Chicken chores

Come along with me while I open up the chickens in the morning.

Because of the spring predators, I have been keeping the chicken run closed so they can’t roam free until ai release them a little later in the morning. Probably totally unnecessary at this point in the summer, but they like their messy little run.

Because we do not have water or electric down at the coop, I almost always carry at least one bucket of water with me when I visit the chickens. The pink bucket has water, and the red one has treats (lettuce and spinach). When the hens hear me coming they all crowd to that one corner by the gate.

The goats are locked in their paddock until I finish chicken chores. They are eager to either get out or get a cookie.

Turn up the volume to hear Sarge, who’s been working on his rooster crow below.

Our nesting boxes are a mess. They have a separate 3-part plastic nesting box that everyone refuses to use. This 6-box metal unit has perches that constantly fall off (we are working on a new plan for that). And if you look closely, two of the boxes are each occupied by two hens at a time! What weirdos.

One of my oldest girls. Looking a little shabby after molting some of her feathers, but she’s a very alert and sweet hen.

There’s Sarge. What a good rooster.

Beautiful plumage.

The same breed as Sarge (cochin), but a different color scheme. This gray girl is so fluffy, and she is pretty terrified by humans, so when I come around by her she immediately heads another way.

This is Yogurt, who other than Sarge is the only “named” chicken. He was the gift of a former student from my first year of teaching and remains one of our oldest girls.

Yogurt’s got an itch.

Steve bought this chicken (and two others like her that didn’t last as long) to keep Yogurt company, since we didn’t have any other chicks when we inherited Yogurt.

This is what I see as I return from the coop - three goats waiting to be released, and Josie keeping her distance!