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| The Black Eyed Pea "screamers" |
Ok we shift a gear from Scotch Eggs to unnaturally loud poultry
I have been out in my wellies and raincoat four times now in an effort to pay one of the local farm boys who has trimmed the over grown hawthorn hedge which surrounds the field.
I have been out in my wellies and raincoat four times now in an effort to pay one of the local farm boys who has trimmed the over grown hawthorn hedge which surrounds the field.
On the second fruitless trip I heard an amazing din coming from the field and galloped around to find out just what was going on.
The din could only really be described as animals in distress, and birds really only scream like this when they are being attacked by a predator, so I gabbed a nearby hoe and galloped into the field to search for the fox.
The screaming came from the bottom of the field, and when I finally reached the spot, all I could locate was the three black eyed peas, which were all sat quietly in a row facing off badger the young cockerel, who was watching them with some interest.
I crouched down in the wet grass to watch was going on and I was joined by the ever curious Irene who stamped her feet in frustration at not getting a tit bit of corn out of me. We only had to wait a few seconds, for as Badger approached the three hens again, all three opened their beaks and screamed at him like three miniature Opera singers .
I have never quite seen the like of it before.
Can any other poultry keeper help me out here?
Hens always squawk a little when cockerels try it on, but I have never seen hens scream in the face of a "threat" before and do so in unison.....they actually sounded like three rooks with Louis Armstrong tendencies
Ok, it's perhaps not as interesting as I previous hinted it was.... but I guess it interested me
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| Irene getting tamer! |
They are just living up to the name you gave them.
ReplyDeleteThose girls aren't letting any rooster near them lol. Irene is lovely.
ReplyDeleteIts good they have you to keep them safe.The little opera sounds intresting.Any tickets to the event?
ReplyDeletejust turn up anytime bev...... I think they wil perform for anyone
DeleteYou galloped ? That I'd like to see AND the Black Eyed Peas screaming !
ReplyDeleteSylvia still playing it coy..
ReplyDeleteDid you ever find out why the man with the cat basket needed to re-home these particular hens??
he said they "just turned up" at his house ( he has three chickens in the garden)
DeleteHis story is either a pile of shite or they were abandoned at his house like he said!
The Three Henors.
ReplyDeleteHilarious!
DeleteI just LOVE this story, John. I have never heard of anything like this; but then I always get a good story and often a chuckle when I visit your blog. Irene looks sweet too. Have a great day. Jo
ReplyDeleteNo advice from this henless household.
ReplyDeleteIf it's any consolation, I make the same noise when my husband gets too close ;)
~Jo
"I'm a virgin! Don't touch me!" One wonders what evil tales of sex they were told to keep them pure.
ReplyDeleteOn a completely unrelated note, I've noticed that most of your photos tend to have a foggy haze. Is this due to a scratched-up camera phone lens, or is it always that moist in your corner of Eden?
aison
DeleteI have a crap camera ( getting a new one for christmas)
the only good photos I take are with chris' phone!!!
having said that is was pissing down today!
That IS interesting! Very particular hens. Good for them (and I'm so glad I don't live nearby).
ReplyDeleteI don't know why they'd scream like that, either. Wonder if they've heard Indian Runners before living with you and figured they could do the same and alert all and sundry to any invaders?
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear Irene is more interested in seeing you and hope Sylvia can follow suit.
Fascinating but good for them, at least they got your attention and you ran to their rescue.
ReplyDeleteThe mental picture of you sitting in the grass next to the three hens while they are screaming at a rooster is a hoot!
ReplyDeleteSmart hens! Maybe they are lesbians!
ReplyDeleteAnd, when did Irene actually start taking corn from you?
(plufrompdx)
e
Deleteshe has no as yet... almost but not quite!
I really need to stop reading your blog whilst eating. I have a real mess here John.
ReplyDeleteget a nappy!
DeleteI imagine the hushed tones of David Attenborough on location in Trelawnyd, lying prostrate as he peers back to the camera "And there you can see the endangered black eyed peas gently reminding the young cockerel that their eggs need fertilising."
ReplyDeletePerhaps they had a cunning plan to give Badger his come-uppance
ReplyDeleteJohn I've just been reading both your blogs - whatever went wrong, hope it's made right again xx
its not molly but you are a dear for asking
ReplyDeletethey are probably just very nervous.
ReplyDeleteGill
I've heard the human Black Eyed Peas singing...sounds the same.
ReplyDeleteJane x
My humps, my hump, my humps my humps, my lovely lady bumps - check it out!
ReplyDeletePlease tell me you know what I am going on about or shame me into never commenting again...
Bless those girls....
Very wise too!
Boys are trouble ;-)
S
oh bless sophie
Deleteget your carer to email me with a translation of your comment!
(I vote you the best entry of the evening)
Irene is very handsome, if one can say that about a female.
ReplyDeleteI'm just laid out laughing. I just manage to get a little decorum back and then I read the comments. This is too funny.
ReplyDeleteThe galloping around got my attention also.
The black-eyed peas are a nice looking trio and congrats on getting so close to Irene.
It would almost seem as if they had never seen a rooster before. But they they'd do it with all the other chickens and such, wouldn't they?
ReplyDeleteI do hope they decide to let up soon though.
And I agree, Irene looks and sounds like a cutie!
So how will you now know when there is REAL distress in the menagerie? Sounds to me a bit like the boy who cried 'Wolf'.
ReplyDeleteSome Hens really don't like certain roosters. We had a batch of chicks that contained two males... and when they grew up, it became obvious which rooster was the favorite, as the hens plucked all the tail feathers from the one they disliked, and screamed at him if he came too close.
ReplyDeleteSome of my lady's hens scream like this. She's learned to listen to the "tone" of the scream so that she can determine if they are seriously threatened or if they are all just standing there yelling their fool chicken heads off. These hens would never do in a village...they are louder than a rooster when they get going and not nearly as melodical.
ReplyDeleteI can't cast any light on the screamers except some girls are just that way inclined. I went to school with a few.
ReplyDeleteI have two chooks. One has been broody and unproductive for about two months the other now thinks she is a rooster and has taken to making an awful strangled crowing noise early in the morning. At least she is still laying, though the neighbours may put an end to that. Very soon.