Cock Of The North! North End Road That Is.

There is a bit of a problem associated with letting my hens lead a free ranging, natural life. Namely a surfeit of cockerels. There are always more cocks hatched than hens, usually a lot more. From a dozen eggs you are more than likely to end up with eight cocks and four hens.

The trouble is that if a free range hen goes broody, she is likely to end up hidden away in some quiet corner or under the hedgerow. They are remarkably clever at hiding their nests when they decide to raise a brood.
Until one fine day she decides to reappear trailing a dozen or so little chicks. I love it when this happens. The year before last, one hen successfully hatched fourteen little 'uns.

Of course it is impossible to keep all the cocks. Once they reach maturity they will start to fight each other to the death. It is not pleasant at all to witness the plight of the vanquished. Also there is the noise. My neighbours put up with one cock crowing, but I would not want to inflict on them a dawn chorus of competing cocks. They have to go. When they reach about three months old they are dispatched, and make an excellent coque au vin.

This is 'Sunny Jim'.

This last Summer was remarkable in that only four chicks were hatched, and only one a cockerel! The 'Wing Commander' has not been doing his job!

The solitary new boy has reached maturity. He is a 'bit of a lad'. The ladies like him. They like him a lot! The 'Wing Commander' has had his feathers ruffled. He is not happy at all. There have been skirmishes. Nothing too violent as yet. But it is coming.

The new boy will not be dispatched. He will not end up in the pot. He is a good looking chap. Very 'busy'. Tricia has given him a name. She calls him 'Sunny Jim'. Though this fact alone is not what has saved him.

What has saved 'Sunny Jim' is that he has become remarkably fond of me. When he is not busy 'servicing' one of the ladies, he is to be found at my feet. He follows me everywhere. He is a good natured chap too. I don't know if this is the way he has planned things, but luckily for him, I like him also.

The 'Wing Commander'.

What the 'Wing Commander' will make of 'Sunny Jim's' continuing presence has yet to be determined, but I suspect they will both have to be kept an eye on. 'Sunny Jim' is going to be the bigger stronger bird, though he does not have the 'Wing Commanders' magnificence, he will win any fights.

The 'Wing Commander' will not end up in the pot either.

This is the way it has to be. The livestock lead a natural life here. Life isn't easy!