Bon weekend from a mad chicken lady in France!

Bonjour,

I hope that you and yours are well.

Autumn is officially here, blue skies and cooler days, nights drawing in earlier, hot chocolate, visiting museums, walking through crunchy leaves, colourful trees, wood fires, and shutters closed in the early evening. And chez moi, a busy time in the garden harvesting vegetables and fruit and giving the chickens a feast from the leftovers.

I’ve been trying to curb my chicken obsession. It began when I first came to France. Leaving behind city life, a small house in the suburbs and a job in a bank, my new life was a total contrast. Me and my husband Mark planned to travel around France on our motorbike. But, an unwanted 6-month-old puppy about to be euthanized, came our way. He was soon followed by another unwanted dog, several stray cats, another rescue dog. We sold the bike and cancelled the travel plans.

Then came chickens – a gift from former colleagues, followed by ducks and geese – all pets, not for the pot. This week we have more chooks – four feral fowl have joined the gang.

We’d seen stray chickens for weeks on our walks in the forest, keeping our four dogs on leashes to make sure they didn’t chase after them. At first there were 11 chicks with their parents. They scuppered around the undergrowth and often came into our garden. Over time there were less and less of them. This week just four were left, the others probably the victims of foxes, pole cats and buzzards. I knew they wouldn’t make it through winter but they’re Road Runner fast, impossible to catch in a field of stinging nettles and cow pats. So, when I saw them munching on my vegetables, I hatched a plan. We tempted them into the chicken pen with sweetcorn and lettuce, and have popped them in a big cage separate from the rest of the chickens until we know that they’re healthy, and able to hold their own with bossy team leaders Kim Kardachicken and Joan Crawford!

Things don’t always work out as we planned here in the middle of nowhere rural France, but life is never dull!

I’m off to Nice and Antibes in a few days time – join me on Instagram where I’ll share my journey – now, if only I could share the food and wine too!

Bisous from a mad chicken lady in France,
Janine
Editor

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