Just when you think you have everything under control......

I was happily going about my chicken chores today. I left everyone out of the run to free range while I cleaned and filled waterer and feeder. (I've only been free ranging under supervision due to the increase in hawks later and even that makes me a little nervous). I can usually call them back easily when the wander too far. Today....all came back but one, Pickle. She's my head hen. I didn't worry to much I was right there and Stormy, my rooster, does a good job of keeping everyone together. When I finished, I sat in one of the chairs watching them scratch through the fallen leaves and just enjoying the quiet. ( My kids were inside, staying far away from me because I was doing "work" and they fear I might make them help. Lol) Once quiet time was up, I call my flock over and again all came except one.... Pickle. I put everyone else in the run, and focused on getting Pickle back in too. Stormy is fired up that he's missing a girl. Pickle takes off like a toddler with something they shouldn't have around the other side of the run. I'm literally play ring around the run with this hen. I'm shaking the bag of her favorite mealworms.... nothing. I'm standing still with a handful of the mealworms...nothing. She just keeps taking off like a track star. I'm frustrated and yelling her name hoping she will come to her senses. I finally knock over some chairs to block her and get her cornered. I pick her up and put her back in the run. So what did I learn in all of this. First, when dealing with any animal, you are never in total control. Second, hens are toddler track stars. And thirdly, it is VERY possible to yell Pickle in an angry tone. And here's a picture of Pickle.....for reference purposes.
I absolutely adore her name. 😂🥰
 
I was happily going about my chicken chores today. I left everyone out of the run to free range while I cleaned and filled waterer and feeder. (I've only been free ranging under supervision due to the increase in hawks later and even that makes me a little nervous). I can usually call them back easily when the wander too far. Today....all came back but one, Pickle. She's my head hen. I didn't worry to much I was right there and Stormy, my rooster, does a good job of keeping everyone together. When I finished, I sat in one of the chairs watching them scratch through the fallen leaves and just enjoying the quiet. ( My kids were inside, staying far away from me because I was doing "work" and they fear I might make them help. Lol) Once quiet time was up, I call my flock over and again all came except one.... Pickle. I put everyone else in the run, and focused on getting Pickle back in too. Stormy is fired up that he's missing a girl. Pickle takes off like a toddler with something they shouldn't have around the other side of the run. I'm literally play ring around the run with this hen. I'm shaking the bag of her favorite mealworms.... nothing. I'm standing still with a handful of the mealworms...nothing. She just keeps taking off like a track star. I'm frustrated and yelling her name hoping she will come to her senses. I finally knock over some chairs to block her and get her cornered. I pick her up and put her back in the run. So what did I learn in all of this. First, when dealing with any animal, you are never in total control. Second, hens are toddler track stars. And thirdly, it is VERY possible to yell Pickle in an angry tone. And here's a picture of Pickle.....for reference purposes.
I just hope no one sees me when I am trying to wrangle my chickens, especially the littles 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️. I am 100% positive I look absolutely foolish and I am sure my chickens do it on purpose so they can laugh at me. There is no dignity in chasing chickens. So now, I try and have gotten good at out smarting them sometimes and also good at excepting the results if I don't. All may not be exactly what I want, more of a compromise 🤔 with a chicken.
 
What a sassy girl! My girls do that any time they find something tasty that they don't want to share: snails, lizards, worms, frogs, big bugs...
Mine too. They chase eachother like football players and steal the treat from eachother until someone finally stops and eats it. This is why I enjoy just sitting and watching them lol
 
I was happily going about my chicken chores today. I left everyone out of the run to free range while I cleaned and filled waterer and feeder. (I've only been free ranging under supervision due to the increase in hawks later and even that makes me a little nervous). I can usually call them back easily when the wander too far. Today....all came back but one, Pickle. She's my head hen. I didn't worry to much I was right there and Stormy, my rooster, does a good job of keeping everyone together. When I finished, I sat in one of the chairs watching them scratch through the fallen leaves and just enjoying the quiet. ( My kids were inside, staying far away from me because I was doing "work" and they fear I might make them help. Lol) Once quiet time was up, I call my flock over and again all came except one.... Pickle. I put everyone else in the run, and focused on getting Pickle back in too. Stormy is fired up that he's missing a girl. Pickle takes off like a toddler with something they shouldn't have around the other side of the run. I'm literally play ring around the run with this hen. I'm shaking the bag of her favorite mealworms.... nothing. I'm standing still with a handful of the mealworms...nothing. She just keeps taking off like a track star. I'm frustrated and yelling her name hoping she will come to her senses. I finally knock over some chairs to block her and get her cornered. I pick her up and put her back in the run. So what did I learn in all of this. First, when dealing with any animal, you are never in total control. Second, hens are toddler track stars. And thirdly, it is VERY possible to yell Pickle in an angry tone. And here's a picture of Pickle.....for reference purposes.
Did pickle smack up your face at all? Gotta love those wings, and gettin' smacked when you place them down, 😂
 

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