the accidental smallholder :: diary archives

Say "hello" to Hobbes

Say "hello" to Hobbes, our new cockerel, who arrived last night. As you can see he's a Light Sussex and he was bred by friends of ours, Mhairi and Tim. He's still a youngster, but he's a big boy already.

This was taken last night before he was put in with the girls for the night. The hope is that, by morning, they will think he's part of the flock...

We've kept the girls and Hobbes enclosed today so they can get used to each other. When we got Henry, we let him out on the first day with the girls but they kept running away and leaving him alone, so he didn't go to bed but roosted outside the french windows, resulting in a long chase and eventual capture behind Dan's bike in the garage and the loss of a few of Henry's tail feathers..

Hobbes didn't seem to understand the concept of ladders so had to be "encouraged" down this morning with a sharp push to his rump. However, he does seem to understand sunflower seeds and sardines!

He also now understands when Mrs Leghorn says "move", she means it. He's getting a wee bit of a hard time, but it will soon be time to go back to roost so, hopefully, he'll find his way to bed and they'll be a bit more settled tomorrow.