Meet Herb.
Herb had begun fighting with his dad, Harold, and so he has come to live in what our neighbour calls 'chicken heaven'. Like Bert he is a real gent. Unlike Bert he is a bantam (Barnvelder x New Hampshire Red)and so is somewhat smaller with smaller lungs to match....He's also small enough to pop into one of the Omlet Eglus, that we use as nest boxes, come Spring when the mornings begin to lighten earlier. This is a very rural place and there are cockerels dotted about this spread out hamlet. None of them crow endlessly - just a few shouts now and again.
Herb seems to be taking it all in his stride. His favourite girl is Edna -chook. They can usually be found snuggled together on the communal branch in the covered overnight pen...Luckily the New Hampshire Red half of his genes gives him a little more bulk than he would otherwise have as a pure Barnvelder but ,yes, he is still smaller than our 7 full size hybrid hens. Although they knew he was male at seven months old and didn't attack him (as they would if he had been younger) he has had his work cut out these past ten days. If our hens wore Tee shirts they would have them embazoned 'The Future is Female' and would be burning their bras :) - I think they had already decided some time back that they could skirt around Bert and get up to no good. Fliss, Maggie, Phoebe and Belle are from a batch of Black Rocks and are as thick as thieves. They never squabble, ever. Fanny-Ann, Tilly and Edna niggle away at each other and are in turn chased about by the 'fowl (sorry!) four'.
Herb is taking less nonsense from them but hasn't yet 'treaded' anyone (that I've seen anyway). So far he's only managed a bit of small talk and some posturing with his wing dropped. Come the Spring, who knows...Bless him. Tempting though it is to go and get him some bantam girlies it would not be fair on them. Bantam girls would be much smaller than Herb and therefore be persecuted by the hens.
I've already become quite attached to his spunky little character and dapper appearance and even Iain thinks he's OK as Herb has shown no inclination to hang off his ankles. Even when Iain put the mower round the lawn. Result!
Some grey days (today) and some beautiful bright ones typical of November have been enjoyed by yours truly. I keep taking pictures of trees...These line one of the routes leading into and out of the scattering of hamlets that we are lucky enough to live in.
Looking towards the closest neighbouring hamlet to ours, this is one of my favourite routes home. It never fails to sooth. The first time we drove home this way I had to pinch myself; the 'big house' lies off to the left with a glimpse of the family chapel and the lovely chimney stacks on the scattered houses. It is like a set for a period drama.
Yesterday the sunshine lured me down to the coast path as soon as I left work. Dogs already in the van and a change of clothes meant we could enjoy it before the light fell.
Heading out along the track to St Aldhelm's Chapel
Nellie and Arch in the doorway of the Chapel. They are allowed in and always join me when I pop in. Once Henry, Pop, Arch and Nellie did their usual recce only for me to realise the voices I heard inside weren't walkers but members of a wedding party having their rehearsal. Happily they didn't mind the extra guests :-)
Just before we go down the steep bit below St Aldhelm's Head
On the rocks!
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