Saturday 22 January 2011

Chicken Nesbitt Comes To Stay

Photos Copyright: Maggie May

It all began with a comment that I left on Mrs Nesbitt's Space. I can't even remember exactly what it was, except to say that I enjoyed going over to her place because I live in the city and I haven't room for hens.
In other words, it is good to be able to get in touch with rural life.

Well, next thing I knew, I received a letter from a chicken! Can you imagine the surprise I got, to receive a letter from a chicken!
She had invited herself to stay and was packing her case. The cheeky thing.
After a few days, I was rudely awakened by the postman who apologised for getting me up (because he could see that I was still in my dressing gown.) Silly man, didn't he realise that I had been up for a while because I had rabbits to feed? My granddaughters were here too and were able to join in all the excitement. The parcel was huge and I had thought that Chicken Nesbitt was going to be very small. However, it turned out that she was almost as large as my dwarf rabbits.

She seemed very hungry when she got here after all that travelling and I thought I would give her access to the rabbit hay in their run.
The shock of this sent Lily running for cover in her card board box and you can see her white nose and fur sticking out of the doorway. Both rabbits were a bit unsure of Chicken Nesbitt.


Chicken Nesbitt scared my rabbits. You could say that both rabbits went a bit chicken (Sorry about that.)




It didn't take long for Ash to start to make friends and he gave Chicken N a kiss. Now it was her turn to feel uneasy.


A few moments later, Lily came over to investigate too and Chicken Nesbitt started to cry. I think she realised that she was in definite danger of being eaten.
So being the kind person that I am, I quickly removed the chicken from harm and she felt so much safer looking at the rabbits from the other side of the bars.


All three animals now came and fed together and there was a much happier atmosphere.


However, Chicken N was still a bit frightened of her nose being nibbled, so she climbed up onto the window ledge that looked out onto the garden. She liked that and she is also able to look down onto the rabbits and laugh because they can't get to her through the netting at the top of their run and she is nice and warm and dry and can steal the rabbit food when they aren't looking.
I might add that my husband is very concerned because Mrs Nesbitt sent me a book on keeping chickens! Isn't this sort of how the rabbit ownership got started? An impulsive thing that came out of the blue? Yes, he is very worried.
I am going to read it but.........

Anyway, thank you very much Mrs Nesbitt for sending your chicken. She is happy here and doesn't want to come home. Hope you don't mind.







30 comments:

mrsnesbitt said...

It's wonderful to know she arrived safe and sound. Being the good mother I am I knew it was time for her to spread her wings and have some independence. She fancied life in a city and now she has found a new home she will be in her element! Great stuff!

CorvusCorax12 said...

i love it

Laura said...

What a cute post! Thank you for the morning smile. Wishing you a wonderful day from Our Scented Cottage.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Maggie, a very happy new year to you. I truly hope that this is a really great one for you and that you continue with good health. I loved your story, quite a giggle! I read down a few posts to catch up with you. Re the weight loss thing – I know where you are coming from. It doesn’t matter how much you have to lose it’s the getting stated that’s the hard part. But the walking – just perfect if you can fit it in because it has made me so much healthier today. I never believed that I would lose that six stones over last year but gone it has largely in part to brisk walks along with my diet. Your body no doubt had a lot to cope with and no wonder it craved things to stave off the beating it was taking. I wish you well with this and even half a stone loss is such a great thing to spur you on – get those boots on! X

Unknown said...

This was adorable : ) I am, of course, especially impressed by the writing skills of Chicken N ;)

Rosaria Williams said...

How enchanting! Will she be safe with the rabbits-by the way they are a good size already- or will they begin to peck at her the minute they get bored?

Irene said...

That's hilarious, Maggie. You sure put a grin on my face. I can just see you get chickens now so that you will have fresh eggs in the morning. You'll turn into a regular farmer. How sweet to see Ash and Lily and their reaction to the chicken. It's a good thing you put it on the windowsill. It will have a better life there.

XOX

Anonymous said...

What a delightful visitor!

Suburbia said...

Lovely story Maggie!

Sally Wessely said...

Mrsnesbitt has a wonderful sense of fun and sharing, and so do you. I loved this.

Celia said...

My best to Chicken Nesbitt, such a talented writer!

Ayak said...

Lovely story Maggie....and Ash and Lily are looking really good xx

Jinksy said...

Cluck, cluck, cluck! LOL!

Lisa said...

I love your garden Maggie. Do you sit in it and read a book? Enjoying your rabbits and now your new friend in the window. It looks so cozy.

Chicken Nesbitt scared my rabbits, both rabbits went chicken; you are as funny as your brother.

Happy Sunday Maggie.

Mimi said...

Oh Maggie, what a brilliant account! Ash giving Chicken nesbitt a kiss is just priceless!

Do you know how old this chicken is? You know, if it's a teenager you better be careful to give it a strict curfew, and not allow it to set bad example to those little toddlers, Ash and Lily!!

What About The Girl? said...

That has got to be one of the sweetest letters I've ever read!

Chicken Nesbitt and Ash and Lily - oh what a lovely "family" :-)

secret agent woman said...

Oh, that is very cute!

SandyCarlson said...

I love that. Be brave, little rabbits!

Mickle in NZ said...

What a lovely tale, dear Maggie. You brought a big smile to my face on a cold and wet Sunday.

Yes, despite it being summer today felt more like winter and I even have a heater on - much to Zebby's joy!

Nessa said...

Aw, how cute. What a sweet gift and now you have the making of a menagerie.

Rose said...

What a fun post, Maggie! This reminds me of the Country Mouse visiting the City Mouse. As long as she has a view of your garden, I don't think she'll get homesick:)

Anonymous said...

Mrs Chicken is lovely. Perhaps I should send you some free range eggs to go with her....!

CJ xx

Dimple said...

Wonderful story, Maggie, and so well illustrated! I'm glad Chicken Nesbitt is happy in her new home!
(And don't tell your husband, but chickens are small enough to become city dwellers... ;>)

cheshire wife said...

You have got a polite postman. Mine never apologises when I answer the door in my dressing gown.

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

How wonderful. Is CN there to stay or is it a just a holiday. A x

Akelamalu said...

How cute!

Maybe you could get an allotment - you could keep chickens there! ;)

Hilary said...

Now that's just adorable. I love how you introduced those darling interactions between the rabbits and the chicken. Too cute.

Jackie said...

Dear Maggie....I couldn't WAIT to read this. The title hooked me....and when I read "I received a letter from a chicken.." you know I couldn't wait to read this blog... :))) and what a great read it was. (I especially smiled at the end when I read that your husband is concerned now about possible 'chicken ownership' Priceless...absolutely priceless! He is such a good sport, isn't he?
The first thing I did (before reading the blog....was to scroll down and look for Ash and Lily. :)) Yep...I found those babies....sweet sweet babies..and all was well with the world...and I came back to the top of the blog and read your story about Chicken Nesbitt. What fun that your grands were able to join in the excitement!
I suppose you are now ready for the deluge of chickens that you will likely be receiving... ???
:)))
Love to you, my dear Maggie.
Jackie

Brian Miller said...

ha. way cute...glad they could all be friends...smiles.

CiCi said...

Great fun reading of the chicken adventures. Traveling to be with you and being interviewed by the rabbits and finding a niche in the home. Whew.