Who would have guessed? Three weeks ago I had no interest in chooks. Now I'm enthralled with a little bantam hen and her chicks. This could be the first of a series about Henny Penny, Speckles and Black Pearl.
It all started, as so many things do, with an innocent game. A game of Let's Pretend. "Let's pretend we are opening your house and garden to visitors to make some money.", said Georgia. I lifted a limp wrist to my brow in my best grand lady imitation and objected to strangers traipsing through my home, wearing out my priceless carpets, but agreed they could visit the garden.
Of course, a marketing plan was necessary, we needed something to attract visitors "all the way out here", something a little different, something the visitors wouldn't see in town. We agreed, in the end, to Highland and Galloway cattle in the paddock next to the house. For some unknown reason Georgia's Dad wasn't so keen on her suggestion that he sell a couple of cows and buy a Highland bull.
Something smaller and more affordable was needed. Many hours, and much discussion, later we had decided upon exotic bantams. And somewhere along the way, the minute we spotted this gorgeous little Spangled Pekin rooster, we stepped over the line between make believe and real, live fowl. Even Georgia knows you can't have a rooster without any hens so not long after we acquired Speckles, we got two little hens to keep him company. One of the hens turned her toes up within 24 hours but little Black Pearl enjoys the attention of her new mate.
I expect to take many photos of Pearl, she is glossy black with irridescent blues and greens which reminded Georgia of pearls.
Now, I know, we should have finished it there. And we would have. Had not Georgia spotted a little bantam hen and 9 chicks for sale on TradeMe (NZ on line auction website). She reminded me of something, sparked an emotional response and I wanted her.
Honestly, it wouldn't have gone this far had we not found absolute bargains at every turn, right down to a super cheap chicken coop.
Isn't she beautiful? And how cute are those chicks?