Well as you can see Boris is still flat out, and no-one has stepped in to post the blog, so I thought it was time I spoke up for my breed and my hens. I am the Buff Orpington Cockerel and I have a small flock of beautiful golden hens down in the Perry Orchard. Now we like to keep ourselves to ourselves and certainly are not ones to push ourselves forward, but having read some of the, frankly unfair and possible even libellous, comments posted I feel it is time to give our side of the story.
Our breed dates back to 1890, developed by a Mr William Cook who lived in - surprise surpirse - Orpington in Kent. Each year we have a group of children from Orpington working on the farm and I've never heard them show much surprise at our name - I've never been there but maybe the streets are paved with golden chickens.... Our heritage is as a dual purpose bird, for egg laying and the table, but sadly not all breeders are as rigorous as Mr Cook. However my girls do their bit, they choose the season when the eggs are most likely to be hatched and reared and put their all into laying beautiful, pinkish brown eggs. I was brought up to believe that we are just caretakers of our genetic heritage, our job is to look after it as best we can can and pass it safely on to the next generation.
I don't want to lower myself to name calling and petty comparisons, but those Columbian Blacktails everyone is so fond of have only been around for the past 15 - 20 years, developed by a supermarket! I think that says it all. And when these large corporations set out to breed their new superchickens where do they go for the genetic material? The traditional breeds of course!
As I said I'm not one to crow about our qualities but when you are introduced to Royalty, who let's face it could choose any chickens in the World, and find yours is the breed of choice - well that says it all really.
The other day we were lucky enough to be given a new house, the last one had a very small pophole meaning that going in and out was a rather undignified affair, especially for me with my tall upright stature. We now have a lovely sliding door and a very gentle ramp, making life much easier. Our old house has been taken round to the Home Orchard where a whole new flock has been installed, and yes you've guessed it, they're more Blacktails!
There has been much activity round in that orchard recently, fortunately the snow cleared in time for the annual Wassail Ceremony led by the Lassington Oak Morris.
Hundreds of people turned out to toast the tree, enjoy delicious homemade food and mulled cider.
This year we had an extra surprise - the Mummers came and performed their unique play in the Courtyard.
The music carried on into the night, but by now everyone had gone back into the warm.
The new Blacktails have certainly made themselves at home in the orchard, there's always plenty going on, no doubt they'll think they know enough to write the next blog before we know where we are.
We have taken delivery of some new fruit trees, all local Gloucestershire varieties and all eaters - delicious!
A team from a London school helped with the planting, all that digging certainly helped keep them warm.
Most days we have a chat with George, the sole surviving turkey after the festive season, apparently he's hoping for a wife - or two.
Valentine's Day has passed and Lucy failed to start laying, Hissing Sid is getting more and more protective so it can't be long now.
And of course on February 14th Valentine celebrated her second birthday in her favourite way - eating and sleeping. Not long before she has her next litter....
And finally, some signs of spring, and with that I must get back to my girls, it's that time of year when they definitely need a man about the place.
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