Shooting Times & Country

By hook or by rook

My three newly acquired Welsummers pecked avidly at the sourdough crumbs I gently tossed into the coop. This was my third attempt at a sourdough and the third failure. Somehow, I just don’t have the knack. The chickens, however, are thrilled that I am a terrible baker and enjoyed the bread much more than their usual layers’ mash. I had been sold the hens on the promise that they were on the point of lay, but it had been a couple of weeks and there was still no sign of an egg.

To me, if a hen is not going to produce eggs, then it would be much better being put in a pie, alongside some leeks and creamy mushroom sauce. My girlfriend, though, has made it very clear to me that these are pets and not to

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