Farm talk - Goodbye Micky

A photograph of my pet hen, Micky, in my garden, taken with a Canon EOS 550D – Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa

It’s been a very sad weekend for me, my beautiful little Micky died of unknown causes. She wasn’t old, no injuries and hadn’t been ill. It’s a total mystery to me, but one possible explanation could be that she ate a frog. I’ve lost chickens before when they ate frogs, which they absolutely love, but the slimy-ness and toxicity of some frogs’ skins means certain death. I’ve fenced my pond with small wire so that they don’t get out and into the garden, but frogs have a magical way of appearing out of nowhere in search of a new water spot.

R.I.P little Micky, you are sorely missed.

Chi-Chi in the Leopard lilies

We’ve been having extremely hot weather and even my chooks have been gasping in the heat. My chickens have no problem with winter, but every summer you can find them listless in the shade, trying to cool off. Unfortunately chickens don’t bathe in water (they have sand baths) otherwise that would be a quick solution to cooling off! But they do find shady spots for a bath in the cool sand, leaving my garden looking like a volcanic eruption has taken place!

Here Chi-Chi, who unfortunately passed away a couple of months ago, takes a break amongst the Leopard lilies and ferns.