This "chapter" will be a little different. This one, I have to tell from my point of view.
Bright and semi-early this morning, I opened the door to the Girls run so I could take them some food. The naked Girl ( who is not really naked, but her feathery dress was ripped off her back through the roughness of the little WeeMan *may he rest on plate*, leaving the fuzzy downy petticoat showing)- The naked girl slipped past me out into the green grass zone. The others devised a plan to form a wedge with their bodies, and they tried to squeeze past me. I stepped aside and let them think they outwitted me.
On weekends, I don't let them out too early, because I want them to have less time for visiting neighbors- mainly the neighbors who have the kids with BB guns, and the mean neighbor who threatened the Ladies for being in her garden. I heard the sounds of a tiller last weekend, so I really don't want the Ladies over there.
Today was drizzly and yukky out, so I let them go free. As usual, they scattered over the course of 4 backyards; none of those yards being their own.
We went to the feed store to get food for the baby Texans, and stopped by the pet store to get crickets for the Girls. This pet store actually has a cricket club- you get your little card stamped, buy 10 dozen get one free. I drag hubby away from the cute puppies ( why they have the crickets right next to the cute puppies, I don't know), and we head home.
The Girls and Ladies ran to greet us, as usual. They have been greatly disappointed lately to find that every time I come out the door, I do NOT have treats for them. But this time, I did.
The crickets are packed in a plastic bag with a piece of egg carton type material. I open the bag, and pull out the cricket covered egg carton. The Girls went bananas. A cricket or two jumped toward one of the girls. She literally screamed and jumped backwards, stepping on the others, who were rushing toward the treats.
Several of the girls were being smart, and just chasing the ones that were no longer on the egg carton. The others seemed to be slightly afraid of the egg carton. I heard another scream, and looked just in time to see another chicken jumping backwards.
In less than a minute, it was all over. Ten chickens had consumed 5 dozen crickets. I had saved some, though, and took them back to the babies.
Hardy and McScreamy are always the first two out to greet me. Laurel is close behind. After a minute or two, Spunky will come out. VonSneaky is a little chicken. She doesn't come out for a few minutes, and then she ends up running back in. Each day she stays out a little longer.
I drop the crickets, and Hardy was right on them. McScreamy wasn't too sure, but picked one up and ran around in circles with it. when he realized no one was chasing him, he put the cricket down, went to peck at it, and looked confused when it jumped away. They weren't used to fast moving food.
It was almost dark when I went to lock the chickens up. I plugged in the babies heat lamp, and noticed that there was something blocking the red glow from their open pop door. It looked like the silly little ones were all sitting and looking out the door.
I did a head count of the girls. Now, their top roost fits 7 comfortably. Tonight, there were 9 up there. There really isn't room for nine. I know this because one was almost standing- her butt was resting on another girls head. Ah, if only I had my camera, and I took good pictures.
So then, I go to the babies. Hardy had himself plopped in the center of the pop door- his head was inside the coop, and his butt was outside. On either side of him, under his wings, was one of the little girls. Laurel was more in the coop than out. Where was McScreamy? Outside- trying hard to push his way in. But Hardy wasn't budging. Poor McScreamy was sitting out in the rain ( they have a covered run, but still..).
I thought at first maybe they saw a few crickets inside and got scared. But Hardy was not scared of crickets. Then I thought maybe there was a snake or something in the coop. These chicks were in the doorway- something had to be keeping them from going inside.
I couldn't see anything, and once I pushed them all in the coop, they were fine. ( McScreamy was especially thankful). I was puzzled.
I have been saying that Hardy is definately a Biggest Little Rooster, jr. He is the biggest of the babies, and looks alot like his dad, except he has a white tail. I see his dad's personality in him, and at times, I wonder if it is just wishful thinking. But, even though the Biggest Little Rooster isn't here- the very first hatched baby of his is a little clone.
As I walked back to the house, I think I realized why they were all piled up at the coop door. Have you figured it out yet???
Here is hardy..
Did you figure it out yet?
I think Hardy was afraid to go in to the coop...
because it was dark inside!!!
