Operation Red Hen took place around 2:00 p.m. yesterday. Moving 16 hens and 1 rooster requires a truck, a Vari-700 dog crate, a Vari-200 dog crate and preferably not a hen that has decided to turn broody within the past 48 hours and is sitting on a clutch of eggs. At first, we put the 11 reds in a Vari-500. But, two of those don't fit in the back of the Volvo with the nest box. We thought--this will be two trips. The girls were a bit miffed at having been enticed with bread into the crate and then no action right away. Rocky was beside himself as he realized his hens were disappearing. Corralled him (literally) in the Vari-700 with one of the Buffs (the other is in the nest box--put a grill on that--what would I do without parts from various grates and fencing staples). Meanwhile, two of the Plymouth Rocks are in the Vari-200. Silly Milly does not wish to move and is ignoring her Big-Chicken imposed eviction notice.
Fast forward to having all chickens in crates. Oh-oh, the crates don't fit in the Volvo--to get the Vari-700 in would require removing the back seat. Eyeball the DH's "mini" pickup truck...Vari-700, nest box, Vari-200 will fit. Load the truck, back up to the Volvo, and one by one transfer the girls from the Vari-700 to the Vari-500. Did I mention it is a hot, sunny day? Humans are exhausted, chickens very quiet. Plan is for me to drive the 1.5 hours to the house in the City, install the hens and Rocky and the 20 x 30 fenced area inside of the fenced yard, open the doors to the dog kennel building and install them in there as the new coop. Close them in, and head on back to the farm to be ready to load the big stuff today. We figured I'd be back on the road by 6:30-7:00 p.m., at the farm on time for a late supper around 8:30 p.m.
It all sounded simple enough and was going quite well until the chickens realized (a) they could fly over the top of the kennel runs and run amuck in the rest of the building and (b) the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. And, two decided the grass was definitely greener in my neighbour's pasture and would not come home to roost, since this was not the home they knew.
Operation Red Hen started at 2:00 p.m. It is now dark and 9:30 p.m., I have 7 locked up in the kennel building, 3 in the storage barn, three on the picnic table on the deck--I could've moved them but was worried if I spooked them, they would fly over the fence into predator land, one in a tree, and 2 AWOL. I knew one was perched on a rock, but I could not find the other one and I could not get in the field--a 6 ft. fence designed so that dogs can't climb it also make it difficult for a human to climb in the dark. Needless to say, I did not return to the farm as planned, did have a late supper, and could not entice DH to drive my Volvo home and help search.
Around 10:00 p.m., exhausted, hot, and heartsick, I set the alarm for daybreak and went to bed in tears. No sooner had I finally fallen asleep, the phone jolted me out of bed at 11:00--DH wondering if I had all the chickens. After that, I spent a mostly sleepless night and was up when the birds starting singing. I was so happy to see a wet, somewhat confused little red hen walking around the pickup truck (which I'd parked in the fenced yard). By 8:30 a.m., the other AWOL RIR had returned--Rocky had been alerting the hens to food off and on since 5:30 a.m. as I stalked the pasture in search of my missing hen.
My neighbours know I have chickens and a rooster, now. I'm sure they appreciated that at 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning. I've been napping off and on since I didn't get much sleep. They love all the new stuff to explore--the picnic table, the deck, under the deck, under the cedar trees, the two buildings...I'm just glad they are all where they are supposed to be. Thus concludes Operation Red Hen. It all ended well. The girls (and Rocky) have landed. And, the Big Chicken is recovering from the ordeal. Next weekend is when we'll move the big stuff.
PS--I have some pics--will add later. At one point, taking pictures no longer was a priority. Who knew having chickens could be so much fun! (And, in about 21 days, we may have some baby chicks!)
). I didnt know they would till the garden patch like that so am keen as to get some soon. When u first get them how long do u keep them locked up before you can free range them?
