The New Neighbours

I was chatting with Magalie one day, the owner of the next door parcel of land. Their house is down below, but they've moved our new neighbours on to the land, namely 7 chickens and 3 ducks. I referred to the chickens as mes nouvelles voisines. Magalie corrected me...5 voisines et 2 voisins. My heart sank. Two cockerels next door meant certain vocalizing when least desired.

I didn't know how much I enjoyed chickens until some years ago at Le Couvent, when I wrangled the young hens back into their compound one evening after the wind blew their door down. The next year I was thrilled to go to market with Lizzie to pick out new chicks, especially when one was named Hoxton. So I'm not immune to the charms of a chicken. And you've gotta love the ducks. They come running when I toss baby snails over the fence.

But the rooster's another story. We're not yet living at the house, but whenever we're there, his crowing borders on Wagnerian. And Ali assures me he's an early riser.

Public Enemy No. 1. Here's his mugshot. Coq au vin, anyone?