Birds of A Feather Flock Together (In the Pasture Now)

Since late August (right before Hurricane Laura), the pullets have lived in the chicken tractor in the back yard.  Correction: The day before the hurricane blew in, we moved the chicks and chicken tractor into the garage.  Shortly thereafter, we moved them out into the backyard.  We would roll the tractor each day, or every two or three days, to fresh grass.  The pullets foraged and scratched for bugs, worms, and tender grass to eat.  In fact, they denuded portions of the back yard.  The barren wasteland below was thriving with clover and winter grass.  No more.  The voracious birds turned it into mud and dirt.

So we figured, now that they are laying eggs, it is time to move them out to the pasture.  We had best move them out, lest our back yard turn into the dust bowl days come summer.  It is no small task.  First, we had to remove Belle, our Great Pyrenees, out of the pasture.  We don't trust her yet.  She may eat them all.  Next, we brought the young hens out to the pasture in a blue tub, five at a time.  

Before setting them free, we clipped one of their wings.  You don't want them flying over the fence and into the mouth of neighborhood dogs, possums, raccoons, or other predators.  You really don't need to clip both wings - clipping one will do.  It will keep them off balance.  A funny story about clipping wings, about 10 years ago, I set out to clip the wings of some pullets.  Somehow, I was holding the (very dull) scissors oddly and the repetition of the process and the pressure of the scissors against my finger caused a weird phenomenon.  My middle finger went numb.  It stayed numb for days!  I was concerned that I had damaged my middle finger - not that I use it that much...  But after a week or so the feeling came back.  Needless to say, I was very careful this time.  Slow and steady is the game plan.

The hens didn't like that much.  They would cackle and shriek and flap their wings.  This would incite the rooster to come nearby in threatening fashion for messing with his harem.  I was poised with the scissors should he be tempted enough to try to spur me.  We'd have a fresh rooster gumbo, for sure.  In the end, we finished the task.  

The hens and the rooster were rewarded with freedom.  A wise man once made a wise quote about freedom.  The context wasn't about chickens, but I guess you could say that we were happy to give our birds freedom.

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it.  - Abraham Lincoln

After months of being cooped up, in the literal sense of the word, the birds are free to roam on the pasture and be birds.  They were happy.  The bottom door of our chicken tractor that a great friend of mine built, is left open so that they can go inside and lay their eggs, leave and forage for food and then return at night to roost.  We are a little concerned about the hawks.  Tricia has been counting them every day and so far, all of them are still accounted for.

Pretty soon, the rich spring grass will grow and the hens will have lots to eat.  The yolks of their eggs will get a dark yellow color not present in store bought eggs due to their diet.  The taste of spring eggs are second to none.

Green grass will once again fill the pasture.  Hopefully, green grass will fill our back yard again now that these girls are off of it!