Yes, I REALLY need to get the video camera out next time...
My darling spouse was washing out the brooder now that our chicks are happily ensconced in their new coop. While he was running the hose, a bunch of earthworms emerged. My husband thinks, "Well, the robins like these. Maybe the chickens will, too". So he tosses one into the run.
Picture it: the chickens all freeze and stare at this "new" thing. It starts wriggling. They continue to stare. "Is it food or danger?" they think. "The big pink things are scary, but sometimes they bring us tomatoes!" they think. One of them (yes, of course it is the fearless GLW roo) cocks his head to one side and darts forward. Grabs the frantically wriggling worm and runs into the corner, worm dangling from one corner of his beak. And the chase is on! Hubby manages to toss in a few more before collapsing into a chair laughing. It was one giant game of keep away and tug of war. Whenever one stops long enough to attempt to eat the prize, another darts forward and steals it. Went on for a good 10-15 minutes.
That was yesterday morning. We gave them a few more yesterday afternoon. This evening, I just went to close the pop door and they all ran over me and were peeping urgently, "Where are the wrigglers! We like those better than tomatoes! Can we have more? Please please please???" Earthworms...go figure...
My darling spouse was washing out the brooder now that our chicks are happily ensconced in their new coop. While he was running the hose, a bunch of earthworms emerged. My husband thinks, "Well, the robins like these. Maybe the chickens will, too". So he tosses one into the run.
Picture it: the chickens all freeze and stare at this "new" thing. It starts wriggling. They continue to stare. "Is it food or danger?" they think. "The big pink things are scary, but sometimes they bring us tomatoes!" they think. One of them (yes, of course it is the fearless GLW roo) cocks his head to one side and darts forward. Grabs the frantically wriggling worm and runs into the corner, worm dangling from one corner of his beak. And the chase is on! Hubby manages to toss in a few more before collapsing into a chair laughing. It was one giant game of keep away and tug of war. Whenever one stops long enough to attempt to eat the prize, another darts forward and steals it. Went on for a good 10-15 minutes.
That was yesterday morning. We gave them a few more yesterday afternoon. This evening, I just went to close the pop door and they all ran over me and were peeping urgently, "Where are the wrigglers! We like those better than tomatoes! Can we have more? Please please please???" Earthworms...go figure...
