Frances 1 : Chickens 0

I am fed up with the chickens.

Every day I prepare Taktur’s special stallion food to make him big and strong and every day the chickens spy me and make a bee-line for it.  Obviously at over £15 a bag, I do not want the hens to eat Taktur’s lunch, so I keep them away usually by standing over Taktur with a dressage whip flicking hens out of his bucket.

BN2A9351

This is not an ideal method as it means I can’t do anything else and it could make Taktur head-shy or whip-shy, which I really do not want.

So, I worked out a cunning plan.

I lured the hens with a small amount of corn (makes a good noise on a concrete floor) into the big shed and shut the door.

BN2A9256

Thus leaving Taktur to get on with the business of eating his hard feed.

BN2A9260

He is a slow eater and not a pig at all, often walking away half way through.

BN2A9278

In fact, I think he gets quite bored of food.  It definitely is not his raison d’être, unlike some who live for it and are only happy when they are stuffing.

BN2A9299

Anyway, Taktur has to be fed every day but it just annoys me that the hens turn into circling opportunistic vultures, even nesting in his bowl if they can and he is too nice to say anything.

So, today Frances 1 : Chickens 0

BN2A9294

The others, btw, are not sitting starving while Taktur eats.  They have a bale which I am rationing.

BN2A9266

Some share beautifully while some don’t.

BN2A9272 BN2A9296

There are more heaps of silage out than there are mouths so everyone always gets a good feed.  It is amazing that three stallions can share nicely…..

BN2A9370

….. while one gelding can’t!

BN2A9288

 

3 thoughts on “Frances 1 : Chickens 0

  1. Mrs. Mac

    Oh, poor chickens. 😉 I do so love chickens, not that I’d raise them myself. 😆

    Why does Taktur need the special food? If you’ve blogged about it, I’ve forgotten. He sure is a pretty fella.

    Reply
    1. Frances Post author

      He gets feeding up because he is growing and in work. Hard work, training while being backed (I hate the word “broken”). So he needs more topline and muscle so he can work.

      Reply
  2. Crickett

    Some friends started saying “saddle training.” Why not? People say “harness training.” I hated “broken” when I was a kid, and hate it now.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Frances Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *