Sunday, July 24, 2016

Chicken Personalities

I'm probably repeating myself (I'm certain you're used to that by now) but my little chicken clucks have an abundance of personality.  I wish you could have seen Emmy Lou the other morning.  Even if I had had a camera handy, it wouldn't have captured the moment.  Or, maybe I'm just enamored with the girls and find their behavior charming.

On a recent morning the girls were helping with manure clean-up, as usual, when Emmy Lou hopped onto the wheelbarrow handle and took in a view of the world from a new vantage point.  Didn't quite suit her so she hopped into the wheelbarrow proper, pretty full with donkey nuggets.  I asked her if she realized what she was standing in.  Nary a word did she reply, but seemed pretty content to survey the donkey yard from there.  Finally it was time to move the wheelbarrow and I asked if she'd like a ride. At that point she ended the conversation and hopped down.  Yes, I found this highly amusing.  I guess it's me.

Then there's Ruby Dee (with Sweet Pea and Emmy Lou in the background).


The little devil likes to take pot shots at my feet in the mornings.  In the summer I always wear my barn sandals unless it's wet out.  Barns sandals are footwear past their prime.  But still perfectly wearable.  And comfy.



Sandals equal exposed feet.  You see where this is heading, right.
The little girl will come running over and give me a nice little peck on the foot.  Nothing too damaging but it's not pleasant.  Again, I ask, how does one chastise a chicken!  I've tried verbal lecturing, pushing her gently but firmly to the ground (which I've been told is a submissive posture) and a couple of times I've given her a little smack.  She's cagey about it too.  I'll think she's about to pounce, give her fair warning not to, then she'll wait a couple of minutes and get the last laugh.








Most mornings Buffy prefers the exotic water of the donkey trough.  It's so much more refreshing than lousy chicken water.

 And I have finally found my way into Buffy's heart -- with blueberries and grapes.  Instead of the "stinking banana" (her words, not mine) that I've been providing each morning, and the other girls adore.

In the world of chickens, there is always something interesting to investigate.
Perhaps we should adopt their philosophy.

8 comments:

  1. I think hens are so funny. Yours look fat and happy. My hen are not doing too good. Three have died this week and I don't really know why. The feathers on their necks are missing. I've cleaned around the chicken coop, put DE in their laying mash, and added DE to their dust bath. I keep their waterer clean and last week added 2 T. of unfiltered vinegar to their drinking water. Hopefully they will all get better.

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  2. What a wonderful post Janet. Love to hear about your chickens (in fact love any chicken stories at all). They are just wonderful creatures and they are just so addictive. Their personalities are so different and I am so glad I got my two youngsters (who now live in harmony, thank goodness, with our two year old Mary). These two would have been destined to go into the commercial industry, but now luckily for them (and me) they are having the time of their lives destroying (I mean helping) in the garden. They really are so funny and entertaining - I just love them. There's never a dull moment with chucks around!! Kind regards, Louise S, Cheshire.

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    1. Louise, how were they destined for the commercial side of chickendom?

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  3. Hi Janet, we got the girls from a farm that buys in day old chicks to sell them on to commercial farmers at point of lay for the supply of eggs - possibly destined to live their lives in cages or barns. Having kept chickens and knowing their wonderful personalities, this practice is barbaric. I recently signed a partition for our large supermarkets here in UK to cease selling "battery hen" eggs and to only supply free range. The way our animals are treated is of paramount importance to me. We have charities here that re-home ex commercial hens to save them from slaughter after they have lived an awful existence. They are only 18 months old and are classed as already spent because of their egg qualities. It is a wonderful thing to do to re-home these poor girls, but unfortunately some do not survive to enjoy their freedom or are subject to illness because of the way they have been bred. As my hybrids were bred to supply as many eggs as possible they probably will not live to a great age - BUT - they will live happily and free and very, very loved. Regards, Louise S, Cheshire UK.

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  4. Just realised that one of your chickens is called "Ruby Dee". Two of my original chickens were called Ruby and Dee. Sorry just a bit of useless information! Have a lovely weekend. Regards, Louise S.

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    1. I enjoy your sense of humor AND share you horror of the way animals are treated -- around the world.

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