Portage River Farm

After three evenings of concentrated work on the chicken enclosure fencing, it is finally complete enough to allow them out of their temporary cage to forage. Immediately upon being released they clustered around my feet and began pecking at everything in sight in search of something interesting to eat. They are as tame as can be and will readily tolerate petting or even being picked up and carried around. The only objection I ever get is a squawk when I accidentally step on one of their toes because they cluster so heavily around my feet that it is nearly impossible to walk.

It is entertaining the watch their antics as they explore their new world. They will sometimes run and flap their wings in what appears to be simple joy at having so much room to run around. There is one particular spot in the yard that they have made into a chicken hot tub. Freya had dug in that spot a few weeks ago with a shovel to fill in a nearby hole. She left behind a circular area with fine sandy dust. The chickens crowd into this little basin, hunker down and roll about flipping dust into their feathers. They flop around as if they have been mortally wounded but all the while clearly relishing the experience.

Today one of the hens put on an amazing display of her maneuverability as she nimbly chased a fly around and around in looping waggling circles. It was a strange sight to see how well she locked onto this insect, stretched out her neck and propelled her puffy little body around and around in hot pursuit. The fly got away in the end but it was not due to her lack of trying.