Flying the Coop (41 page)
Authors: Ilsa Evans
I have to admit to possessing a profound ignorance regarding poultry when I first started writing this book. In fact, the only time I'd ever given the poultry issue much thought was once, when about eight months pregnant myself, I rather enviously contemplated the admirable practicality of being able to expel an egg and then just squat on it every now and again as the mood suits. You could even share sitting duties by making a roster, or hire a professional egg-sitter, or even slip your egg underneath someone else's butt while they weren't looking. Human gestation, in comparison, seemed rather cumbersome and unnecessarily restrictive â especially on the female of the species. And that pithy piece of poultry philosophy was the extent of my thinking on the subject â apart from a certain sanctimonious smugness whenever I bought free-range rather than caged eggs at the supermarket. However, this has all changed. I am now the proud possessor of a fount of poultry knowledge and this is primarily due to the following people:
⢠| Jane Gangell, who was generous enough to arrange my visit to Stawell and accommodate me (and children) at her beautiful farm. And then, for several months afterwards, |
⢠| Neil and Christine Johnston, who kindly allowed me to wander around their free-range chook farm with my tape recorder and ask all sorts of stupid questions. Your generous hospitality (and that delicious piece of silverside) was not just appreciated, but thoroughly enjoyed. |
Thanks also have to go to Caitlin Meadows and Zoe Lance, who accompanied me on the Stawell trip and didn't even laugh too much when I tripped over my handbag in McDonald's and threw that tray of happy meals (complete with drinks) all over the elderly couple at the neighbouring table. Which proved, once and for all, that happy meals can be a contradiction in terms. And thanks also to Melissa Meadows, who kept Jaime entertained while I was away, to Charlotte Evans for her unfailing support, and to Patricia Woodroffe, who came up with the title for this book. A huge thanks as well to my editors, Cate Paterson and Millie Shilland, to my new publicist, Jane Novak, and my new agent, Rachel Skinner. The journey of each of these books from vague embryonic idea to glossily printed fruition wouldn't be the same without you. Last of all I'd like to thank everybody out there who buys free-range or barn-laid eggs rather than the (cheaper) caged egg variety, thus making a small but important contribution to the eventual death knell of the caged hen industry.