Treats?

All the hens know we come bearing gifts 🙂 They gather ’round and check us out; is she carrying an apple? Does he have a slice of watermelon?

Back_Forty_Summer_2012_August_5_1069_Black_Hen

Nikon D5100 f/10 ISO 400 1/250 s Nikkor 55-300@220mm – Summer 2012

This one was especially pleased because she was the first to notice me and I was close enough that she didn’t need to run. Running is bad because it alerts the others that treats are at hand. These hens do not want to share with their sisters!

Higgledy, Piggledy, My Black Hen

Actually, this is one of Bridger’s black hens. He really likes his Black Giant hens; they are good layers, very friendly, and forage for themselves. Or, they are willing to follow him around hoping for handouts! Bridger is known to share muffins, sandwiches, apples, cantaloupe… pretty much anything he is eating he will share with a nearby hungry hen 🙂

She Lays Eggs for Gentlemen - 2011

Hawken, however, gets a little unnerved by those chickens following him around, especially one large Welsummer rooster who runs up behind him (sounding like a person, as he is two-legged and runs kind of heavily), then stops and pretends he is not really following if Hawken looks around at him. Yes, we are amused by the little things in our lives 🙂