since we moved to this house and had the coop moved over here, the chickens haven’t been able to roam
(neighborhood dogs… coyotes… golf course… makes for rough free ranging conditions)
i do enjoy the poop free patio though!
and i realize that they are chickens and they are fine not roaming.
but i am also caring too and i like seeing “happy” animals.
soon we will have an area for them to walk around bigger than the coop but this summer was packed and it just hasn’t happened yet.
sometimes when the sun is going down and it’s just before they will naturally go in to roost we will open the coop and let them out for a bit.
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the dogs are always curious….jpg)
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this was the first our kitten had seen of the chickens up close.
but was also very interested in the grasshoppers EVERYWHERE..jpg)
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then last night i was practicing my “caring” and let them out.
but forgot to shut the door later that night when they went back in.
blerg.
so… they all were out again this morning.
my trick did not work to toss them blueberries until they all went back in the coop.
how can their pea brain figure that out?!
so in my jammies… BEFORE coffee… i had to catch each one.
running. pouncing. grabbing. missing. grabbing again.
yeah… that will wake you up on a monday morning!
i bet my neighbors enjoyed the show.
THEN i got to have more fun by taking stanley to the vet to get his stitches removed from being neutered 10 days ago.
which required me to hold him down.
and sweat.
and get peed on.
can i start my day over please?
no?
ok… i will just go paint something instead.
KAREN OSBORNE - We have chickens and dogs also and I am amazed at how the chickens do not learn to stay away from dogs. Ours can fly into a fenced area around the coop (that is how they get into the yard) but when the dogs chase them they seem to lose this ability 🙁
CathyC - Too funny. Very pretty birds. The kitten is adorable.
Sue Groff - Unfortunately, I cannot see your pictures and your script because of a “Find New Roads With Your Family” ad from Chevrolet that has your picture on it. I love your blog. Please see if there is a way we, the readers, can remove the ad to view your post. Thank You
Jen - I am in awe of your photography. Stunning. Thank you for sharing your talents!
Jayme - I can completely relate. So we just finished up with our permanent coop for our 5 hens this weekend. The previous coop was smaller and closer to our house, so they became used to that arrangement (they free range during the day). Well we began the transaction to the bigger nicer coop and let’s just say I completely understand how hens do not just follow a trail of treats or allow themselves to be easily caught. Hubby and I were out in the evening for over 2 and a half hours trying to contain the ladies and can I just add that I’m 38 weeks pregnant. Entertainment at its finest if anyone could have seen it!
Janet - I love the photos! The black and white chicken is my favorite, altho the golden one is quite pretty too. The brown one looks a little cranky as if it might just peck that kitten if it came too close.
Jennifer - I love this post and can so relate! My daughter and I were chasing chickens around the yard a few days ago after a stray dog came into the yard and got one of our girls. There were some electricians working in the yard next door to ours, and I’m quite certain they were bent over in laughter at the site of us chasing these silly birds. It’s very easy to fall in love with your flock of feathered ladies. We even have some watermelon out for our girls to snack on right now.
Megan - I have so many animal questions for you, Meg.
How do you keep the dogs from eating the chickens? How do you keep them from eating the cat? How do you keep the cat from destrying your furniture? Do the cats want to eat the chickens? My new farmhouse has mice (eeek!!) and we are considering a cat to help out. But, I’m a dog person and my two big dogs have a high prey drive. I think they’d kill a cat. Perhaps it’s a lost cause for us. I also think they’d kill chickens if we ever got any. They sound vicious but they aren’t at all. Just hunters–birds, rabbits, bats…And I have no clue how to take care of a cat!
Cali Kliewer - This makes me smile. Mostly because we got a new puppy on Friday, and today was the first day I had to deal with a puppy, and two kids, and trying to get myself ready and out the door by 6:30. I may or may not have been seen in my yard, in my jammies, pre-coffee…chasing a puppy and begging him to poop. Only 4 more days until the weekend…