..I will humor you with just a few.
Maxine, Maude and Myrtle make me laugh. Not only are their jerky motions and startled reactions at the smallest thing humorous, I particularly find their noises amusing. The sound they make most often sounds like a little old lady worrying “Ooooh, noooooooooo.” They go “Awwwwwwwwwhhhhhhh” and manage to sound so very worried the way they draw it out. All three will get into the act and it sounds like maybe they ran out of pudding at the old folks’ home cafeteria. “Awwwwwwwwwhhhhh.”
In the evenings, about an hour or two before sunset, I let the chickens out of their run for a little walkabout. They usually just wander along the edges or the woods or into the garden scratching and looking for bugs. As the sun sets, they wander back to their Eglu and put themselves to bed.
One evening I moved the Eglu a little too far and they became disoriented, going back to the front yard where the Eglu was first set up. I couldn’t seem to entice them back to where the Eglu was, so they started to roost in the River Birch by the house. I managed to snag Maude and walked slowly back to where the Eglu was located. Of course, she was going “Awwwwwhhhhhhh. Awwwwwwwwwhhhhhhh” the whole way. Everyone followed Maude back to the house and went to bed.
Did you know chickens love peaches? They don’t much care for bananas. And lettuce probably seems too much like grass. They also like cantaloupe.
“What about those chicks?” you ask.
Well, they are growing and growing. I can’t say they’re the most beautiful specimens. Minnie Ruth is, well, rather beaky. Olive (formerly Olivia) is looking just ratty. I have inspected for mites and bugs but don’t see any. I may treat them just to be on the safe side.
So there you have it…more chicken stories.
What’s going on with the garden? Well, lettuce and broccoli are planted. Spinach goes in soon in a coldframe. I have a lot of weeding to do as well as some tidy-up for the fall.
Hi! I'm Robin Ripley author of Wisdom for Home Preservers, published by Taunton Press. I am also co-author of Grocery Gardening. Bumblebee is about my life in rural Maryland, my garden and my love of food, my little dogs and pet chickens. You can follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you for visiting!
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Just came upon your blog today and I must say I LOVE IT!!! Love the look and the content and your garden is superb, if only I had that much space to garden it ( I would be exhausted).
Thanks for visiting Haley. Sometimes it is exhausting, to tell you the truth. Other days, it’s invigorating. But I always love it.
Robin
Oh and the chickens are cute.
Love the chicken stories. The one standing on your edging looks startled. I wonder what Olive and Minnie Ruth will look like when they grow up? When will you introduce them to the older ladies?
I think Olive will look like the prototypical white chicken with red crest. Minnie Ruth will just be mostly a dark black with the big ugly beak. We’re actually outfitting a much larger chicken coop for my growing hobby. Wait till you see!
Robin
I’ve been dying to hear about the chickens. I’m finding mine hysterical to watch also but I can’t wait until they can be outside full time.
Yeah, I’m ready for the little chicks to be integrated in with the older chickens. I’m working on a plan.
Robin
They seem so cute and animated when you write about them like that! I’m glad you’re having fun with them. I could almost hear them cackling while I was reading. I also looked at your lists posts on the Examiner and laughed. I posted my Fall to do list on my blog today for all the world to see and hold me to it.
D – I wouldn’t DARE post my “to do” list!
Robin
We may be allowed to have chickens in Buffalo soon. Some of my friends are interested, but I don’t think it would work for me.
Yours seem very cool.
I think the biggest issues with chickens in city limits is rooster noise and, possibly, smell. I don’t have a rooster, so all is quiet here. And I am a fanatic about cleanliness. Not everyone is and I can imagine in close neighborhoods there could always be one lazy offender.
Robin
I’m loving your chicken stories. You make me ache to have some. But I priced those Eglus and, egads! A venture for those in a different economic strata, apparently.
Most people build their own chicken coops with inexpensive materials. The chickens aren’t picky!
Robin
Who needs TV when you’ve got chickens!
Who needs TV anyway?
Robin
Yes! I was absolutely needing a chicken update. Thanks! They are just totally adorable, and I am getting jealous. Dunno how the boyfriend & the dogs (& the garden cat) would feel about chickens chez moi, but I am tempted.
Perhaps you can find someone who has chickens and visit–so you can see what they’re like up-close-and-personal.
Robin
Am following the chickens avidly. Keep posting about them!
Oh, I will! In fact, I have a big chicken announcement coming up soon!
Robin
This was a good day for me stop by. I didn’t realize how much I was craving a chicken story 🙂 So they go up in a tree when they can’t find the Eglu ? interesting….
Oh yes, as long as they can fly. My chickens haven’t had their wings clipped–yet. It’s not painful for them. It’s rather like clipping their toenails. But I haven’t done it yet.
Robin
Just thought I would let you know that all baby chickens go throught an “ugly phase”. Your 2 probably are not sick, just gawky teenagers! My family has had chickens for many, many years and I, too, enjoy watching them. They are better than tv!!! Keep the chicken stories coming!
Well, these certainly do qualify as ugly! Thanks for the note and reassurance. The whole chicken mamma thing is new to me.
Robin
Thank you for an installment of The Hens. I was wanting one. 🙂
Welcome!
R
Cute chicken & lovely pitures!!
Selma @ Livingguide
http://www.livingguide.se
Such wonderful chickens you have, more entertaining than anything on TV. I’m waiting for the video to come out! Cluck!
Chicken videos – yes! Great idea.
Robin
Your “little black chick” reminds me of my cat Bonnie. A fat body with a tiny head! I loved chickens when I was a kid. A real trip, watching them scratch and claw around.
Brenda
Minnie Ruth is not very pretty right now. Her small head and enormous beak contribute to her homliness.
Robin
Love the chicken chronicles! Keep up the posts!
I wish I could raise chickens. They are so cute…I think I’ll go Vegan.
I’ve enjoyed following your Chicken stories. But I’m sorry, I thought I’d left a comment on one of your earlier posts! My daughter is wanting to get chickens next Spring. They live in Omaha and have found the only restriction against raising them in the city is that they cannot be roosters. I need to send her your blog address!
I grew up on a farm. We raised chickens both for the eggs and for food. For awhile, gathering the eggs was my “job.” Can’t say I always enjoyed it. 🙂