It’s nice to be loved. It’s nice to have friends who are happy to see you and it’s nice to have friends who will follow you anywhere you might go!
Chickens
When we had too many chickens, they became just “chickens”. I fed them. I watered them. I gathered eggs and I wondered why I allowed myself to get so many darned chickens.
Now that we’re down to just 7, they all have names again. I take them special treats every day and they’re my buddies. Yesterday I was thinning out beets in the garden and I saved all the little seedlings for them. They thought I was the best chicken mama ever.
The gate that goes out into the orchard squeaks. I keep thinking I’ll oil it but then I love how the chickens hear it from wherever they are and they come running when they hear the annoying squeak.
Chickens
No matter where they are in the orchard, when they hear me coming, or see me, they all come running. These chickens will never be as friendly as Miss Hattie and her sisters . . just a different breed with different temperament, but these black chickens have all become way friendlier now that they’re free ranging . . or maybe it’s that I bring them so many treats.
Chickens
They will follow me and especially when I have treats and they’re all trying to be first in line . . if I stop, they will almost run into me. See the chicken in front? She’s a cross between the Dominiques and the red hens we had. She makes me smile with her orange and black coloring, which happens to be my high school colors.
Not that we’re getting more chickens but IF we did, I think I’d go with the Dominiques. They pretty docile, sweet and good layers . . unless they’re on strike. It’s fairly easy to tell which ones are girls and which ones are boys when they’re just a day old so I’m just saying . . IF we went to Tractor Supply and IF they had baby Dominique chicks and IF we decided to bring a few home, we would want all girls because one rooster in the hen house is plenty and I really like old Willie! He does a good job of keeping the girls safe, warning them of danger, and attracting their attention when he finds a fat, juicy bug. He’s friendly . . the friendliest rooster I’ve ever had. In fact, this morning when I went out to see why there was so much squawking (just two hens arguing over who was going to sit in which nesting box), Willie was so determined that I had treats and he was staying close by just in case . . I had to give him a nudge to get him out of the way so I could walk.
Yes, it’s nice to have just a few chickens. I hope we remember that when those cute baby chicks start showing up this week.
Vivian Oaks says
I keep bugging my hubby to get started raising chickens, but he keeps telling me we have to wait till the neice and nephews are older, so they can come take care of them when we’re away. I think he’ll keep saying that until they’re all grown and moved away…. I can keep hoping.
Sherrill says
Uh oh, I feel new chicks comin’ on!! HA Black and orange were my high school colors as well–we were the pirates. Arrr, matey.
Jackie says
Good luck with that Lol. I can only imagine how difficult it is when they are so cute and small. I can imagine them following you around, my husband used to have a farm and he tells me his turkeys used to follow him around and they even liked to stand on the deck and watch tv through the patio door.
Rebecca in SoCal says
Keep reminding yourself! In fact, maybe you should re-read this post before ANY visit to town.
p.s. From the title, I thought this post was going to be about US (your readers).