Imposter!

Hmm - pretty sure that's not a bird!
I know I should either stop feeding the birds or put down rat bait - but it's so cute!!!! We did have rats on the allotment, if you stood still at closing up time you could hear and then see them swarming onto the chicken plot from all sides and their beady eyes would glimmer in the dark! Eventually they got so laissez faire they would run around during the day, eating from the chicken feeder until you ran at them!! I did eventually get rid of them after regularly filling the rat bait box!

One of the allotmentors said their grandfather would tell how he would dig a deep pit, catch and throw in the rats and leave them. The sides would be too high and steep for them to get out and they would eat each other until only one King rat was left - this was then released to eat any rat in the vicinity as it now had a taste for its own kind!!! Rural myth?!

My rat has tried to get in the chicken coop 4 times by digging - but failed! My rat proofing obviously is a success! Have seen a chicken chase, catch and eat a rat - was rather like watching a snake eat a mouse but in quick motion! But think Milly and Tilly are too small to manage such a big rat! They look larger than they are due to all their feathers! Tilly definitely not looking very big as she is only now growing out her new feathers!

However talking of snakes, Amelia my cornsnake is about to shed her skin! She is a very dark brown and has sworn off mice whilst she prepares to shed! Only caught her twice actually shedding her skin - maybe a blip this time if I'm lucky! Would be great to get her in her shiny new skin eating her celebration mouse!!!! She is now taller than me if she is held tail to head against me - and I am just over 5 ft!!!!

Damn just burnt my chips writing this! Another lot put in oven! Need fuel as it's Jelly Jazz in the village Hall tonight! More dancing!