Hen House Happenings!
November 17th 2006 01:37
A broody/moody hen
I have long believed that hens had absolutely no personality and are animals of very little brain. But I am prepared to say I was wrong. The more I observe them the more I see the differences between them.
One of the other chooks is a bit more sensible. She stands on one end of the weed and eats the other end. However another chook pecks off a great long stalk and spends the next five minutes trying to eat it without chocking. And finally you have the silly threesome, who meet you at the gate, get under your feet all the way in and then leave the scraps to the other chooks while escorting you out again. If they are expecting an extra personal treat they are sorely mistaken.
Still despite what appears to be silliness in most cases, I have to give my hens one gold star. I am pleased to report they have out-smarted the crows. As I mentioned in my Birds of the Bush story, crows are the most cunning bird there is. “Given half a chance they will find a way to take all the chook eggs, sitting in a nearby tree waiting for the hen to cluck once! If the farmer even goes to the gun cabinet and turns the key, the crows seem to know and if he takes one step in their direction – they are off.”
However, my clever chooks have shifted their nest under some wire far enough in so that no crow can get at it! The fact that I have to scratch my hands whenever I go to get the eggs is minor recompense for those clever chooks doing what I couldn’t do – sending the crows packing! Anyone want a fresh egg for tea!
Picture from Wikeopedia "Hens"
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