Time for Vince to put the girls to bed
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340256)
Rockingham, Australia
January 9, 2023 1:57am CST
We have seven chooks (chickens) to look after at this house-sit. We let them out of their big yard at about 10am by which time they have finished laying their eggs. They have a water-trough which fills automatically and a self-feeder which we top up with wheat every few days.
When we let them out they make their way over to the orchard area and spend their day fossicking round the edge of the garden or under the trees. They can’t get over the fence into the garden itself. At about 6pm, Vince goes out, and he and the chooks head back to their yard and they are shut in for the night to keep them safe from foxes.
Vince talks to the chooks and believes he is quite conversant in ‘chookese’. Certainly they make little chicken sounds back to him. In the photo, there are six hens. The 7th came running up just after I took the photo.
24 people like this
27 responses
@maggiesunjuan (554)
• China
9 Jan 23
Obviously the chookese, I used to speak it when I lived in countryside as a little girl and my mother raised some chickens, I accquinted some typical chookese like "come to eat""go away" 
8 people like this
@LadyDuck (471468)
• Switzerland
9 Jan 23
@JudyEv Hens are smarter than we think. I have a good friend who is a vet. She told me that a woman brought her hen for a check up. The woman told to the hen to jump on the table and keep quiet because the vet had to look at her and the hen did what she asked.
5 people like this
@maggiesunjuan (554)
• China
9 Jan 23
I like reading your posts with the strong features of countryside..
I recall those days when I was in the countryside as a little girl when my mother raised some chickens, from hatching them out and raise them up as old chickens. I have a strong bond to them, loved them much, when one of the hen was to be killed I hugged it all the way to my uncle's and shed tears. I loved them so much. Thank you for reminding me the beautiful days in my memory.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
9 Jan 23
Uhm... you haven't been locking Vince in with them at night and that's how he's become so conversant in chookese, have you? 
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (178869)
• United States
9 Jan 23
That picture is ADORABLE! I'm nuts about animals; so I can see myself talking to the chickens.
4 people like this
@Beestring (14564)
• Hong Kong
9 Jan 23
That's amazing! I believe you and Vince can speak many languages.
4 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47343)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
9 Jan 23
I wondered what happened to number seven. Fossicking? I know what it means but I betcha others don't.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340256)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 23
@Treborika Fossick means to rummage or search around. It was often used in the gold rush days about men 'fossicking for gold'.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136590)
• India
10 Jan 23
Those little sounds they make in response could have a meaning - perhaps asking Vince how his day was
3 people like this
@allknowing (136590)
• India
10 Jan 23
@JudyEv "Don't forget to top up our self feeder" (lol)
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340256)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 23
@allknowing And maybe 'I've laid my egg!'
2 people like this
@nicegolden (284)
• Shenzhen, China
9 Jan 23
wonder how you got the job,seemingly you house-sit from time to time
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340256)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 23
@nicegolden We have had some nice times.
2 people like this
@nicegolden (284)
• Shenzhen, China
10 Jan 23
@JudyEv kind of you.that's indeed a pleasant experience
3 people like this
@FourWalls (68120)
• United States
9 Jan 23
Vince, “the hen whisperer.”
He’s like the Platters, he’s got the magic touch!!
He’s like the Platters, he’s got the magic touch!!2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106425)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Jan 23
@JudyEv Some breeds are very friendly
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (79929)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Jan 23
Glad they listen to Vince and these lovely ladies let him shut them in,
3 people like this
@Treborika (17697)
• Mombasa, Kenya
10 Jan 23
I hope Vince enjoys taking care of the chickens so much
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340256)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 23
@Treborika Do you hatch out eggs so you get more?
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17697)
• Mombasa, Kenya
10 Jan 23
@JudyEv I too like chicken rearing and I have like ten of them for now. It's that I sold some to my neighbours for the Christmas celebrations.
1 person likes this
