Farmer Jae

I thought I heard clucking.

I did. I did hear clucking and it was close.

I peered out the window.

I couldn’t see them but I knew that they were near by.

I went outside and sure enough, there they were, hiding under the caravan near the beans.

Then, as quick as a flash, out popped a hen.

It was Red the oldest surviving chook on the farm. She scuttled out from the dark safety beneath the caravan. Over to the fence,  towards the leafy haven of the bean patch.

I had a win this year with that bean patch. The vines were lush and leafy, covered in little flowers and plenty of pods. The oldest pods were almost ready for the picking. We had planned a big bean and lamb roast in honour of the harvest.

I wondered what Red was going to do. I didn’t like her being so close to my prized beans. I didn’t mind her scratching away at the base, but she could accidentally snap one of the vines.

When she reached the beans she stopped.

Red has a quick look round, eyeballing all the beans and then, UP she jumps and a big fat juicy bean is plucked off the vine.

With her prize secured in the beak she dashes back, under the caravan to eat the bean.

Cheeky chook

But as soon as she returns it’s all on!

Suddenly all the other hens come charging out from under the caravan, hoping to score their own prize bean.

I was gob smacked by the bean eating frenzy happening in front of my eyes.

I grabbed a large stick and promptly made my way towards the patch to defend what was left of my Sunday lunch.

Suddenly the rooster calls out.

Damn - he’s seen me.

All the hens stop.

They cock their heads in unison and I find 12 pair of yellow eyes all focused on me.

So I did what anyone else would do.

I said “BOO”

In a cloud of clucks and feathers they all scuttled back to the coop to hide. Leaving me standing next to the remnants of my bean vines.

Cheeky chickens