Here is my long-winded chicken drama story for the day. Hope you smile!
Dawn's Chicken Drama Day #292
AFter two weeks free-ranging together, then penning them inside the big run/coop for 3 days, I let the kids (March Blehm birds--3 months now) out of their pen inside the big run this morning to mix with the adults. They were all fine, and the Adults went out to free-range. Then, right before I left for work I saw that all the little kids had also gone out ranging. All birds seemed fine when I got home, but the drama started after dinner. Well, I couldn't get them back in the big run! They huddled around their previous domicile. When I called for "treats", all the
adult birds came running! OK, fine--I spread scratch around near the nest boxes to occupy them. Then called for little kids to come. Pippa the SS, Gingersnap (Chantecler), and Norbert (White Am cockerel) came. Couldn't get the two Wheatens and Athena the silver to come up the ramp and in the pop door. DH went out and tried to herd them, with me calling from the pop door. They ran back and forth, back and forth....Finally, I grabbed Norbert and held him in the doorway so the three runners could see him. Finally, Athena jumped up in and so did the darker wheatie, Rye. Scotch would not come, but ran my hubby around the whole yard 3 more times! Then the adult birds were trying to come near me as I was calling "treats" so much...which only freaked out the little kids, so while I had Norbert under my arm, Athena jumped up on one shoulder and Pippa to the other shoulder. I finally shut the door, went around to the yard, and had DH quietly move towards Scotch while I called to her. She finally just stepped into my hands after 10 more minutes of going under the deck, around the deck, under the deck, around the deck. DH says, "I thought they all came to "Treats!". (NOT when there is only one bird and she is freaked out!!!)
I carried her around back and she hid her head in my sleeve and was very quiet. I put her in the pen, and went to get a chair. Zsa Zsa and Eva the 5 month old Splash pullets, were terrorizing the kids when I got back, and I didn't even have time to unfold the chair and start to sit down when Athena flew to my lap, then my shoulder, Rye jumped up on my right leg and Pippa on my left! Then Norbert unbalanced everyone by trying to land in the middle. Jeesh. Sat out with them until everyone went to bed. The only bird who didn't jump up was Gingersnap (expected, being Quebecoise and all...). They all ate and drank furiously, so I wonder if they didn't go back in for food and water all day?? ARGH. Silly Birds will be the death of me. RedCatTom, the barncat, came to the edge of the concrete and then kept come closer positively
yowling for me to get outta there! (Clearly chickens are not safe!) This riled up Lil' Joe, who was ready to protect and defend. No wonder all the kids jumped up on me and immediately went to sleep! Safe haven, I guess. Did I mention Athena tried to groom my hair when she was on my shoulder?? Too bad no picture!!
All birds settled in finally, so I locked up. RedCatTom was still meowing for me, but stopped as soon as I got to the concrete. He then calmly rubbed me twice and went to eat the food he already had in his dish (here I'd thought he wanted food, but he just clearly wanted me OUT of the chicken pen.) Funny cat.
Sorry for the book. Hope you got a laugh out of picturing the birds all over me and in my hair! Just livin' the dream here, folks!
