Posie's Blog. Tales of island life on a hebridean hill farm

Posie's Blog. Tales of island life on a hebridean hill farm

Tuesday 28 September 2010


They say show day marks a change in the seasons, with the passing of the show the nights gradually draw in and there is a noticeable chill in the early evening sun. The children go back and the long days of summer become distant memories.

Our hens have been settling in well. The happy farmer sent for a variety of breeds and we have temporarily placed them in the chicken run in the field behind the garden.

Last week we loaded Charlie’s chicks into a cage on the back of the quad bike and took them to their new home in the happy farmer’s newly established hedgerow beside the burn. They will not come into lay until next spring, so for the time being we have placed them in grub rich pastures where hopefully they will claw away to their hearts content, digging at the ground, weeding the happy farmer’s hedge as they go. The hedgerow is fenced on both sides to stop the livestock having a hearty chew, a week with the sheep having access to it and the hedge row would be no more. We placed a trough for the chicks and one of the happy farmer’s wigwam style shelters for them to roost in at night.

Charlie mean while has long since abandoned the chicks and is back to her happy hunting grounds of the farmer’s wife’s flower beds. She struts around the farmyard during the day, and roosts in the fuschia bush at night. She is a regular visitor to the cottages and has become increasingly tame, taking it upon herself to venture into the farmhouse if the door is left open for too long. This morning the happy farmer was greeted by the dog sleeping on her chair in the kitchen with Charlie perched up beside her. If it is a sunny day Charlie will roost on the bench at the front of the farmhouse, even being brave enough to venture onto the happy farmer’s lap if he has stopped for a coffee break. The happy farmer grins and bears it with little choice, Charlie’s popularity is growing by the day, as is his patience.


Until next time…..

12 comments:

Elizabethd said...

What a super photo of the two on the bench! They look quite content with each other!

Posie said...

I think Charlie thinks she is a sheepdog Elizabeth!!

bayou said...

lol, a new bread: chickensheepdog.
How wonderful is the picture you paint. I hope, when I have my chickens, there will be one like Charlie.

jane said...

Posie I love your chicken tales - Charlie is truly a star x

Posie said...

Bayou, hope you had a fab holiday...ha ha 'chicken sheepdog', she is the boss too!!
Jane, the hens are a daily source of entertainment here, lovely to hear from you, Posie

Exmoorjane said...

Hate to say it, Posie, but no - I was surprised too! Love your blog - always makes me feel sort of warm and snuggly (though that might change as winter comes in). :)

Posie said...

Wow, no way Jane...although now you say it, the top bouquet (we are talking Jane's blog here) did have a few more 'wild' looking flowers...
So glad you're enjoying my blogs,( I always think of you as the 'Queen of blogging' as you write with such panache and humour...so huge compliment that you like my farmy blogs...thanks.)

Pondside said...

I love that last photo. People who think hens are 'bird brained' are so, so wrong. Those gals have personality +! I hope the chicks survive the winter - ours would be done in overnight if we didn't lock them in at dusk.

Connie said...

Posie, are you in Scotland? Our last name is a Scot name.
xoxo,
Connie

Posie said...

The 'chicks' have oodles of personality Pondside.
Connie we are in Scotland, the happy farmer has many relatives living over the pond, and we get many visitors here tracing their ancestors. Thank you for visiting,
Posie

Molly said...

I've got a Charlie too - but he's no chicken! Love the photo of the two together on the bench!

Bluestocking Mum said...

Oh Posie, this read was just what I needed tonight - a bit of light relief and lovely countryside tales. What a character Charlie is!

I adore your painting btw.

xx