Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

When I was a kid someone sent me a birthday card that said:
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To meet his friend, Gregory Peck.

Silly but I've never forgotten that.

Now I have and have had chickens and the ladies live exclusively in my back yard.  Unless, of course, I leave the gate open.  In the event of an accidentally ajar gate, the ladies high-tail it through the side yard and head for the neighbor across the street.

Why always the neighbor across the street?  Why not the neighbor to the left or right?  Always its across the street.  So, can someone please tell me...

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Madder than a Wet Hen

My Wet Hen Marie

As a youngster growing up, I distinctly remember my mother using the phrase "madder than a wet hen".  In the back of my mind, she was referring to one of her sisters but I'm sure she used it to describe other women as well.

For most of my life I have assumed if you get a chicken wet it will, in turn, get mad.  Why would my mother have reason to lie about wet hens?  She grew up on a farm for gosh sakes.  Clearly she knows her farm animals and their propensities toward rain or water.

Last night the weather was looking a bit stormy.  The ladies had not had much time to free-range this week and I really wanted them to get out in the yard for a good stretch of their wings.  Out they came from their run, happy as clams to be roaming about gathering bugs.  (Great, now I have find out if clams are really happy...Guess I'll be 'googling' after this post)

Then it came.  The winds and the rain. I was out gathering eggs and ran for the back porch to take cover.  I assumed the ladies would head for the cover of their run. Since they saw me running to the house, they came a flapping behind me.  I thought it was to take cover.  They thought I was running for the meal worm treats kept on the porch.  With no treats to be seen, off the ladies went back into the yard and into the rain.  Hunting.  Pecking.  Gathering bugs.  Not one seemed the least bit mad.

As the rains came in heavier, the ladies opted to take a break in the covered run but that only lasted a short time.  Back out they went into the rain.  Crazy ladies.

Felicia shaking off the rain

Dolores unphased by a light shower

So what am I to surmize?  Are my chickens different?  Are they happier?  Do they know they not know what my mother knows?  I am certainly not going to tell them.  They looked too cute frolicking out in the rain.

Backyard Chicken Workshop Update

Its official!  A date has been set for the first Backyard Chicken Workshop!

On Sunday, February 24, the Hiers Hen House will be hosting a workshop to raise awareness and provide insight in to raising happy, healthy, productive backyard hens.

The worshop is sponsored by Sow Share, a collective self-reliance program for South Florida Residence.  If you are interested in attending the workshop, please contact  SowShare for more details or visit SowShare on their Facebook page.

We would LOVE to see you there!

Scrambled Eggs with Crunchy topping

Back to Basics

While I love the holidays and truly love the time spent with my adorable mother, fabulous sister and scads of comical and charming cousins, I am glad to be back to routine.  For the last several weeks it has been a frenzy of packing, traveling, un-packing, more travel, hugs, kisses, goodbyes, hellos and work sprinkled in.

During the time I was away, I know the ladies were well cared for by my adoring husband.  He loves to free range the ladies as much (if not more) than I.  And while I know they were out and about on a regular basis, is was not with me.  Their routine may have not changed but mine did and I was ready to have it back.

Today, for the first time in weeks, the ladies and I had an entire afternoon to free range and I had the opportunity to really get back into routine.  The run was cleaned and raked.  The water and food cleaned and changed.  The coop scrubbed and cleaned, all with the help of Lois (the watch chicken).  Lois is the supreme supervisor when it comes to my cleaning abilities.  Rarely does a coop clean go by without Lois on the high roost keeping a watchful eye.

There is just something about walking about the yard with hens under foot, cooing and pecking and making us smile and laugh.

Backyard Chicken Workshop

More and more my husband and I have been discussing giving back to society.  As we have more time on our hands than money, it has become important for us to give back in a way that is less financial and more hands-on and spiritual.  

We have contemplated various outlets and organization but never felt the right fit.  The timing wasn't right. Our expertise wasn't there. Or we just plain didn't have a connection to the cause.  We both needed to feel it and we weren't.

So many times I have heard that "timing is everything" or "everything happens for a reason".  While I truly believe both statements, never have they both been so clear.

Today the stars aligned though various friends and connections and we will hopefully begin offering a quarterly workshop on How to Raise Backyard Hens, bringing awareness to the community.

We are both cautiously optimistic about our new found "pet" project and hope to share the wealth of knowlege we have gained over the last year of raising and caring for our Ladies.

Details will follow as soon as they are worked out.

Our Buff Orpington, Fran, eyeing up her first egg!