A stylish coop that would make any hen proud.
Our friend Sara playing the pied piper to her flock of chickens.
A typical variety of home-flock chickens.
Watering systems vary from home to home.
You are correct. There is a goat in the picture.
Guess that every third home in the valley keeps a flock of chickens and you would be close. If you were to take a casual drive around they might seem even more common, darting across the road for reasons of their own or scratching in front yards.
In addition to chickens you will see guinea fowl, ducks, turkeys (wild and domestic), geese, and the occasional peafowl.
A typical set-up for those who still fight cocks for sport.
A neat and well organized chicken run.
Our Speckled Sussex rooster.
Some flocks are composed, as ours is, of only one breed. But most are varied collections, freely allowed to breed and mix at will. The vast majority raise the birds to supply household eggs. A few have signs on the road indicating eggs for sale, with a standard price of $2-3 on average.
Many raise chickens for the table and the pot. A few, like Heidi over the hill, offer sanctuary to the birds for their natural lives or until a fox intervenes.
And there are some dozens of homes South of the River with the tell-tale pitched roof housing fighting cocks in the front yard or out back.
One of our hens setting on a clutch of eggs.
But there are no commercial egg or broiler operations in this region of self-sufficiency.
The birds are housed in traditional coops, makeshift pens or no enclosure at all. But most are let out for the day to peck and live as their ancestors have done for thousands of years. A true partner in the lives of our species.
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Reading this weekend: a fascinating work on sustainable agriculture, dealing with depleted soils and combating poor farming practices that threaten the stability of the country and the government. Of course I’m speaking of the 2000 year-old, 12 volume study of Roman agriculture by Columella.
Will this go up at Resilience? If so, I’m guessing the cock fighting might draw some attention there. It caught my eye. I realize a free range flock with multiple males is going to have some fighting (shoot, even the hens will spar). But keeping birds for organized spectator fights is riskier than making moonshine isn’t it?
Not sure if the editors will put it up on Resilience. They tend to favor the essay pieces. Should I hasten to point out that the picture of fighting cocks does not mean that I condone? I often get into a discussion with the odd opinionated individual about one or another book in my library. Pointing out the mere presence of a Bible, the Koran, or an atheistic text does not mean I’m a Christian, Muslim or Atheist.
Understand absolutely. Indeed I think the better rounded among us have been exposed to and can offer at least a passing familiarity with ideas such as those you’ve listed.
Ideas can be dangerous things in the wrong hands, but this shouldn’t lead to book burning or other very drastic forms of censorship. Better that we help the odd opinionated individual gain some perspective and offer for consideration the ideas we espouse. Then create the space to let folk make up their own minds. The Inquisition’s approach to community building needs to remain a historical lesson of how not to build community.
I’m still curious, which would you think might attract more attention from law enforcement south of the river – someone making shine behind the barn, or a group staging a cock fight for kicks and grins?
Clem,
I’m sorry that this comment slipped by me. An interesting question and not one that has a short answer. And you know I like brevity.The short answer is neither, provided you don’t advertise your actions. Simply having the roosters staked in the yard is not an advertisement. The truth of the matter is that the law are seldom seen in the SOR. And that, my friend, is a long story best told over a glass of whiskey and a fire.
Cheers,
Brian
Oh, forgot to inquire… is your 12 volume set by Columella a first edition signed by the author? And what was his take on cock fighting?
Ha! I forgot to mention it is on a scroll.
Excellent… you are the man!