The chickens were becoming quite a problem, as the fights that broke out between the cocks were vicious, and some times the loser, or in many cases both of them would walk around bleeding, as their spurs were oversized and dangerous.It was quite a blow to us that there were only the one hen between the Kuk-kuks, and she had to be kept behind locked doors to protect her from her randy clan!
The reds were a different clan altogether, not as vicious, and what made things in their camp better was the fact that there were quite a few hens between the lot. But as they also grew into adulthood, and the Kuk-kuks started realizing that there were hens amongst them, the black clouds of unrest started showing, as the Kuk-kuks would try to cut the hens off from the cocks, and as the reds were a wee bit slower of wit than the Kuk-kuks, it would take some time before they realized that their hens were being abused behind the outbuildings, and another fight would break out, in which there was usually a few serious casualties.
Jan had started building again as he wanted to buy some piglets from a friend, and I was very interested in also getting one.
In the end he got only one, as his building skills were not too good, and by the time he had finished the stye, Pierre had sold all the piglets but one. So I missed my chance for the moment, but maybe for the best, as I was still not financially secure enough to stop working in Scotland.
The Piglet arrived one morning early, and I don't think that he was at all impressed by his new home, as he put up a show that I think roused the sleeping Haarlem with a nasty bang! He was the cutest little thing with his pink snout and ears, and as he had to be still suckled a few times a day, the kids thought him their personal toy, but he would not have any of it, preferring one of the grown-ups to give him his milk.
 It was decided to name him Kevin Bacon, which sounded a bit macabre to me, but Jan explained that they thought it a suitable name, as it would remind them all the time that the pig was meant to become bacon in the future!