As with humans so with animals and here, at The Gables, it’s the birds that mirror the bullying of the weak and the different.  Baby duck used to be pecked but now lives peacefully with all the ducks but he is always the last one into the house at night and the last one out in the morning.

He always seems to be on the fringes of the flock and often alone.  So it is with the Bantie Maran that I tried to integrate with the other Banties.  After a day or two of pecking we put her into the polytunnel and Orchard with the other birds.  She rarely leaves the polytunnel preferring to eat when the others are outside.  I have begun to give her corn inside whilst the others peck theirs outdoors.  At least she gets her share untroubled by the older birds.