A Bird's Eye View

Chapter 1

The Beaks And The Bills

As spring reaches us at last, Gamrie Gardens also opens up with its dedication to the land, and the possibilities that come with it. A place that will exist for all souls and the quest to make a difference.

The allotments are bordered by more family land, and the life of chickens and ducks, who are our family pets that roam free in their own little paradise.

So we would like to introduce you to a few of the birds that live on the land.

Above pictured: Dr. Waddle, Snowy, Nutmeg, Micheal Angelo, Sid, Nancy, Jemima & Mad Mildred.

Despite having two cockerels and four drakes, Gamrie Gardens is definitely a Queendom. The ducks follow the lead of Nutmeg, a Khaki Campbell-Saxony, the first born of five ducks raised by the family. Nutmeg decides the daily routine of a tight knit group of now eleven in total. Whether that is foraging the length and breadth of the garden or ducking and diving in the pond. Right now, her feathers are changing. Underneath her bill is a rich chocolate brown. Her head and back are silver and grey, but Khaki feathers (her mother, Audrey was a Khaki Campbell) are beginning to appear. Nutmeg will happily eat out of your hand with Jemima (sister), and Sid (brother). Nutmeg is never aggressive and joyfully leads her band of quackers.

The two dominant hens are different to Nutmeg in leadership style and constantly up to something! Mildred (an Australorp also known as Mad Mildred), has been here for nearly three years. In that time she has hidden under construction, gone bald and recovered beautifully, escaped over 6 foot walls S.A.S. style, in search of ex-boyfriend Hamish. Sadly, he passed away, dramatically dropping dead on top of her, nearly squashing her to death. She also lived with five ducklings due to fighting other hens, but was less Mary Poppins, more Cruella de Ville.

During this time, Diddle (Brahma), was Mildred's arch enemy. The sight of each led to clucker-fights. Diddle is much bigger than Mildred, but neither ever backing down until humans intervened. Diddle arrived here in the summer of 2021, with two young

Cockerels. Eagle (Brahma), and little Dino (Favorelle).

Above pictured: Eagle

Diddle got her name because she was the middle chicken (middle for diddle). All three were only a few months old. Diddle is now a beautiful blue-grey, with a wonderful bussle of feathers at the back. She is mother to Thistle (by Dino), but she is more pecker than mumsy and will peck any bird, duck or chicken, that takes food from under her beak. Diddle has torn many a poor mouse apart and woe betide any insect or flutterby within her reach. She is happy to eat out of your hand but is always capable of a warning peck, when feeling unsociable.

Until late last year, Mildred and Diddle were heading for a youth justice centre. Then Hamish died, and during a Mildred escape to Diddle-land, they did not fight. In fact they joined forces to the point they slept together. They make a dangerous team, Diddle's brute force and Mildred's unmatched intelligence and street cred, means all chickens, and sometimes the ducks, roll to the tune of the Queens of the garden.

The free range of Gamrie Gardens (outside times of bio security due to bird flu) leads to many funny encounters and moments of bliss as our bird friends entertain with their quirky ways. Drop by the website soon to get to know more of our Cluckers and Duckers of Gamrie Gardens.

In friendship, Above pictured: Jemima, Dr. Waddle, Michal Angelo, Nancy, Nutmeg.

The Family.