Lessons.....Hatched

I was dreading seeing the vulo Mistress. I wasn't really into learning about vulos, but she said to be there, and here my ass was. I have to say....it wasn't a bad thing. I learned many things, as this seemed to be the hand for Vulo's. First it was about cooking them, now it was about making them live. She showed me the right way to give them grains which she said she would supply...for my Master also if we come over and help her with the chicks, which honestly sounded fun. She put a bit of mint salve at her noses as she said she was aware the smell was strong, but she did have masses of vulos.

She showed how to clean their eyes after a dust storm, and check their feet, which if they were to be kept for eggs or breeding needed to be kept oiled and crack free, for if they get overly stressed they won't give good eggs. Checking for broken tips of their webbed feet, and beaks. How to check feathers for mites if they are digging badly, another thing a bit of oil would fix. Putting out water bowls and how to change out the dry grass down to keep it from smelling to bad, and plus it would turn fast if not rotated every few hands. I thought to add some sage, and other soothing wax cones there, for Master's wagon to keep the smell at bay also.

I told her about us making the wagon as a coop, she suggested adding some wooden shelving on the sides so each Hen has her own personal nesting spot, and some suggestions on how to do the nest, which would be good for the move, cause vulo's would be fit and use to the wagon for when we move. Of course She said that was up to my Master. She showed how to use reed woven baskets for the vulo's to nest cause they would loosen the weave and soften it themselves for their eggs and comfort. She suggested a woven rope canvas for the wagon entrance instead of the leather flaps. That...was the most fun. She showed us how to knot the rope into the canvas. It was rough against my fingers, and the knots had to be tight for the weather. They were small enough to keep the bodies inside, though the small heads would pop out. This was....fun!

Just when I was thinking I was ready and armed with knowledge and a new rope canvas, She stopped me, and said...not yet. Now I had to learn the important part. Oh? Oh the Mistress was so cool! She showed me how to put two little holes on each end of the egg, with a small bone needle. At one end, we were blowing the yoke out into a small bowl. Once the egg was hollow we would peel just a little back so we could rinse them out and dry them. One of her girls was cooking up the eggs that smelled so good. We dyed the eggs next putting strands of dried grass in the dye also, then everything was put out to dry, as she showed me how to make good grain out of wheat brought in from raids, even dried pieces of bread, and seeds. Using some dusted brown sugar it could be mixed for a bit of a treat which would help them adjust to their new home also. Finally we got back to the eggs, filling them through the small hole with the different colored dry grass, before a small membrane was placed over the hole that was barely seen. It was a neat project, but would was it good for? She said she got a barbarian slave a long time ago that showed her this. She took one of the eggs, and simply crushed it on my head! It was so fun as the colors danced around in twirling blades! I giggled and loved it!

The Vulo Mistress smiled, giving a few in a basket before She said it was time to get back to work. I ran all the way back to my Master's wagons. I couldn't wait...to try my new eggs! For now, I put the basket in the storage wagon with the rest of the slave stuff. I worked on getting the rope net over the top of the canvas past the platform. Using strips of leather it was bound to railings. So no Vulo could get out, but they could walk the platform for fresh air. I found a dozen of the woven baskets in Master's wagons placing them to the sides as I puffed out my horrid sounding whistles to keep them from wanting to eat me. Finally throwing out long dried reeds, as I wished for bundles of hay like we had back in the North, but there would be no crops around here. I was feeling very vulo savvy, until the magpie was going right for my hair again! Damn thing took a few good clumps before I could wave it away. I waited to take a few deep breaths under the vulo platform, before going to roll up the leather flaps to keep air circulating.

It was a good day, when it was over......I was so hungry for bosk!