You know you love your chickens when...

My three girls come running when I go outside and I have to bend down and pet each one - I think I've done it so long that they expect it of me. One, the leghorn, likes to sit on my lap when I am in a lawn chair, she even snuggles down and rests in my lap, so she gets petted a bit more than the other two. My two neighbors made a comment about the chickens, saying they're messy. I said they're far less trouble to clean up after in the yard than our two dogs were. At least when the automatic sprinklers come on, we have liquid fertilizer, rather than a pile of mush to clean up. Love my chicks!!
 
I probably talk to our chickens more than I talk to the family. It was difficult at first to not get upset with the ruler of the roost. As we have several different breeds, they are different colors and different personalities. But this one, a white chicken, took control very early. When they started laying and I would go to gather eggs, she would meet me at the door of the coop. She still does that and pecks my clothing and once pulled my eyeglasses off. I started talking to her and petting her when she does that. It is now an enjoyment to have her escorting me in the coop. There are 21 pullets and one rooster in that coop. The rooster is quite calm and seems to let the white hen rule. Our second coop, with ten chickens about four months old, has not had a displaying of top chicken yet. I haven't detected early signs to identify which one will rule. I do believe one of them is a rooster, but not sure yet. I have a small door between the two coops and have been thinking about opening it and letting the residents meet each other. I am hoping they will get along. I am building a chicken tractor so they can spend more time outdoors without risking predators. Raising chickens is a learning experience and I am learning fast and enjoying every minute of it. The chickens actually belong to my granddaughter, and she loves them, which is obvious as pictured here. And she loves her goats also.




 
But this one, a white chicken, took control very early. When they started laying and I would go to gather eggs, she would meet me at the door of the coop. She still does that and pecks my clothing and once pulled my eyeglasses off. I started talking to her and petting her when she does that. It is now an enjoyment to have her escorting me in the coop.
The above statement is similar to me and my hens. My dominant hen is a buff oprington. She will peck at my clothes and comes running when I go out to gather eggs or do my chores. and walk everywhere that I go. She sometimes pecks hard enough to bruise me but I don't get upset with her because it's not out of meanness. She's as sweet as can be. All my hens are very gentile and sweet. My favorite is my 1st easter egger. She bonded to me as a tiny chick and still wants me to hold her and she looks to me for protection when I'm outside with them. Sadly she lost one eye from another hen pecking her. Her name is Cleo but we often call her Arrrgh. :)
 
...you spend your Saturday night on the town carrying a huge bag of mealworms everywhere you go because you had to duck into the feed store before they closed so your ladies would have their treats the next day.
 
When you go to the grocery store and most of what you come home with is for the chickens! (It's cold today, so oatmeal with raisins and corn, scramble any extra eggs we may have, leftover bread, etc., so they can have a warm meal).
 
My personal nemesis is Bobcats. I have lost 2 hens to them. October seems to be the worst time for Bobcats here. I too know they must eat, but we have so many mice and squirrels! ( Sorry squirrels)
 
When you can't wait to come home every day and put the leash on them and take them for a little walk
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