I’ve always been an “early to bed, early to rise” kind of person, so “going to bed with the chickens” is not a problem for me.  Ditto “up at the crack of dawn.”   But during these longest days of the year here in the northern climes, our free range chickens are causing me a fair amount of sleep deprivation.

Take today, for instance.  First light is at 4:45 a.m. according to https://sunrisesunset.willyweather.com/wa/pacific-county/long-beach.html.  Sunrise is at 5:23 a.m.  That’s about the time I’m having my first cup of coffee, and even though the chickens are up and stirring in the coop, they don’t really get anxious about door-opening time until 8:00 or 8:30.  By then, they are thirsty and eager to get to their water trough out in the run.  And they are feeling a little peckish about their morning snack.

At the other end of the day, though, they often push the limits.  Although sunset will be at 9:07 tonight, you can bet your basket of eggs that those girls will be out free-ranging in the rhodies until last light at 9:45.  I’ve told them that they are pushing my envelope pretty severely but you know how it is with chickens.  They only listen when they want to.

And speaking of listening — I’ve been noticing that when they hear my voice coming from inside the house (as when I’m talking on the phone) they all gather outside the nearest window to eavesdrop.  If I’m in the dining room, they come up on the front porch and gather under the dining room windows.  When I’m in the library, they scrunch under the hydrangea and cock their heads in an interested sort of way.  I wonder what’s going on in their little gray cells.

When the hummingbirds chase us from window to window around the house, we know that their feeder is empty.  I suspect when the chickens appear to be eavesdropping, they are hopeful that I’m about to bring them some scratch.  Even if it’s last light, I know for a fact that they aren’t signalling lock-down time.

No doubt afternoon naps are the answer to my lack of sleep problem, but I’m resisting them as firmly as I did when I was three years old.  I knew then and i know now that they are a waste of precious time…  And besides, if your mother is making a chocolate cake and your friend comes over to play, guess who gets to lick the bowl while you are sound asleep!!!