Category Archives: Chickens

Down to three

July 23, 2021Chickens, wildlifesusanmanzke

One moment I had four hens. The next I didn’t.

It was afternoon when I saw my little flock walking around my flower bed. Well I thought it was my flock of four. What I saw was only three. I just thought the other one was out of sight, but close by.

Marble didn’t show up when it came time to roost that evening.

Marble is farthest left in this photo. I looked around for her. Eventually, close to the soybean field, I found her wing.

I’m keeping my last three hens inside today. Whatever ate Marble may return for another easy meal.

It’s hard raising pets that are tasty.

Darn those stubborn chickens

June 30, 2021animals, Chickens, Weathersusanmanzke

The storm clouds were rolling in and I continued to run around the yard.

Why? I continued to risk my life because I was trying to coax my four stupid hens to go inside their coop before the rain arrived.

I finally gave up and went into the house. I took this video from the porch as the chickens decided to get out of the rain.

This reminds me of an incident when I was a kid. The sky had turned green. Tornados were in the area and my mother was outside trying to get the goat in. I guess I take after my mother. We’d both be flying in the sky, holding onto our animals, as we flew to Oz.

Pecking order

June 15, 2021Chickenssusanmanzke

My four little hens look sweet but then at the 14 second spot in the video Marble shows who is boss.

No one was hurt and this doesn’t happen much, luckily.

Chickens, even hens, make it known who sits high on the perch.

First steps outside

March 23, 2021Chickens, funsusanmanzke

My four hens took their first steps outside yesterday.

The day before I opened the coop door but they didn’t go into the yard. They were afraid.

This time they made it all the way to the front porch. There they checked to see if the cats had left any food.

Chickens have good memories. First, they were afraid to go outside, thinking the coyotes might be lurking nearby. Second, they remembered about the cat food.

Each day I will weigh if it is nice enough to let them roam the yard or to stay inside. Wisconsin weather can be fickled and if snow happens to return, the hens will stay inside. They hate putting their feet in the cold snow.

Chickens having fun

November 6, 2020animals, Chickens, fun, Weathersusanmanzke

I know I’m enjoying this beautiful, mild, and warm November week, so is my dog, Sunny and my chickens are, too.

After coyotes raided our yard and spirited away five hens, the leftovers haven’t ventured far from their coop. Today was different.

Though this isn’t far from their home coop, it is the farthest they have been away from the scantity of their roost.

I handed out grape treats. Only Bonnie comes to take food from my hand, but the others are thinking about getting closer to yummy bits held between my fingers.

I hope you can enjoy these last lovely days of fall, too,

Too soon we’ll be back to regular November weather.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person