Wednesday 16 February 2011: A drookit chook

One of five Black Rock hens we keep in the garden for our egg supply. If the truth be told I'm not sure what this one is called, but they do all have names. All was peace and harmony until shortly after August last year when a divide appeared and two groups were formed. The group of three (of which this is one) is peaceful and happy but the breakaway group of two are downright unpleasant and torment, harass and henpeck the others. The henpeck part is key I suppose and that's what they do to assert domination, but when you see one get pecked so badly that there is a bald and bleeding patch on the back it's not nice to see. Our answer - and it probably isn't the correct one - is to separate them, so the groups get let out on alternate days to roam the garden looking for bugs, slugs and all things tasty. Spring is approaching because they have started laying eggs again - they generally stop in the winter you see. This one is now almost 2 years and all being well will live to 7 years. Your typical battery bird will live to 13 weeks.

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II:
• f/4.5:
• 1/125":
• 48mm:
• ISO 800

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