A hard working mom had plenty to do, But she thought to herself, "I want to raise chickens, too." So she consulted her friends, that Wonder-Mom Lori, And ended up with some hens, but there's more to her story... "Chickens are easy!" her friends did all say. "You can care for them in just minutes a day. Some food, some water, there's not much to it. Go ahead, Lori, I think you should do it." So Lori inherited 4 pullets white, but they didn't seem to be growing just right. They were lazy and fat; all they did was eat. Then Wonder-Mom learned they were meant for their meat. "I can't eat our pets, but they're driving me mad!" They were too big for their legs and that made Lori sad. So off two hens went for more experienced care, where some nice chicken experts accepted them there. And so came a new hen, to help start a new flock. She roamed in the yard 'til she found a nice rock. She hopped up on it, then on the neighbor's fence, An escape was inevitable, and dangerous, hence... Up the enclosure was built higher and higher. More netting! More wood! More chicken wire! A fortress now housed Lori's two hens who had plenty of room to be joined by some friends. Along came three more hens for a total of five. They squawked and squabbled and didn't really jive. But they were pretty to look at and some eggs they would lay. Until the sun set and came the end of the day... Lori suddenly released quite a shout. "My new chickens! Oh, my new chickens got out!" She searched in the darkness with flashlight to tree But there were no chickens, at least none she could see. Disheartened, she looked once more on a whim And that's when she spotted them high up on a limb! They weren't missing! Much rejoicing! The chickens were found! Now if only she could get them back onto the ground... So to all of those folks who said chickens were easy, They're not, and their antics may make you quite queasy. Chickens? No problem? I beg your pardon! Maybe Wonder-Mom Lori should stick to her garden! By Lori J. Rogers
That should be a beginner article! The problem is they imprint on us and we forget about all the ups and downs in the beginning. It is all worth it in the end!
Haha. Good job! And so true! My girls roost in our tree,too. We started with four, it wasn't enough. We filled up our run with more balls of fluff! Now we're up to almost a score... Need a bigger coop so I can get more!!!
Thanks! Unfortunately I had to add a roof to the run. We live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs on the other sides of fences, so too keep them safe, they'll have to roost in the coop-- NOT our tree!
What an adorable poem! Love it! Chickens sure have their antics, don't they? Glad that everything is kind of working out! Take it day by and day and enjoy them!
Thanks! They're resting snugly on TOP of the coop now. Oh well, they certainly have minds of their own!
I just got a new rooster three days ago and had a heart attack when I couldn't find him earlier. I looked all over in the trees and began looking for a body. I then realized that the four hens that took to him so quickly were also missing. One of those four hens was my favorite girl, a Buff Orpington. I started to panic a bit, my flock has a barb-wire fence around the perimeter, they can walk through it, but tend to stay close to the coop. I decided I had better go in and get some help for a full out chicken search, dreading the whole time the conversation with my father (the roo was his that he couldn't keep do to crowing) and he never liked the idea of "loose" chickens! As I walked back to my house I heard some noises from the lilac bushes and found my wayward hens with the Roo close behind. The Roo had lead them into the neighbors side of the bushes and couldn't get back over the fence. So had to waltz through my neighbors yard like a crazy person herding my birds back.......oh the joys of chicken rearing! They will be staying in the coop for a few days me thinks! Loved your poem!