The Girls(Cabbage , Peanut , Soupy , Ham and The Andrews Sisters , because I ca n’t tell the other three asunder ) pretty much idolize me . When they ’re scrounge around the thou and I come out of the house , they come running , their footling lily-livered substructure pitty - pattying across the deck . I ’m certain it is because of our reliable and deep bond and not just because I often have treat in my pocket . Well , pretty sure , anyway .
So it worry me the other sidereal day when only six of my seven girls show up for a nibble . Was theGigantic Coyoteback ? Had a bobcat or mortarboard made off with one of the Andrews Sisters ? I tossed a fistful of goodies onto the lawn and go bet . Maybe she was just in the middle of place an ballock , and could n’t be bothered to come and see .
I popped open up the hatching to the egg box , but no downlike little biddy edge . venerate the worst , I scanned the yard , looking for a revealing atomic reactor of feathers . Nothing . Hmm . I noticed then that the egg box could use a small TLC , so I bent down to get the bag of shavings I salt away under the shanty . Aha ! There was LaVerne or Maxene or Patty , snuggled down in the old bag atop four egg . She ’d gonebroody .
This was a new thing for me . Should I leave her alone ? Would she find her way back into the hencoop at Nox ? I do n’t have a rooster , so it was n’t like those eggs were ever going to hatch . I nudged her out of the shaving bag and break up up the orchis . She glare at me and made some minacious motions with her head . In font you ’re not familiar with chicken , their heads are fitted with “ beaks , ” sharp , pointy jutting that can be used to poke muddle in bleak calves . I retreated with my fascinate eggs and headed for the interwebs .
It seems thatmostpeople are excited when their biddy go brooding because it mean that soon there will be a new batch of bird . But without a rooster , the hereafter of the grip of nut the broody gal is harboring is , well , grim . My acquaintance Carol buy her brood hen hen a 12 constitutional rich eggs at the food market store , right out of the cooler , and hatch outnine chick ! But I was n’t quick to add up to my flock just yet . The answer ? Break her .
Nooooo!I do n’t intend “ break ” as in neck , I signify “ break ” as in change her behaviour . I find a act of suggestions , but I did n’t really desire to suspend her in a low telegram cage for four days … it reminds me of that scene inPirates of the Caribbean . I went back out to contain on her , and she had relocated to a new spot under the pack of cards , snuggled inside a roll of ( ironically ) chicken conducting wire . I get out her there until it was time for bed , then crawled under and extricated her .
For the next few days , we flirt this game : Patty or Maxene or LaVerne would hide in a new spot . I would situate it , permit her last out there until evening , then take away her and put her safely to bed . I believe that I enjoyed this game more than she did ; she was emphatically cranky when I ’d arrive to tuck her in , much like the kids back in the sidereal day when I ’d interrupt a Sponge Bob rerun with the unwished-for word that it was bedtime . Except the kids did n’t great deal , kick or squawk quite as much as MaxenePattyLaVerne .
After a few twenty-four hours , Ms. Andrews gave in and rejoin the other Girls in their everyday procedure of foraging , dusting and pecking at the front door begging for treats . She seemed to have forgiven me . Next clip , maybe I ’ll bribe her some fat eggs and let her do her matter .
Get chicken - keeping help on HobbyFarms.com :
« More Greenhorn Acres »
