Chicken News

We are pleased to report that the Little Hennies are settling into their New Big Hen House and their new Big Yard. When they 1st moved over from their Wee Small House, they hid in the tall grasses and flowers near their New Big House. They would come out of the tall Magical Plants on occasion and run quickly back in. In this very earliest of stages in the Big World, they mainly hung out with the other Little Hennies, so we mostly saw them as a pack.

Most of their Big Sisters were and are quite accepting. At first, a few were a little cranky, as if they didn't want to share with their new Little Sisters who were now a constant presence in the yard. I think they wondered why they were not asked about this new addition to the Chicken family on Butterfly Hill Farm.

The most energized time for the Hennies has been Settling into Bed-Time. We are very pleased to report that the Little Hennies know their New Big Hen House as their home and their sleeping space. Just before Bed-Time, Melanie and I usually go into the Hen House to sit with the Little Hennies. We used to do this in their previous houses, so it just seemed right to do here.

I sit on my 5 Gallon Plastic Green Pickle Bucket and Melanie is close beside. Pretty soon, the Little Hennies perch on us. Their quiet sounds seemed to be a sharing of the news of the day and settling in for the evening. They preen, as is their ritual in tidying up before bed. I guess we do that too.

They seem to love to gather beside me. I must look a bit like a Mama Henny myself. They gather around my feet. Up to 4 or 5 will jump up on me nestling on my legs and sometimes perched on my shoulders. Usually, I have 2 in my lap who are poking their heads under my arms, as if my arms were wings without feathers.

The Little Hennies were and are often the 1st to settle in on various perches (mostly the 2 wooden ladders) about the House. However, that has presented a wee small problem because their settling places already had been claimed by the Big Hennies. "Mine!" Those 1st few nights in the Hen House featured a variety of vocal displays and new dance steps as the Big and Little Hennies were finding their places in a world now new to all.

As the days pass now into a week in their New Big Hen House and out into the Big World, the Little Hennies are more and more confident. At first, they stayed very close to their coop. Now they move out into the yard more and more.

A recent development has been that the Big Hennies, who seem to want a break from their Little Sisters, are now ranging down the drive toward the Road. We are not happy about this. So 5-6 times a day, you will see Melanie or Richard running down the Drive with a white tea towel in hand to usher them back. We call it "Chicken Wrangling". We even invited Rachel out to help and were grateful she came to share in our musings on this recent development.

Dear Rooster Freddie's entourage of Hennies has grown from 20 to 36. He looks a bit stressed. We have been trying to imagine what he must be thinking these days. He takes his role as Rooster very seriously. Keeping the Hennies protected, responding to their calls of distress on any part of the Farm, and feeding them are all part of his responsibilities. It's a big job.

Of the Meat Birds, 8 of the 50 Little White Plymouth Rock Roosters remain. Richard processed 10 this morning. Their little House and Flock looks quieter these days. Our freezer is filling up. We haven't yet had Chicken to eat, but will soon.

I should apologize to the Chickens for this writing. What you see before you is a very pitiful rendition of "Chicken News" written by a Human with the biases we Humans are known to have. I wonder what stories those lively Chickens would tell of themselves. They probably would have some intriguing stories to tell of us Humans too.