Bedtime in the Chicken House

Getting the chickens settled in just before dark is almost as hard as getting children to bed at night.  Poppy says I've got them all spoiled and he is not catering to a bunch of chickens!!  But it's my routine!  In the afternoon I let the chickens out to free range.  Just before dark they wander back into the chicken lot and begin flying up to their favorite spots on the roost.  Occasionally, a hen will decide she wants another hen's spot and an argument starts.
 
 The little black hen (the real Henny Penny that the sky almost fell on) wants the entire bottom roost for herself, which is fine, except the other hens need to use the bottom roost to get up to the second roost and she doesn't like them using her roost for a step ladder.  She stands guard and pecks each hen as they fly up.

The hen that roosts in the goat lot is the most stubborn of hens!!!  She flies out and then at bedtime waits for me to open the gate and let her back in!!  But she won't go in...she looks at me and walks off....I walk away and she goes back to the gate wanting in!  This goes on and on...Fried chicken has crossed my mind!!! :) Poppy shakes his head and goes inside!!!

After getting them all settled in, I head back to the house and see Fiona Ling Ling waddling up...with the other ducks not far behind.  I've learned to always carry a bucket of feed with me.  I feed Fiona and stand guard while she eats.  The old male won't let her eat with the others, so I'm thinking now that Fiona is a male.  

"Bickett" likes to play rough but then hides under the stool for protection...

Funny, I hadn't noticed how dusty and beat up these stools look until seeing this picture...the bar needs some furniture polish too.  Better get out the dust rag before going outside tomorrow.  UPS delivered the green garden fence today so I will be anxious to get busy with that.

Not much of a post.  Thank you if you're still here.  Poppy wants the computer, so I will say good night!!!

Love,
Henny Penny