Adventures in Chickens ...



So, this morning I'm out in the chicken coop, carefully feeding the little hens and roosters, when there's the awful commotion outside in the chicken run, and I look out to see the DOG has forced her way through the not-well wired gate, and is merrily chasing chickens. The poor chickens are attempting to flee back inside. I'm so mad, and in such a hurry to protect the chickens, that I crawl OUT the chicken door! Screaming at the dog, who promptly exits the same way she got in and heads for the house, with me following, yelling at her the whole way. I lock her inside the house - "Bad dog, bad dog." Then, I get back to the coop and realize my dilemma. The "human" door to the coop locks on the inside ... I'm locked out. So, you guessed it ... I crawl BACK IN the chicken door. Granted, the chickens seem a little puzzled, but I tell them that I normally won't be coming in this way. You understand that chickens poop all over everything, right? It wasn't a pleasant morning...



But overall, I'm having a marvelous time with the chickens. I sit with them in the evenings (weird, I know) and watch them, and one little hen come over and flies onto my lap. Several crowd around, and examine me, and peck at the little ladybug decoration on my outdoor shoes, and in general, seem to be curious about this strange human. But, as I sit there, I'm also realizing that we have several roosters in the lot (it was inevitable, I know) and the roosters will begin to fight with each other, and harass the hens - so, I've arranged for help on Sunday - Cousin Tom and Kay will be at the house and we'll have a chicken "harvesting" day - maybe about 10 roosters. I think it will be very difficult for me, but made less so when I think of protecting the hens. I'm keeping one rooster - you guessed it again, McNugget, who I think will be a nice pick for the county fair.

All in all, we're having lessons in farming - both good and bad.