When caught short in the vegetable plot, gardeners in the past preferred to relieve themselves in the compost heap rather than waste a rich source of nitrogen, which along with a light dusting of lime is essential for successful decomposition. Old habits may die hard but its difficult enough to get children to eat vegetables and chicken droppings perform much the same function. In addition to providing nitrogen and a supply of free-range eggs, I like to keep a few hens to practice drawing. Hens, ducks and cats add a bit of life to a painting and keeping them provides an opportunity for close up studies. Drawing anything from life helps to quickly improve the observation skills necessary for successful paintings. To sketch the hens I normally begin by setting up my materials outside and get comfortable. Hen's are always very busy and ducks can get very nervous, neither stay still for very long but a pile of chicken meal will encourage them to peck about in the same place. This arrangement gives me about 10 minutes actual drawing time. A lot can be achieved in this short space of time. During life-drawing classes, art students are allowed only 30 second's to complete the initial studies before the model changed position, its amazing how long a 5 minute sketch seems after finishing these quick sessions. It's the same with the hens, only you wont need to ask them to change pose every 30 seconds. This rapid sketching forces you to only record the essentials, your drawing hand is constantly moving as your eyes study the hens, working on a large sheet, means I can progress a number of sketches simultaneously, pausing when a hen moves and continuing when she or a companion returns to a similar pose. A word of warning if you also decide to get a rooster not only will you be able to paint these magnificent, colourful creatures and their offspring, you'll also have the dubious advantage of being able to paint them at about half past four every morning.