2020-03-01 Reader\'s Digest AUNZ

READER’S DIGEST

Youcouldearncashbytellingus

abouttheanticsofuniquepetsor

wildlife.Turntopage 8 fordetails

onhowtocontribute.

intothecoup.We’dfindherthere

intheafternoonsittingontheegg

andhavetoreachunderneathherto

collectthewarmegg.Thiswasthe

onlytimewegotnearher.

Afterseveralweeksofthis,we

decidedtobuyhersomefertilised

eggs.Weproudlybroughtfourhome

andputtheminthecoopforBertha

tositon.Shewasveryhappytobe

fulfillinghermotherlyduties.

However,whenwelookedin

BroodyBertha
DONNA GLIDEYE

After a fox slunkintothepenone
night, our mosttimidhen,Bertha,
became evenmorefearful.
She wouldrununderthedeckor
in the busheswheneveryougot
anywhere nearher.Wealsonoticed
her egg layingbecamesporadic,
until it dwindledtonil– a suresign
of cluckiness.
When ourothergirl,Red,a
strapping IsaBrown– a breed
known fortheirunparalleledegg-
laying abilities– pushedoneout
and went backtoscratchingthe
earthforbugs,Berthawouldhead

SMART ANIMALS

Only too often there are surprises in store

ILLUSTRATIONS: GETTY IMAGES

16 march 2020