Chomp Moved House

Chomp has moved house! A big thank you to all the guys (on the photo below) who built this great new cage in our back yard. The "interior decorating" was done by my gardener Jioma (pictured far right), who sourced some tree logs and planted them around the cage to give Chomp ample opportunity to spread his wings and get some exercise.

I now divide his food into small portions which I then put in different places around the cage to encourage him to move around to find his food himself. I also place a shallow container with water inside the cage and this morning we found him taking a bath in it. I'm so proud of him - he's recovered so well. Hopefully it won't be long now before we can release him back into the wild.

Shiinda Green Market

Today was the grand opening of the Shiinda Green Market organised by the Shiinda Farmers Marketing Cooperative (and supported by Lumwana Mining Company). The aim is to make this a monthly event where local fresh produce, garden plants, baskets, kitchen utensils, arts and crafts, etc can be purchased. I came home with some pineapples, sweet potatoes, wooden spoons, a knife, two grass mats and a fern. Well done to everyone involved in this initiative. We are looking forward to seeing many more interesting items for sale. Here I am with Loveness Kanchinyi who speaks impeccable English and was very helpful in explaining some of the weird veggies and stuff that our Muzungus know nothing about.

Where are the Boys?

We now have a total of 3 kids in school. Unfortunately for them, they are all girls! Where are the boys? Here Sophie, Emma and Amy are showing off their paper mache bowls they made this week - very useful as hats it seems. Well done girls!

Chomp - Another Update

Last night was the big night. Chomp's strapping was removed to assess the wing and I'm happy to report that it has healed satisfactorily and that no more strapping is required. This means that we'll need to build that "chicken-run" this weekend because Chomp will need some room to run around and get that wing strong again. Come on KB, where's that chicken wire?!

Chomp - Getting all Active

Chomp is definitely getting better. Yesterday I heard a noise at the cage and when I looked out the back door, I saw him dangling from one leg (head upside down) from the large branch that Pierre put into the cage on the first day. He (that's Chomp, not Pierre) obviously tried to fly onto the branch but must have lost his balance, having only one operational wing. Poor thing - after I got over the initial shock I started laughing - it was just so funny - a pity I didn't have the camera ready. Then this morning, Chomp made a run for it. I was cleaning out his cage when he ducked under my arm and ran off into the garden. Luckily Jioma is faster than Chomp and he cornered him, giving me the opportunity to cover him with a towel. Jioma then carried him back to the cage. We decided to put another larger brick into his cage in the hope that it would encourage him to climb up onto the large branch instead of trying to fly. Well - below is proof that our tactic worked. He is now happily sitting on his branch. I think it will soon be time to build him a "chicken-run" or something so he has more space to be active.