Medh.
She slipped past me when I opened the gate to let the Big Girls back in the pen.
That is Hepzibah & Ha'penny!
They dither. Will they? Won't they? Yes. No. Maybe. I'm still thinking about it.
Well, while they were thinking about it, Medh made her dash for freedom.
What I should do & what I actually did are not quite the same thing.
I wanted her back in the pen so I *herded* her. Naturally she went over a fence, always so much fun. I do know once back in the run most of the girls will head for the gate to get back in the pen & there it is possible to wedge them in such a way they can be picked up without too much trouble.
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I didn't immediately put her back in the pen.
I brought her into the house for some *contact time.*
Her heart wasn't racing so I just tucked her into my lap & very gently stroked her.
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Now I own cats. What one does with cats when wants to be loved on & do some loving is one chucks them under the chin. Pretty soon you have a rumbling purr up & running. So I sort of absently began running a finger very, very gently down Medh's throat. She tilted her head back & began a soft warbling. I continued stroking & her eyes very gradually lidded, then shut completely! She wasn't relaxed enough to stay like that for long but a wow moment. Who knew chickens liked to be chucked under the chin like a cat?! I don't have a picture because both hands were occupied & no~one else was around but here she is, all snug & cozy in my lap.
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And no, I'm not dressed yet. I've been chasing chickens.
