Things have been pretty good at the coop, I mean the girls get along alright with one another, most of the time.
Back in the summer Mara decided to start roosting in a tree and just about drove me crazy. She had no idea how much danger she put herself in. I was finally able to break the cycle and we haven’t had any more trouble. Not until…..this past week.
One morning I went to check in on everyone and low and behold if Miss Priss wasn’t standing outside the fence. She started pacing back and forth wanting to come in with the other girls. However, every time I went to lead her in….she would run off. This went on for two days. I was most surprised that she lasted that long in the woods. I had to start doing a role call at bedtime again. Since the new automatic door opener was installed I haven’t had to go count as much. Sometimes we are busy when dusk rolls around and as long as I saw everyone sometime during the day then I usually felt like all was well. Especially since the predator thing hasn’t been an issue in the past few months.
Last night we were gone before dusk….so once we arrived home for the evening we checked in on everyone. Some of the girls didn’t make it inside before the automatic door closed. I think the timer may be off. Ever since daylight savings time change, we have had to adjust the timer over and over. When we got home some were cuddled up together in the window boxes on the front porch. Some others were huddled at the closed automatic door….bless their little hearts. A few others were in the new goat house we built. Billy and I started lifting them up and placing them inside the coop. They are so funny when they are sleepy. It reminds me of picking up a toddler and carrying them to bed. They just go with the flow….they are so out of it.
Once we had everyone we could find we did a head count. We were shy two hens. That really bothered me….but then I saw that one of them was Miss Mara. Honestly, I didn’t worry as much because she has been able to fend for herself so far. She actually likes doing the escape artist thing. She slips away without you even knowing she is gone. I hoped that Quinn (the other hen) was with her. Actually, they needed to be together because it was cold and they needed each other to stay warm.
This morning….bright and early….here came Mara and Quinn rounding the corner from the woods. I held the gate open and they strutted themselves right inside. I was glad to see them….but I don’t want Mara teaching Quinn her bad habits.
At dusk tonight I went to make sure everyone went inside. Everyone filed in like they should….except Mara.
She WOULD NOT go in the coop. She kept hovering around the fence line…near where she roosting this past summer.
So I resorted to Plan B. It isn’t the way I like to get her in the coop….but it does work….most of the time.
I caught her in my big old FISH net!
She clucked and carried on like I was killing her.
I had to march all the way across an acre of land to get her back to the coop….with her carrying on like that. I’m sure the neighbors think I am just plain out loony.
Especially when they see me with a chicken in a fish net….telling her to HUSH none the less.
Finally….she accepted defeat….and did hush.
Taking her inside I lowered the net onto the floor and let her walk out. If she was capable…I have no doubt that she would have stomped her feet and slammed her bed room door. She scooted up the ramp and squeezed herself in between two others who were already settled down. Once she had gotten them stirred up she decided to move and go to the roosting bar.
Here you can see she has placed her head under the feet of this blonde hen. She was trying her best to nudge her off the roost. She wanted THAT spot. Eventually….she got….THAT…spot.
Ruby decided she would just fly to the rafters where she wouldn’t have to deal with Mara any longer.
I just shook my head and told everyone good night.
I do know this……Mara is one hard headed hen.
I've Gone Country 