Big Red The Stalwart

I was pretty sure I couldn’t be completely clandestine about my mission at the coop this morning.  Even though I led the flock far out of sight-range when I gave them their morning treat, I was pretty sure they’d figure out that something was up.  It’s hard to keep secrets from chickens, especially with Big Red always alert to his rooster duties.

My “mission” was to ready the quarters adjacent to the coop and run — originally the broody pen and now isolation chamber for new flock members.  It is closed off from the main run by chicken wire and a gate.  It allows the old flock members to get used to new residents (and vice-versa) gradually, a ploy that usually helps avoid arguments (and sometimes fights to the death) when the co-mingling time arrives.  The most recent residents in “The Apartment” (as we choose to call it now) were Big Red, the rooster, and  his sister, Gladys.  Their integration with the three older residents went perfectly.

the Apartment

Now, I’m readying for the two Fagerland Ladies.  They are older than any of our current flock and are thinking about re-locating to Oysterville from Seaview.  I think it’s just a matter of their Boss/Farmer finding time to transfer them.  Farmer Nyel and I talked it over and decided that we’d not give them advance warning.  Not that they’d plot or plan, but we don’t want them to get overly excited with anticipation.

Snowhite The Curious

However, I do think Snowhite has an inkling.  She often does.  Like some people who are super-intuitive, Snowhite seems hyper-alert whenever coop routines differ at all.  During morning treats today, she hung back and, as soon as she saw me enter the run, she came over to join me.  “What’s up?” she clucked, as clear as clear can be.  I didn’t tell her a thing… but she’s hard to fool.