The Adventures of Barcode the Barred Rock

[HoneyDreameMom]

Guineas always make a happy ending! I'm so glad that Barcode made friends with them and that they look out for each other. Can't wait to hear how their adventures continue!

Lol - my guineas and chickens only tolerate each other, and the guineas often come to 'tattle' when our marans chase them away from the food.

 

[MyPetNugget]

Happy for Barcode!

 

[cleansquared]

I have to know how barcode is doing!

 

[MyPetNugget]

I have to know how barcode is doing!

x's 2

 

[Pyxis]

I apologize for the lack of updates! I've been in my busy season at work and have been working twelve hour days. I promise I'll update soon!

 

[Nickeyo]

Loving he story so far

 

[scriptkiddieJR]

wonderful story!

 

[Bossom-hen]

Oh I'm hooked, how lovely

 

[Pyxis]

Barcode and the guineas were getting along swimmingly. When Barcode waited for the Food Bringer to bring the food, the guineas waited around her. When it was feeding time, she ate in the middle of the guineas and they protected her from the rest of the flock jostling around. The guineas also started to show some dominance over the younger birds in the flock, so they gave Barcode and her guineas a wide berth, leaving her free to eat in peace. The guineas were also very quick to grab the treats that the Food Bringer brought, like bananas. Barcode just loved bananas, and the guineas were good at snatching pieces, then running over to where she was standing and Barcode could take a piece from them.

Life was good. Except the days were getting shorter and it was starting to get colder, and Barcode knew what that meant. She was not surprised when the Food Bringer brought out some clear stuff and covered the front of the coop to keep keep drafts out. She wasn't surprised when it got darker earlier and earlier and she had to go bed sooner each day. She wasn't even surprised when the first snow came. The guineas were, though, and she had to encourage them to come out of the coop to eat that day. Barcode waited patiently while the Food Bringer made paths in the snow for herself and the chickens, and she used those to get around.

She was surprised when it was suddenly warmer one day, and then got cold overnight very fast and the run turned to ice. But soon a small snow fell and the ice was covered and all was well again. When all the hens stopped laying (the new girls from this year never even started, slackers) and the Food Bringer would come out and give the chickens a sideways glance while feeding them, muttering about "lazy birds that should earn their keep" Barcode wasn't worried like she would have been at her old place. After all, she had never laid an egg here, and the Food Bringer still fed her. She knew that she didn't really mean it.

One night it got very, very cold and Barcode snuggled in between the guineas. The rooster, Honey, developed frostbite overnight so badly that his wattles bled, and some of the younger birds died. Barcode snuggled down tighter and weathered it out. The Food Bringer was sad that day, and took care to give the chickens extra cracked corn so they could produce more heat, but the worst was over and it was starting to warm up again. In fact, Barcode thought she heard the Food Bringer say that tomorrow the January Thaw would start. Barcode was looking forward to it.

 

[HoneyDreameMom]

Glad Barcode and her guineas survived that nasty weather! Sorry some of the other chickens didn't.

Like Barcode, I'm looking forward to the spring thaw! Keep the installments coming - I love this chicken! The guineas too, but that's a given.