As we watched our chicken flock dwindle dramatically this past summer, we eventually decided that "flock fortification" would be necessary. We ordered two types of birds to add to our remaining three layers.The first kind is a heavy breed- the ladies from which will weigh upwards of 9 pounds(!). They have small combs and feathered feet, making them ideal for winter in Iowa.
The second breed we ordered was my choice- they are called Easter Egg layers, for the beautiful blue and green hued eggs they produce. Understandably, I was quite excited about this prospect! While Phil's choice may be more practical, certainly I have chosen the more aesthetically pleasing!
As they have been growing these past few months,one thing has become clear- Phil's "large" birds are lazy. That, or they are lacking a few important brain cells.
Let me explain
There is a house we drive past on our way to the "big city" that has free range hens. These hens hunt and peck all the way out to the ditch, and right next to (but never on) the main highway. We marvelled at how these unfenced hens could roam, but never meet a car with unpleasant results. 
Did the owners train them? How did they learn to stay close to home? How did they know to go back in the coop at night? Was this a lengthy training process?
And then we got our own chickens, and found out that this is normal. Chickens love to roam and look for food, but will rarely go more than 100-200 feet from their coop. Come dusk, they will fly home and roost on the highest possible location out of harms way. No intensive training program needed!
But these hens? They don't go inside at night. While the Easter Egg chickens and our three older layers were inside rustling and jostling for a comfy nighttime spot, these ladies were hunkered in a ball outside the coop. This time I had my camera, because it was the fourth night in a row I had picked them up by hand and delivered them into the door of their coop.
The first night I found them along the coop's fence, barely visible because they were all smashed together as low as they could get, murmuring shivers against the cold winter winds.
Can't you just see them freezing? Waiting for the elevator? What are they doing? Didn't they get the memo about all chickens hunkering down in the coop at night? Oh ladies...
Go inside! Aren't you cold?
2 comments:
Silly little chickens. Have they figured it out yet?
What would these poor chickens do without you? I doubt that people such as neighbor Mike would take the time every night to place each and every one of those chickens into the coop. They chose the right home.
I love the "remodeled" coop!!
Post a Comment