Crazy Chicken!

I have the most unusual chicken. Well, let me back up because she wasn't always so unusual. A couple of years ago, my husband got this great idea to raise some chickens. You know it will give the kids some responsibility and provide us with some very fresh, organic eggs. Well, we bought six little chicks. All was going so well until the kids (and some friends) chased one of the chickens through the fence into our neighbor's yard. I know that sounds harmless, but I need to mention that the neighbor owns 3 labs. So then there were 5! As time went on, we decided that we should get rid of the two chickens that enjoyed chasing the kids around and biting their little fingers. Doc and Jackie became a fellow fireman's soup.

It is important at this point in the story to tell you that Paige really connected with one chicken in particular, Hilda. She loved on this chicken daily. She carried it around, sat with it in her chair outside, she even brought it inside to enjoy some dry cereal and a private viewing of Finding Nemo (she soon learned that this won't be happening again). We were pretty protective of Hilda, because the remaining chickens Maria and Jenny were bigger and not so kind to her. Well...

A few months ago I was changing out door handles on my bedroom door and witnessed the neighbor dog dining on our precious little chicken family. I would like to boast of my boot throwing abilities. It was pitch dark and I hit this dog with each boot that I threw! I know, I was shocked too, he was quite a ways away. Needless to say our neighbor now has some meat put away for the winter. Much to our dismay, Hilda was among the casualties. After consoling a devistated "little chicken farmer" with the prospect of being able to pick out her own new chick next spring, we wondered what to do with our last very unfriendly chicken.

It is amazing how loneliness will humble the soul...of a chicken. Maria quickly adopted us as her family, including our dog. She truly believes she is one of us. If you leave the door open, she struts in like she owns the place...that is until I have words with her and out she goes. She tried desperately to get through my kitchen window the other night while I was cooking. Really, she made several attempts. She also pecks at the door while we're hanging out inside. I can hear her little brain, "Come on guys, I know you just forgot I was out here. Please let me in." She has made an 8ft ladder in the shop her new home (during the remodel the chickens lost their home). She also for the first time in almost a year decied to start laying eggs again. What exactly do we do with eggs laid from the top of an 8ft ladder? Exactly, we sweep them up! She has turned into the most unique little pet we have owned. Crazy chicken!