Chicken Rodeo

We know it is our bedtime.

We know it is our bedtime.

We just want to stay out and party!

Oh, alright if you say it's bedtime.

We have always had chickens since we moved into this house. I was the one that brought the original 4 silkey chickens home almost 20 years ago. We have had as many as 80 chickens at a time. Our latest small flock of 4 was given to us by a friend of my husbands that couldn't keep them due to the crowing. There were 2 roosters and 2 hens. After a time the hens hatched out some eggs, more roosters. We then had 5 roosters and two hens so we were looking for some more hens to even out the flock.

The McGraws were looking for a home for their chickens so they could have the large hutch back for their big Flemish Giant. This worked out for both of us. We took the chickens home from the Lehigh Valley show and settled them into a large screened section of the barn for 2 weeks so they would know their new home in the barn.

Chickens have very small brains and it takes much work with them to help them understand the routine. After much time in the barn introducing them to the other chickens, the door to their section, the door to the barn and finally on a lovely warm, sunny, day, introducing them to the great outdoors. You would think that with all the time we were spending introducing them to their new surrounding, that they would get it. At night we all go to sleep in the barn so we will all be safe.

Oh, no, not us! Us chickens love to watch the silly Shepherds chase us around the yard with big rakes, having heart attacks. While we are trying to make their way back to Maryland. I know they are trying to go back as they always head south. After awhile, we chickens get tired of watching the crazy Shepherds and then we decide to go visit the barn and finally go to sleep. The baby goats think this is entertainment put on just for them and they race along with the crowd. Hopefully, the little chicken brains will get the routine before the human rodeo rustlers keel over. They are much younger and more full of energy then we are, so I don't know who will win in the end . Probably them.