(no subject)

[is_the_motion]

When Bonnie approaches the bar, she leaves a quick note for the Barmen.

Dear Mike or Sallie,
I would like to teach some of the younger patrons of Milliways (as part of the MilliScouts) how to rear chickens. I'm planning to put them in a spare stall of the stables for a couple weeks, but once they're big enough would it be okay to build a small outside run please?
At the end of the exercise if the kids don't want to keep their chickens, I'll take them back home.
Thanks
Bonnie Murdock

With that left, she goes to look in the stables for a suitable place to put the chicks once they hatch at home.

Comments

[herr_bookman]

Autor spots her walking there and drops off his carpet. "Hello, Bonnie. What are you up to?"

[is_the_motion]

"Hey Autor." Bonnie looks around. "Harlie stole her nest when the bikers came to help tidy my yard, and now Norton's gone broody."

[herr_bookman]

"Harlie? Norton?" Autor asks, tilting his head. She mentioned nests, so he's assuming they're not human. "Who are they?"

[is_the_motion]

"My chickens." Bonnie says. "Chicks are due in a week and a bit."

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, goodness, I didn't know you raised chickens!" Autor says, smiling a little. "Are you looking for a place here for them?"

[is_the_motion]

"I sort of rescued them." Bonnie says. "They were bein' kept in tiny cages. But since the opportunity arose I thought perhaps the kids would enjoy learnin' how to rear them."

[herr_bookman]

"Oh, for Scouts? That's a brilliant idea," Autor says, and then he turns a bit sheepish. "I, um, I'm allergic to birds? So I'd like to help with this somehow, but I probably shouldn't come into contact with them. I bet they're adorable, though."

[is_the_motion]

"Oh that's a shame. Maybe you could help me build the outdoor coop?"

[herr_bookman]

"Sure, that could work," Autor says cheerfully. His boots squelch in the mud. "What else do you need for them besides a coop?"

[is_the_motion]

"Maybe someone to organise the kids into a rota?"

[herr_bookman]

"I could do that," Autor says, and thinks, provided they listen to me. He may end up cleaning the coop occasionally if no one wants to do it. "How often do they need to be fed? How often does the coop need cleaned?"

[is_the_motion]

"Fed at least twice a day, cleaned once a week." Bonnie says.

[herr_bookman]

"I could set a rota for that," Autor says, thinking on it, "provided we have some people interested. Do they need special food, or is birdseed acceptable?"

[not_his_pa]

William's in the stables putting down clean and dry hay and feeding the horses. When Bonnie comes in, he waves to her as he's down at the other end of the stables.

[is_the_motion]

"Hi, William." Bonnie wanders over. "Can I borrow one of the stables fer a couple weeks please?"

[not_his_pa]

"How much space do you need?"

[is_the_motion]

"About sixteen square foot." Bonnie says. "Fer some chicks I want the Scouts to be able ter help rear. I cain't keep 'em outside until they're a bit bigger, it's too cold here."

[not_his_pa]

"There's a free stall over here. That should give 'em enough space, but you might want a heater for them. Its warm in here but not as warm as inside."

[is_the_motion]

Bonnie nods.

"Thanks, I'll get one set up. So long as there's enough kids that want to help take care of 'em. They'd need feedin' at least twice a day, and it'd be a project of a couple months, so I figure we'd need at least four kids who are around regularly."

[not_his_pa]

"I'll keep an eye on 'em anyway with my work and with makin' sure whatever kind of stove you bring in doesn't put the stables in any danger."

[is_the_motion]

"I was gonna use one of these." Bonnie pulls out a lamp picture from a catalogue. "Would that be okay? I can do my own wiring."

[not_his_pa]

"I guess. I've never seen one before, don't know how much danger it'll bring."

[is_the_motion]

"I'm a qualified electrician, I'll make sure it's safe." Bonnie says. "These future ones got special vents fer keepin' the lamp socket from overheatin'. If yer worried though, I can wire you up a smoke detector to cut the power and deploy sprinklers if anything smoulders."

[not_his_pa]

"No, it sounds like it should be fine long as you trust it," He's seen one barn burn, he doesn't want to see another but he trusts Bonnie.

[is_the_motion]

"I trust my wirin'." Bonnie says. "But if you're able to poke yer head in there once in a while to check on the chicks it'd be much appreciated, thanks."