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That Wild Redhead

There are 13 red hens in the main coop and run.  Only one will not stay where she’s supposed to be.  She and Roscoe continue to plan and scheme her escapes.  Yesterday I picked her up and put her back inside the fence four times.  Each time I found where I thought she was getting out and I did my best to fix it.

The fifth time I caught her outside the fence, I said . . fine . . if that’s the lifestyle you want to live . . go for it!

When I went out to give the girls a treat (kale clippings), who do you think found a hole under the fence that she could slide through and ran back into the run so she could get her treat . . which she grabbed and then ran back out to her beloved Roscoe!  I can’t figure out why she finds a way out and he never finds a way in.  He’s half her size!

She’s eating Roscoe’s food and he’s patiently watching and waiting.

Waiting for the opportunity for this!

This is basically what they do . . except Roscoe is too small.  Dang . . that’s never good, is it?  🙂  The little red hen just kinda shakes and off he goes . . only to try again the first chance he gets.  He never gives up and yet he never really succeeds.

And then, they go about their business . . like nothing just happened, because really, I guess nothing did happen.  Poor Roscoe.

This weekend Vince will find some time to drive some wire into the ground that will secure the fence so my wild little redhead will stay where she’s supposed to be.

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  2. Judy, each to their own, who knows what turns one on and who are we to judge. And yes you made my day again, you ought to turn your (and Vince’s) exploits into a book. Priceless . . .

  3. Too funny….

    on only half the same subject… my 10 pound 7 year old poodle has just started going under our front fence to take tours of the neighborhood.. guess the sandy soil is so dry he can just slip under.. but strange that he is only now figuring that out. we hope we have fixed it but afraid to trust it so I go out with him every time… no more freedom for him.

    • That’s part of the problem here. The ground is so dry and it’s just powdery where they scratch and dig and I think no matter how secure we get that fence nailed down, she can still find a way out. I’m just surprised that 12 of them never get out and that one gets out as many times as I care to catch her and put her back inside the fence. She’s out now and I’m anxious to see what happens at dusk. Roscoe flies up to the top of a tree but I don’t think the red chickens are very good at flying high so I’m betting she lets herself back in with the other girls before bed time.

  5. Have you considered putting Roscoe in with the hens? That may convince your Redhead to stay in – on the other hand it may cause your other hens to all get out or give Roscoe a heart attack from all the “excitement”

    • Roosters are rough on the hens and those 13 red hens (maybe it’s 12 . . shouldn’t count the wild redhead!) are my main egg layers so I don’t want the hassle of a rooster in there.

  8. Too funny!!! If you wrote a book you could call this chapter “Shades of Roscoe” – LOL!!!!!

  9. LOL that’s so funny. Poor little guy can’t catch a break…umm a hen is more like it.

  12. Oh Judy……..you just make me laugh and laugh with your adventures with your hen house, garden, shoes, Vince, and everything else that accompanies your little ranch. Thanks so much for putting some spice in my day.

    Rosie Davis

  18. Gotta watch out for those wild redheads! ;P She’s like me – don’t fence me in – even though I know you’re doing it for her own good. And, Judy, you should know that she can figure out how to get out and Roscoe can’t figure out how to get in, because she’s FEMALE! I love this story — what fun you have at your house!

  19. Oh! I forgot to say, and this may help, since Vince likes to dig trenches . . . ;P The coop I’m considering building recommends that you begin by marking out the dimensions for the coop and run, digging a trench, and then putting in rectangular pavers on end, so they are buried a bit into the ground, then put your fencing down along side them before you fill in the dirt. Helps to keep the critters out in my area, as muskrat and raccoons like to get in there and do damage.

  20. This was one of your better stories! And I needed a laugh on this crazy day. Sneaky thing isn’t she! You might have to rename them Romeo and Juliet lol. I should take pictures of our new chickens and send to you so you can tell me what kind they are 🙂 My son just got the last 12 the farm store had. We are afraid we got 3 or 4 roosters out of the 12, not good.

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