Maple Is......

Maple is feeling a bit unwell so sisters Brulee and Lily jumped up to keep her company on her favourite resting perch this morning.

Maple is the brown chicken in the front, she is a quiet girl who does tends to get a bit off colour from time to time.

For those who have never had the pleasure of keeping chickens as part of the family they would more than likely never understand the bonds chickens have with each other.

They do such a lot of things together, particularly the dust bath, but I have also noticed that they will support each other if one is poorly.

Having said that, weeding time sees a fend for yourself situation when I am flinging pulled out weeds about. They have learnt to keep close to my hands the luckiest grabbing the prize of a worm.

Aslan keeps a very close eye on his harem of hens, and he has gone over regularly today to check on Maple, he makes soft cooing sounds similar to purring when he stops to check in on her.

Most chickens are not as lucky as mine, people don't seem to view them as having much intelligence,let alone any emotions.

I guess this makes it easier to eat them?

Viewing them as stupid and emotionless and of no real use except as egg machines and a tasty dinner.

My girls and very proud rooster are seen and treated as the sentient beings they are.

They are loved for who they are not for what they give.

And each is missed when they pass away, because each hen has a different personality, like humans they are all unique.

Hopefully Maple will bounce back to full health in the next day or two and life in the flock will return to normal......