Free Range Renegade Chickens

 

I let me chickens free range in our yard.  They usually stay pretty close, clean up the bugs, break down the “horse apples” and work up the compost pile.   At this time of year, my hens get broody – especially this Spring – it has been so nice.  Well, yesterday, I was going up the steps to the top of the barn to throw down some hay – when I heard “Peep, Peep.”  This usually involves my digging through bales of hay to find all the chicks.  So, I followed the “peeps” to find that a hen had set on a nest of eggs in a bucket under the steps.

I pulled the bucket out and moved the whole bucket to the chicken coop.  I tipped it on its side and gave them some water – boy were they thirsty!

Soon, other curious hens came over to see what was going on.  I decided to go do a little more investigating to see what other hens I could find.  I found one in a vegetable basket….setting….

I found the start of a nest in an old planter….

I have several hens setting in the coop too.  I want to have some little chickens here for my daughter’s graduation party.  When our oldest daughter graduated and we had her party here, the little kids loved chasing the chicks.  I’ve already been asked “will you have some chicks???” 

Blessings from Wisconsin.