A few days ago, I moseyed out to the chicken coop to see if there were any eggs to collect.
I heard a bunch of squawking as I opened the gate.
When I stepped into the coop, I was a bit taken aback by what I saw.
Goldie was in one nest, Phoebe in the other, Little Miss was standing in between both nests impatiently waiting her turn, but the shocking part was that Ms. Ambercrombie was standing on TOP of Phoebe pecking her on the head! I have never seen this kind of behavior from her before. Now granted, she is the ruler of the flock, and she has always been pretty cranky, but this was unnecessary roughness.
I shooed her out of the coop and hopefully everyone got to do their business undisturbed after I left. But I kinda doubt it.
Two days later, when I went out to check on things, Lydia had laid her egg up on the roost, presumably to get away from the mayhem down below. This has never happened before.
I decided that was as much as I was going to put up with.
I talked to a friend who has chickens and told her my dilemma. I asked her if she would be interested in a couple of hens.
She said yes.
Wait, you are thinking, a couple? I thought it was just the cranky head hen.
Well, during all this kerfuffle, I realized I also just have too many hens. I started out with four, now I had seven.
So I sent Ms. Amber's best friend with her.
Miss Jane. The beautiful slacker. The Queen of Broody.
So in the new flock, they will have each other.
And since the new flock will have a head hen of its own, I'm sure Ms. Ambercrombie's reign of terror will end abruptly.
I hate to put it so bluntly, but Karma is a bitch.
Here's Jane in the new chicken run...
She was headed toward the fresh tomatoes that were on the menu from the owner's garden that day.
I hope they enjoy their new home.
Today I spent a long time cleaning up the chicken run here at home. The remaining hens are being very quiet. I know they are aware that things have changed, so they are being contemplative about it. While I was out there working, I saw Lydia and Goldie sitting quietly in their respective nests, undisturbed, doing what good hens are supposed to do. Laying eggs.
I hope the calm continues, although there will always have to be a 'boss'. It's the way chickens roll. Or peck as the case may be. My money is on Lydia becoming the head hen, but you never know about chicken society. There may be a power struggle. I hope not. At least for now, it's pretty calm in the hen house.
And for this, I am truly grateful.
And since the new flock will have a head hen of its own, I'm sure Ms. Ambercrombie's reign of terror will end abruptly.
I hate to put it so bluntly, but Karma is a bitch.
Here's Jane in the new chicken run...
She was headed toward the fresh tomatoes that were on the menu from the owner's garden that day.
I hope they enjoy their new home.
Today I spent a long time cleaning up the chicken run here at home. The remaining hens are being very quiet. I know they are aware that things have changed, so they are being contemplative about it. While I was out there working, I saw Lydia and Goldie sitting quietly in their respective nests, undisturbed, doing what good hens are supposed to do. Laying eggs.
I hope the calm continues, although there will always have to be a 'boss'. It's the way chickens roll. Or peck as the case may be. My money is on Lydia becoming the head hen, but you never know about chicken society. There may be a power struggle. I hope not. At least for now, it's pretty calm in the hen house.
And for this, I am truly grateful.