Sunday, April 1, 2018

A Day In The Sun.

After my morning errands yesterday it was a delight to let the flock out on a bright and sunny spring day!

Oh how they roamed, scratched, and visited their favorite haunts hither and fore!

Without a care in the world I left them to their own devices as they ranged about looking for spring shoots, early bugs, and their favorite dust bathing spots.

All was well. Until ...

Late in the afternoon found them dug in deep under and about the neighbor's bush. They already scratched up the earth to a degree that would be unleashing to me if I were in my neighbor's position. Although my neighbors are incredibly patient and indulgent, I rushed to action with rake in hand.

Coq Au and a few of the hens were lazily milling about, but several of the hens were flattened out deep into the new dirt holes they had dug in the soft spring earth.

"You have a million sunny places to do this in OUR OWN YARD!" I chided.

My pleas were met with blank stares of indignant indifference.

"Okay, everybody OUT!"

I gently waved the rake and nudged some of the lounging poultry. Most of them reluctantly stood up, shook off the dirt, and began to collect under our mulberry tree. Hermione dug her talons in where she lay determined NOT to have her beauty treatment interrupted.

"Oh no! You ain't 'special'!"

Continuing to ignore my complaints AND even the gentle nudging of the rake I had to physically grasp her and PULL her up from her dirt bath. Defiantly she gave me an icy look and took deliberately slow steps to join the collective.

With the flock more or less together I began to herd them toward the run. Normally a few waves of the rake overhead is enough to send them trotting to the right direction but today they stood fast. The whole affair required more nudging and prodding. Coq Au gave serious thought to challenging me as he hung back and began to posture but his second mind thought better of it.

I hated to put them in earlier than intended, but they enjoyed several good hours of range time, it was already late afternoon to early evening, and I couldn't trust them not to return to the neighbor's bush.

Oh well ladies, better luck next time.

Hopefully we can try again today.

Happy Easter, Happy Passover, happy spring folks!

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