Mike : May I please a big thank you to all those who replied regarding my problem with Desmond, the HUGE Blue Cochin rooster. Unfortunately 2 weeks ago he caused me quite a bad injury as I was putting finishing touches to a new enclosure for the Muscovey ducks. My friend had been helping me and there were no problems, did not even see the rooster. My friend went off down to the local village and I kept on. Suddenly I was hit very hard in the back of the knees (I was wearing shorts, not a pretty sight), as I turned around the rooster was in mid-air coming at me again and gouged me in the side of the thigh. I suffer from acute osteoarthritis in lower body joints and hips and am not nimble anymore. I tried to reach for my walking stick so I could try and back away but slipped and fell and then he came at me attacking my head - it was so horrible. I live in a remote part of west Cork, up a mountain and there are no passers-by at all, but by some stroke of luck the postman came early and even though I was probably 100 yards away around the back he heard me calling and came to my rescue. Luckily Derry is also a farmer/breeder and is a big man. He got me back into the house and patched up the stab marks and suggested I go to hospital which I did when my friend came back and took me. Patched up and with a couple of stitches to the back of my knees, various jabs for infection, I decided that enough was enough. I could not have this worry hanging over me each time I wanted to go out and tend to the various birds, so I did a deal with the man who was supplying the Muscovy's and I know he will be looked after well - in fact Gerard said he would probably sell him on to a man he knows who would show him at poultry events because he was in magnificent condition.

So now I have 4 Muscovy's and am enjoying life again, spending time out with all the birds without fear of a ninja attack! I have set up a large paddling pool, 16" deep and 6' diameter and the geese love it as their natural stream behind their house dries out in the summer (it is fed by mountain water). The Muscovy's are in their enclosure but are already settled and watching everything with interest, so I will let them loose in another 2 weeks, the hens - all various large breeds are happy and laying well again, the 3 cats are happily mixing with the birds and all is well! Best wishes, Mike, Republic of Ireland

Barb : Love your newsletter and this is my first time writing. I have to agree with everyone who writes in saying chickens are habit forming. We just added two Golden Laced Wyandottes, 2 Cuckoo Marans and 2 Wellsummers to our original flock of 8 barn yard crosses. It's going to be a very colorful egg basket when they all start laying as our original hens must have some Easter egger blood. We currently get light green, pale brown (almost pinkish) and medium brown eggs.