Animals

Behind the scullery, there was the feared ferret hutch. Every visiting child was told not to put their fingers in here, and of course everyone did, and everyone was bitten by the ferret that my father used for rabbiting. Pet rabbits were also kept.

The chickens served the dual purpose of eggs and meat although more became a pet and only met their end days before they would have died anyway. More of a mercy killing. Disposal of the corpse was either in the rayburn or over the hedge for Mr Fox to find. There was a main deep litter shed and a smaller chicken shed raised off the ground. All was surrounded by a mesh wire fence. To the right stood a wood shed which was stocked with plenty of cut logs. Being adjacent to the chicken run with plenty of food it also encouraged rats and there seemed to be an annual ratting day when the remaining logs were removed in the presence of the family terrier ( Tiny, then Spot ) who took great delight in grabbing and shaking each emerging rat. Death was quite quick although a few escaped or were thrown out of the shed to breed the next generation. What was known as the 'Tool' shed ( tools, guns, fishing gear ) and the bicycle shed ( bicycles / motor bikes ) also became rat / mouse infested at times which was more the responsibility of the various cats in residence.