Well my other chickies keep me distracted with their chickie antics.
Little One has gotten were she wanders out away from the group during free range time which I am concerned about as we have hawks out here. I am worried that her loner ways will make her an easy target. I only let them free range when I am home and can watch out for them as our place is not fenced in yet. I worry about the hawks and neighbors dogs. Lock them up at night as then I worry about the owls, coons, and possums. Never seen a skunk but every so often get a whiff of one so I know they are about.
Our resident Tom Cat was very curious over the spunky gang and was slinking ever so closer to them when all of a sudden Little One spotted him. Then the others spotted him.
With out stretched necks and slightly ruffled feathers they moved in mass toward the kitty. Some of the gang had their stink eye look on while others seemed curious. Tom Cat was unsettled by this turn and quickly retreated. Later, he spotted Little One foraging by herself and decided to slink in closer; however, much to his dismay she spotted him. Little One gave chase and Tom Cat ran for cover.
While the cat and chicken game was ensuing, Doris spotted her nemis the squirrel foraging too close to her sisters and decided he needed to be reminded that while they were foraging the squirrel is supposed to stay in his tree. Doris flapped her wings and took to chasing the squirrel around and round. The squirrel managed to give her the slip and went partially up his tree. Doris and her sister followed the squirrel around the tree to make sure he was not coming down. The squirrel popped his tail and fussed at the feathered bullies below.
After all the chasing settled down the spunky gang all resumed their foraging and some of the gang discovered the grown up flower bed has soft dirt in front of it's borders. Scratching this area resulted in dust bathing frenzy. Some of the first to bathe were in no hurry which upset Lester who was growing impatient as he felt the need to dust bathe and preene. So Lester stepped on poor Saphire to get her to move and he pecked another then plopped down in the pre-softened spot for his bathe. Saphire was not happy about being made to cut short her bathe. So she began pecking Lester to make him uncomfortable. Lester seemed to just ignore her as he just rolled over and continued dust bathing. Saphire then just plopped partially over him as she decided one way or another she would finish her bath. They both would push and kick the other one as they tried to bathe in the same spot. The other chickies thought this was silly as they just claimed other spots along the front of the border of the flower bed.
Mischief, Long Tail, and some of the gang found that there was more offered inside of the flower bed as they discovered slugs and yummy hidden bugs to munch on.
Yep the gang enjoyed their free range and be-grudgingly went back to their pen in the evening. As the sun went down they were tucking into their favorite spots so I closed the door to keep them safe in the night dreaming of their fun adventures as chickens in the wild (free range).
Just wish my camera was handy as I missed some good pic moments.
