bert didn't quite live up to his role of leader of the pack.

[stace]

You've got a good life, Nat.

I'd love to take my budgie out like that.

[nat]

Berts had a bad week. A couple of days ago I threw a sheet over him and trimmed his claws and spurs, then yesterday caught him up again and put him in a pen on his own so his poor hens can grow their bald patches back from where he treads them! I have had to order saddles for them!
Unfortunately I didn't take any pics, but probably a sound track would have been funnier lol
I wish that I had the time to take the parrots out more, but not having a garden its a bit difficult lugging their travel cage down the allotments and then I can't do anything when I'm there as they scream blue murder if I walk away lol

[Learner]

Wow... did the other plot owners come and have a look?

I wouldn't have got a thing done if I'd had a plot near by.

---

The last time I took a bird of mine out was years ago. "Fred" the myna. We were in the garden when a crow flew over and Fred decided to take off in fright... straight over the road behind us, over the houses on the bank and into someones runner bean patch.

The next-door neighbours demanded to know what I was doing and were about to turf me out of their neighbour's garden. They looked worried too as I kept calling Fred. Just as they were getting a little bit hot under the collar Fred hopped out and said "Hello" and flew back to my arm. Saved my bacon and hers!!

One of these days I'll have time to hunt for a photo of dear old Fred.

[Hezz]

Great story, Learner. A photo of Fred would be great.

nat, poor Bert's dignity has really taken a bashing this week, then. Reduced to a snivelling wreak by a couple of parrots, caught and clipped and now separated from his reason for living!!!

[nat]

Lol, that must have been quite amusing to watch Learner!
Berts week got worse Hezz. He managed to get onto the 6ft heras and jump back into the hen coop and jarred himself up quite badly! Hes fine now and happily humping the hens with their new saddles on lol!

[mizloco]

I'm not sure it is a good idea asking this question but I am going to take a deep breath and ask it anyway.
What an earth is a hen doing with a saddle on? And who makes saddles for hens and how on earth did they come up with the idea in the first place?

[skysmum]

Jul 10, 2013 20:26:23 GMT mizloco said:

I'm not sure it is a good idea asking this question but I am going to take a deep breath and ask it anyway.
What an earth is a hen doing with a saddle on? And who makes saddles for hens and how on earth did they come up with the idea in the first place?

, im sorry Mizloco but this just cracked me up.

I remember thinking this when i first saw a hen wearing one, couldn't figure it out at all, so i asked . These little saddles are made from canvas or felt like material and they wear them because when the cockerel is doing "The Deed" which he does alot , he can cause quite a bit of damage to the hens feathers often leaving her a bit bald. So there you go, we learn something new every day . I often think they should be wearing little bonnets to go with them, they look so cute.

And no, Nat is not practicing on them before she goes to work with the real race horses, are you Nat .

[Learner]

Jul 6, 2013 1:04:08 GMT Hezz said:

Great story, Learner. A photo of Fred would be great.

Fred and me.... in the good old days. Fred loved cameras... unlike me.

---

Here's wishing Bert a successful season.

[Hezz]

Nice photo, Learner.

Lucky Bert! nat, you could always have ruined Bert's week completely by putting nappies on the hens!

Nina, good for you having the guts to ask! Many would have gone on in ignorance, never knowing.

[nat]

Lol, Bert is slightly over sexed! And particuary likes ginger ladies who have ended up with bald wing butts and backs from his claws. It got worse when the sun came out as the bald bits got sunburned
Bert loves the little saddles
To be honest when I asked on a fb chook page about the bald bits and was told to use saddles I really thought they were winding me up until I googled it lol

I love your pic Learner. I remember when minor birds were more popular than parrots as pets

[mizloco]

Honestly I learn something every day on here. First there were budgie nappies and now hen saddles. I'm not sure I want to know what's next.