HOME ALONE

I decided to top off my birthday by letting the chickens free-range again. They have been locked up because of the strawberry crop and because the "teenagers" (the Twylas and Junes) might not know what to do about free-ranging. Their gate was opened at 7:30 p.m. and the big girls and Boss Hog headed out in delight. They were eager to wander again. The teenagers took a while to realize the older chickens were gone. Did they run outside too? Nope, they took advantage of having the house and pen yard all to themselves. They ate everything in sight and as it got closer to bedtime, they were like Goldilocks in the Bear's house. They clustered in every roosting spot inside the house as if to say, "We can sit here and you won't know! Of course as soon as the hens returned the teenagers were pecked and pecked until they wound up where the ladies wanted them. It was a fun end to a perfect day watching my chicken family.