And then there were 5

Our fluffy babies are growing up.

What's left of them anyway.

Now they are in that embarrassingly awkward adolescent stage where they think they know everything and have terrible hygiene.

From the looks of it we are not the best chicken ranchers in town. At least I hope we're not.

Stranger - "I work part time at the railroad and I am the full time chicken rancher of two chickens, Buddy and Sally. So far they are like Adam and Eve and they haven't figured out how to get out of the garden."

Sally has just not been putting out like we wanted her to. You would think that after a year of love and food she would show some gratitude by making our breakfast, but no! At least not until about one week before the unspeakable happened. We didn't even get enough eggs out of her to make an omelet.

So we started out the year with Buddy and Sally and 8 new baby chicks (10 total).

Most of them soon met their demise.

• One chick died from natural causes the first week. This was followed by a mournful funeral service with all the trimmings. (9 left)



• Our sweet hen Sally lost her head to a neighbor's dog. This was followed by much crying and a quick burial. No more fresh eggs! (8 left)



• One adolescent chicken lost it's life to some unknown predator. This was followed by chicken parts being chucked out into the field. (7 left)



• The widower Buddy was given to a kind farmer because this farmer's wife was sick of him pooping on the front porch. This was followed by Buddy driving the new farmer's wife crazy but a deals a deal and he is not welcome back. (6 left)



• Two adolescent chickens mysteriously disappeared one night. There were no body parts to pitch. (Only 4 left!)







• One hen pecked hen was brought home from Auntie's house to find a new home at the Gallagher Farm. Fresh brown eggs again! (5's better than 4 I guess.)
  
  
  

Words cannot describe how much fun a four hour car ride is with a stinky full grown chicken in the back seat so here is a video. As you can see our new hen has terrible manners. Look what a mess she's making. She'll fit right in at our place.