Day 1131 Happy Hens

 

No one's happier when Tim and I have a night at home then our chickens. Opening the coop doors and letting the flock out into the yard to forage for bugs of all sorts gives them endless entertainment and nourishment.

Unfortunately, a couple of our more adventurous hens seem to prefer exploring the neighbor’s yard over their own. I found myself shooing them back, corralling them through the fence line and into our yard again. Once all the hens were happily tucked back into the coop for the evening, resting on their perches and settling in for the night, it was—of course—those same two who refused to go in, still too busy nibbling on tiny creatures and the tops of the green grass (what’s left of it).

Betty White used to be our biggest, most beautiful hen, but she's looking a bit scrappy these days. She’s several years old now and, after surviving mink, foxes, and other predators, I'd say she's on her ninth life. Since I skipped getting new chicks this year, our aging flock is without any new blood—but buckle up for next spring! That said, having a full flock of hens that all get along and keep pecking order drama to a minimum isn’t so bad.

Tim and I settled in for a quiet night at home, happy in our little nest and surrounded by our flock of content hens. Still, the house feels quieter than usual—we're missing our sweet Peps. It’s amazing how much space a tiny cat can fill in a home.

Even with the stillness, there's a special comfort in this simple life....happiness is built one day at a time.