Happiness is an overgrown compost pile

[max13077]

I started letting the girl go out for a few hours at a time and free range. Needless to say they love it. Today they found the compost pile and nearly ripped it apart!!! Must have been something in there they liked!!

 

[redoak]

Great pictures, they look like they are having fun.

 

[MaineChickens]

Love those fluffy butts!

 

[English Chick]

cluck cluck gotta help momma spread the compost............

Great pics! and your hens are beautiful.

 

[Lunachick]

That's a nice colorful flock! In the video, don't you love it, like little kids in the candy store!

 

[max13077]

The funny part is when I let them out of the pen which is probably 30 yards away from the pile. Those who remember sprint/fly/glide over there with the whole flock in tow shortly thereafter. I was watching them and what I think they're eating are ants. There's a big nest of carpenter ants in the tree and old logs next to and under the pile. They scratch and pick the ants out. They're good sized also. I think that's why the chickens like them. A couple of them were the length of my thumbnail as well as pretty plump and juicy looking...

There aren't all that many though. I guess they appreciate quality as much as we do. Of course there are the occasional grubs and worms that make up for any lack of ants. YUM!!!