Clear Communication At The Coop!

Farmer Nyel isn’t buying it, but I’m pretty sure the chickens are beginning to understand some English.  Either that or they have perfected mind-reading, which Farmer Nyel would never believe either.  Not because of the chickens.  Because of my mind.

Today we awoke to “one of them variable mornings” as the folks’ old handyman Bob Meadows would have said.  It was pouring rain at first light, then a little break and Nyel said, “Here’s your opportunity!”

I was on it!  Hat on uncombed head.  Field jacket buttoned over hiked-up bathrobe.   Boots on bare feet.  Truly a vision of loveliness.  I grabbed the scratch container which had some over-the-hill cherry tomatoes in it and added some cracked corn.  I also filled an aluminum-foil pie plate with yummy poultry crumbles — their dietary staple.  And off I started.

As I reached the half-way mark, the skies opened: huge pelting raindrops and nasty icy hail beat on me and my chicken offerings.  I hurried.  Only faithful Snowhite was in the run but when I said, “Here I am!” with as much cheer as I could muster, Slutvana and Little Red came out of the coop and down the ramp.

Usually the group gathers just inside the gate, jostling for who will bolt out first when it opens.  And, usually I throw the scratch out on the lawn, encouraging them to leave the coop and “free-range.”  (They actually need no encouragement.  Not ever.)

Usually, too, their food is in a food trough inside the coop.  Not now, though.  I’m hoping to starve out the rat or at least leave only the “food” in the chicken-proof rat trap.  So the girls are probably a little off their feed, so to speak.

So, as I was unlatching the gate, I said, “Go on under the coop.  We’re not going out today.  It’s nasty out.”  And, under they went, leaving me to open the gate, throw the scratch under the coop and place the food pan as far under as I could — out of the hail and rain.

I closed their gate behind me and hurried back to the house as the rain and hail stopped and the sun burst forth for a minute.  My heart was full of joy!!  English  understood!  Or was I speaking chicken?  I really thought Farmer Nyel should be more impressed.  Maybe you had to be there.

One Response to “Clear Communication At The Coop!”

  1. d joy howell says:

    Sydney and farmer Nyel, love this, i believe
    you created the moment! Happy chicken talk!

Leave a Reply