Where’s Wally the Chicken?

Jul 16th, 2009

by Dan.

All is not well on Old McHughes’ farm. The bloody chickens keep escaping. See if you can spot the fugitive in this picture:

Click here to expose the chicken and here to hide her again

Well, not all of the chickens are escaping, just three ringleaders. And I don’t really mind them jumping onto the coop’s roof if I’m honest, other than they tend to poo up there. But just recently they’ve begun hopping over the fence into next doors garden too, and that’s a real pain.

We get on well with our neighbors and they’ve said that marauding chickens in their garden doesn’t really bother them. And anyway, even if it did; their dogs have crapped in our garden enough times for a little chicken shit in their own to be considered just retribution. But what I’m really concerned about is that as the hens get increasingly bolder they are going to start foraying into the nearby woods too. The woods that are probably full to the brim with hungry foxes.

So yesterday morning Kerry and I engaged in a bit of good old fashioned chicken mutilation.

There is an art to clipping a chickens wings, an art that I obviously haven’t got the hang of. I didn’t hurt them, but I didn’t do it right either. Serves me right for assuming I knew what I was doing rather than consult the internet I suppose, I’ll know for next time.

Instead of only cutting the flight feathers from one wing (in order to throw them off balance when they take off) I trimmed both wings. This isn’t a major problem, it just means they still might be able to get a bit of height by frantically beating their wings. And anyway, the feathers will grow back in a few months anyhow.

It does seem to have worked though. The chickens were out all day yesterday and never ventured onto the wrong side of the fence. One did get into my veg patch mind you, but I suspect that’s because the stupid bugger just fell into it from the coops roof by accident.

Still no eggs yet though. But they amuse me, so I don’t mind really.

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Who am I?

My name's Dan and I live near Huddersfield in the North of England. I’m a 34 years old part time stay at home dad. For three days a week I'm also a community mental health nurse but you won’t find me blogging about that here. I’m married to Kerry and we have two children - Amy (6) and Evan (3). I keep chickens, grow veg, and take the occasional long walk. If you want to know how other's describe me then take a look here. If you haven't been here before feel free to say hello in the comments.

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18 Comments on “Where’s Wally the Chicken?”

#1 SingleParentDad
on Jul 16th, 2009 at 11:01 am

You butcher. Perhaps now, having seen you wield a sharp object they might start producing for fear of being put to use by other means.
SingleParentDad´s last blog ..Teacher’s Pet

Dan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
@SingleParentDad, if they haven’t noticed the disappearance of three of their flock under mysterious circumstances then I’m guessing the introduction of scissors is going to raise their suspicions.

#2 Erin
on Jul 16th, 2009 at 3:02 pm

I would be absolutely terrified to cut a chicken’s wings. It’s bad enough doing the dog’s nails, especially when he tries to jamb himself into far too small spaces to escape the trimming.
Erin´s last blog ..Unfit, or maybe just ill-fitting

Dan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
@Erin, the blood vessels are very far down a feather, so it’s easier than dogs toenails really.

#3 James (SeattleDad)
on Jul 16th, 2009 at 8:10 pm

That’s how it starts. Next will come the shoe boxes instead of the free range. Poor Chickens.

Oh, I’m just kidding. You know that right? …Right?
James (SeattleDad)´s last blog ..Weaners

Dan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
@James (SeattleDad), shoe boxes? Hmmm, you know I could probably improve my egg yield to space ratio doing that. Food to think on James, thanks.

#4 Jo Beaufoix
on Jul 16th, 2009 at 8:37 pm

Blimey you actually did quite a good job. I thought you were going to reveal chickens with mad feather barnets. ANd I was a little bit worried about seeing an exposed chicken. It sounded a but rude.
Jo Beaufoix´s last blog ..I drove a bus

Dan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
@Jo Beaufoix, on close inspection the wings do look a little odd, even when folded up. But still, I’m not planning on showing them any time soon anyhow.

#5 DCUrbanDad
on Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

Shhhhhh don’t tell PETA.
DCUrbanDad´s last blog ..I am no prude, BUT

Dan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
@DCUrbanDad, they have no jurisdiction over here anyhow. it’s the RSPCA you have to watch.

#6 Arjan
on Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:58 pm

that’s how it starts…..mutilating small animals..next thing you know you’re a fullblown serial killer. Hmm I’ll keep a knife under my pillow on the walk me thinks..
Arjan´s last blog ..Magnetized

Dan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
@Arjan, Actually I started out with the serial killings, and have downsized to animal mutilations. Sure, it’s not a satisfying, but it’s better hours and less stressful.

#7 Vanessa
on Jul 17th, 2009 at 12:01 am

Were they staging a coo(p)? Oh, God, I am so sorry about that joke. Really. I’m ashamed of myself :)
Vanessa´s last blog ..It’s okay to… have NO human interaction for a day

Dan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
@Vanessa, oh cluck oeuf

#8 Nat
on Jul 18th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Well who wants to be all cooped up anyway…

(I am findiing all this chicken talk wickedly amusing. )
Nat´s last blog ..BOLO …. blog?

Dan Reply:
July 19th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
@Nat, It’s no yoke nat. albumentioning this to Kerry when she comes home. Tese chicken gags aren’t all that they are cracked up to be.

#9 Dad Who Writes
on Jul 20th, 2009 at 7:00 pm

So are we actually carrying livestock with us on the walk? For like, emergencies and fresh eggs? (If they ever get the trick of laying any)
Dad Who Writes´s last blog ..Little goblin

Dan Reply:
July 20th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
@Dad Who Writes, I’m in the process of training the chickens to act as a sort of avian dog sled team.

Where’s Wally the Chicken?

18 Comments on “Where’s Wally the Chicken?”

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