Saturday, April 2, 2011

Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch

When we got home this afternoon, I let the chickens out of the coop and they raced to the yard screaming, "Mama! Why'd you keep us in chicken jail so long?"

And they proceeded to scratch around the yard the way they do and after awhile, I heard a big old commotion on the front porch. Daffodil was standing on the steps cackling up a storm and Elvis was standing on the porch and Miss Dolly was sitting in the fern pot.
"What?!" I asked them and they just continued on.
After awhile the noise got louder and I went out to see Elvis wallowing in the fern, cackling and wooting the way he does when wants the hens to lay in a certain place. You see, this is yet another task of the husband of the sister hens- pointing out good nests to them. I swear, the more I learn about chickens, the more I know about humans.

I took the trash to the trash place and I came back and Dolly was back in the fern and Elvis was standing guard like a daddy in the labor room.

Lord.
May called and we talked for quite a bit and then I heard more noise and went and checked out the situation and here's what I found:

A nice brown egg laid in the flattened out remnants of my fern which is at least ten years old, maybe older.

Damn.

And still- I wouldn't trade my chickens for anything. Like I keep saying, there is something about having chickens which makes me feel as if my life is complete.

Yesterday when Jan and Jack were here, Jack was talking about how much he missed having chickens. But they live sort of in town these days (Monticello) and they don't even eat eggs. "What would we do with the eggs?" Jack asked.
"Give 'em away!" I said.
And Jack said, "We could give them to the food bank!"

Which to me, is brilliant. You'd have the pleasure of having chickens and you'd be giving away perfect protein to those who need it.

Win-win.

As I have said before and I'll say again- chickens have done more for the human race than Jesus Christ. And they're soothing and beautiful and real as a deviled egg with paprika sprinkled on the top.

Has anyone ever gone to war over chickens? Has anyone killed anyone over the burning of a chicken-book? Is there anything better than chicken and dumplings?

I rest my case.

And I love my chickens.

12 comments:

  1. And you can use their poop for soil enrichment, right?

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  2. Something funny for you to read, regarding chickens and war: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/nyregion/14chicken.html

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  3. Syd- Can and do.

    Elizabeth- Religion is so weird. So are franchises and copyright laws.
    Thanks for sending this on. It was...enlightening.

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  4. bock bock booooock!

    Today I feel like a sloth, yet I cluck like a chicken. I know why I don't drink anymore. Regularly. ugh.

    Nice post.
    xo

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  5. I want chickens!!!

    Going up country here in Liberia was fun, to see all the roving chickens, goats, sheep, ducks.

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  6. Dear Mary, I still haven't mowed my lawn. I want to get out there and do something. It's a fine, sunny day here. I sat on the terrace and had coffee in the morning sun. I know I should do it but it's 11am and I haven't been to bed yet, I don't want to give myself a heart attack!

    After reading your post, I think I'll go and make scrambled eggs first then maybe attempt the lawn xx

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  7. Your chicken wisdom is good. I didn't know that was what roosters did. Interesting!

    I'd be really sad if I didn't eat eggs.

    Dade asked for pets the other day. he really misses our dogs :(

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  8. Ms. Fleur- Very busy in the chicken world over here yesterday.

    NOLA- That must have been lovely.

    Christina- You should have gone to bed! Bless your partying-all-night-heart!

    Jo- I wish you could get him a few banty hens.

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  9. As I have said before and I'll say again- chickens have done more for the human race than Jesus Christ.

    Watch out. They might start burning your albums. Laugh.

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  10. Sunday morning I read this to A as she cooked breakfast and we giggled over Miss Dolly in the old fern as Elvis stood guard. Then we ate our breakfast of eggs and sausage. But I doubt the chickens who laid these eggs are as happy as yours.

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  11. Since we have those wily coyotes in and out our neck of the woods we can't let the hens out all the time. Your description of how your girls behave when you let them out of "chicken jail" (love that!) is exactly how ours behave. Do yours have "cliques"? Ours do...

    Haven't had any eggs laid outside the hen house...to my knowledge..hhhmm. Nope..I don't believe so.

    I have a silly photo to show of our girls from over the weekend..yes the chickens are an endless source of entertain..to us and to family and friends who stop by. Everyone loves getting eggs from the "girls"!

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  12. For some reason "the burning of a chicken-book" made me laugh.

    And what someone up there said about the poop... win-win-win

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