They say that grey is the new black in fashion circles or so I’m told. In pet keeping circles apparently the new Guinea Pig is a chick! Once the preserve of the farmyard, chickens in their various guises are now commonplace in even the smallest city garden. In casual conversation you tell a friend or colleague I’ve got chickens and they are just as likely to say so have I!
At Meadow side Barn there are four Cochin Bantams roaming the front garden, scratching at the vegetable plot or uncovering some stones, omnivores, they are just as happy with a wriggly worm as they are with a dish of last nights pasta. The bantams are a fussy bunch, however, and consider the manufacturers ‘layers pellets’ too common and would appear to rather go hungry than eat them. So it’s a good mix of grain and corn for them, substituted with a few greens, to keep them off the stuff that’s growing in the garden.
In urban areas the fox has become more prevalent and less scared of their human neighbours, this puts your city chicks at a greater risk, as these predators can be lethal. In the countryside, where foxes are meant to live, a good hen house that can be secured at night is a must to keep the fox at bay. Free ranging chickens in the countryside means that your hens are at risk as a hungry fox will strike at any time and it can devastate the whole coop in no time at all. So do be vigilant as the aftermath can be extremely upsetting.
The positives, and there are many, that an omelette from the garden is absolute joy. The personalities of breeds such as the Cochin Bantam can keep a conversation going for hours, as houseguests at the Bed & Breakfast have been known to watch the antics with great humour for unbelievable lengths of time.
The routine for the Cochins fits in perfectly with running a B&B as they like to be out and about early in the morning, let ’em out when you get up to prepare the guests breakfast, and then watch as they put themselves to bed as the light fails in the evening, you just have to remember to close the door!
Some literature describes the Cockerel Bantam as being ‘Peppery’ in the case of the rooster at the Barn this is an understatement so if you are delivering the post it is not a case of beware of the dog, but do beware he isn’t as cute as his suit suggests!
Sabung Ayam
Chick Nursery
