Slow Walk and an update on Squeaky.

I took my first walk up to the ridge in, probably, three weeks.

I took it slow. My energy is not back to normal but I feel pretty good and this morning I woke up feeling the best I've felt for a week and a half. I find that a small  nasal decongestant seems to do the trick before I go to bed and once during the day. Clears up the stuffiness and makes me feel like I'm still in the land of the living.
I walked at a slow pace and finally reached the top of the hill.
It was so beautiful.

 New grass was coming up everywhere. Getting some rain... and then sunshine, brings the carpet of green up so fast. I heard new life everywhere. I heard birds singing and saw them move from one tree to another, anticipating the arrival of Spring.
They are frantically looking for places to build their nests and bring their babies into the world.
Such busyness! Such industry.

A Spring Azure, or common blue butterfly, was going from leaf to leaf, not stopping long enough for me to take its picture. Then it landed on a pile of dry scat. This held the butterfly's interest for quite a while and I was able to take this shot of it.
This is a male with checkered fringe and small dark dots. They love the rich, moist woods here and it would seem that they like scat too. He stayed there for quite a while until I got too close and then he flew away to other grasses up the trail.
I started back down the hill, stopping to take a picture.  The sun felt warm between the trees. In the shade it was still cool but where the sun reached through I could feel the warmth.

I scanned the ridge to see if a deer or other creature was watching me.
Nothing was up there.

As I moved back down toward the house I saw our chickens in the distance. They were free ranging  and that means they have the run of the outer edges of the farm. I don't let them into our yard in front of the house. They make the garden look like a bomb site.
 I think that our cat is herding them and keeping them in the area near their hen house. They never seem to stray any further than the parking area. Sometimes they will come into the front garden to dust themselves and if the garage is left open they always have to come in and investigate. They seems to stay close. Maybe it's Annibel, but sometimes I think they know there are  predators around.

This is Squeaky.

Someone asked about her a while back and I realized that I don't talk about Squeak' or the other chickens very much. I do appreciate them. I always thank them for their egg production when I get the eggs and tuck them in for the night, but I'm not really a "chicken" person. They don't give you good eye contact.
 They are kind of... how do I say this nicely... at a disadvantage in the brain department. I know I'm going to get some flack for this but it's true. They live their lives reactively and instinctively. Which is OK for a chicken... I guess.
They just don't look at you.
Dogs look at you. My goats look at us... but chickens don't. This bothers me.
I will have to say that my friend's chicken, in Montana,

 was an exception to the rule.
She would come into the kitchen for breakfast, sit with us and enjoyed our conversations... and took care of an old rooster out in the chicken house. She seemed to be a cut above most chickens.
She didn't make eye contact either, but she seems to be smarter than the average chicken.
 Generally though, I think they are kind of different and a little clanish.
But Squeaky.... she is a chicken unto herself. She's a banty. I didn't give the other chickens names, but for some reason I did name the three banties
Squeaky is beautiful, but rather insecure.

She came with Neapoleon, the rooster and Henny Penny, the other banty hen who went to her maker last year.They came here, as babies, seven years ago.
Squeaky has the most beautiful feathers. She is a "perfect" little banty. But, she is terribly broody and she squeeks instead of clucking. She doesn't lays eggs anymore and I have to feed her separately because she gets so overwhelmed by the big hens. Do they have valium for chickens?
 I guess I would be intimidated too, if I was her. Look at the difference.

She is truly on of the little people of the hen house.
 The hens are kind of rough with her. They chase her when she tries to get a piece of luttuce or seed.
Squeak' just squeaks and runs.
Neapoleon use to help her and she relied on him to protect her, But last fall he had a stroke and now he walks a little crooked and his head droops to one side all the time. I think that his days are numbered.
He is still head of the flock and he still rules the roost. He crows all the time and struts his stuff with the ladies. He has always been a gentle rooster.

I like Neopoleon. He's little and he is a good guy.
He's kind to the big, fluffy butt hens...

And they seem to respect him.
The chickens give us eggs and I always say, "Thank you ladies." to them when I leave the hen house.
But chickens are a funny lot.
I, personally, like this instead...

Murphy gave me a kiss when I put my face up close to him. He came right through the fence and planted those big lips on me. What a guy!
 Brownie is smiling. He is so happy about everything right now. The warm weather, having Murphy at his side and special treats.
It doesn't get much better than this.
I'm telling you... being kissed by a goat can make your day.

Bantam Bravery

"Once upon a time there was a tiny, tiny chicken named Chicken Little."

"One day Chicken Little was scratching in the garden when something fell on her head.
"Oh," cried Chicken Little, "the sky is falling. I must go tell the king."

"How do you know that the sky is falling, Chicken Little?" asked Henny Penny.
"I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head," said Chicken Little."
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This is MY Chicken Little.
Her name is Squeaky because she has this squeak instead of a cluck.
She is a Bantam chicken.

She's kind of a nervous bird.
She ALWAYS thinks the sky is falling and rightfully so. She is the only Bantam hen in the coop. A little chicken in a land of amazons.
There use to be another Banty. Her name was Henny Penny. She has gone over the Rainbow Bridge and now Squeak is on her own. We also have a Bantam rooster.

Napoleon is kind of busy staying on top of things so he's not much help to Squeak. He is a kind and benevolent ruler and has always been good to the "ladies", but he doesn't have time to defend Squeak from the other hens.
So, over the years, Squeaky has learned to be a survivor. She grabs the food and runs. She gets pecked and knocked around. Stepped on and chased... but, as the old worn out adage says, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". It would appear this is true.
The flock loves to "free range" but we don't let them do this everyday. There are so many predators around that it's not really safe to just let them run all over the place. So, when we know that we will be home most of the day, we let them out.
Squeaky loves these wonderful days of fresh grass and bugs.
She has space to be her own chicken.
She has room to roam... usually by herself.
So it was a surprise to see this the other day...

Not surprising because the chickens were dusting and resting in my chicken/turkey/deer ravaged garden near the driveway.
Not  surprising because they were all together soaking up the early morning sunshine...
but completely surprising because, on closer inspection, look who is with them.
There on the left... tucked right down next to all the Amazonians.
Yes, it's Squeaky.

She was all scooched down, covered with dust and acting like one of the clique... the sisterhood of feathers.
What a brave little chicken she is.  Even when another big hen came in to flop around and scatter dirt. Even when the barred rock behind her readjusted and kicked her accidentally... she just made a loud squeak and held her ground. What bravery! What fortitude!

She may be a "chicken little" but she's a tough little bird and we love her.
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This post was for my friend Jan, at Little Pink Houses,  who always asks about Squeaky.
Jan has a cat named Rusty that is going through a very rough time. He had a leg amputated because it had a fast growing cancer in it.  Poor kitty is not having an easy time of it. Please leave her a message and a few good thoughts.