Sometimes there's too much movement around here. Folks walking in and out. Doors opening and shutting. Dogs barking. Lots of barking. Turn-style living.
When I'm quiet on the bed, like now, I get all jittery when constant heads peek around the corner at me. And when Gary has the t.v. on and is talking back to annoying commercials or news. And then when the kids will come down and bounce on the bed in order to tell me things (waterbed....bounce, bounce).
My nerves jangle around. And it's late and three of the boys are out, one at work who I can account for, one who should be home by now from visiting with friends, and one more who's been gone for awhile and will get home whenever he gets home. I just like knowing where everybody is and when they'll be back. Doesn't seem too much to ask. They're generally good about that, but every so often, they leave me dangling.
Blah, blah, blah.
After dinner, we decided (well, Gary decided) to let the chickens free-range in the backyard. I was paranoid that they'd fly to the top of our 6' wooden fence, but my worries were for nothing. We sat in chairs in the backyard and they all stayed together, not wandering more than 10' from us. Chickens are just that. Chicken. They'd flutter up on the sides of the coop-in-progress, but no further. When our next door neighbor fired up his lawn mower, they all stood stock still, cocked their heads and listened. Same when he turned on the weed eater. Freeze! No flying up and no misbehaving. And while we won't leave them outside loose by themselves ever, it is wonderful to be able to give them a bit more freedom.
And on the plus side---it is very soothing to watch them scratch and wander about. They always stay together. Always. Mesmerizing, really. Just slows a person down, watching chickens do their chickeny thing. I highly recommend it.
Oh, and for a laugh, get this. Our priest got about 8 chickens a month before we did. And remember this, here in town you can't have roosters. Now while Gary showed real wisdom in buying chicks that had already been sexed to assure us getting females, our priest wanted to take his chances. Out of 8 birds, he ended up with 6 roosters! I think that's hilarious and miserable at the same time. The sad part is that he and his wife got really attached to them, but happily they were able to give 5 of the roosters to a friend from church who has a farm across the state line. One final rooster is still with them, not leaving I don't think until he begins to crow. Apparently Leonard (rooster's wonderful name) is a lap-sitter, and full of charm. Guess you could say they served as foster parents for the 6 roosters. Darn. That must be hard. You do get so attached.
