Today was a big day on the farm. Bea (pronounced ‘BAY-ah’, as if you were saying ‘Bear’ with your most ferocious Maine accent) arrived on the farm Monday. We had her tethered to the chicken wagon so that she could bond with her charges. Today was the day she was let off the leash to guard the chicken wagon untethered. Would she bond? Would she ‘play’ with the chickens given the freedom?
Ron is our poultry man and he is also one of the point people for Bea. So the plan was to walk her around the perimeter of the pasture and then let her off the leash and see what happens. (I always like those ‘see what happens’ plans with unpredictable animals…)
Now for the leash to come off.
I think she likes it!
And she is fast. The fox better look out. Does she not look like an enormous polar bear?
She came running back to Ron for some TLC.
And over to me for a little scratch.
You’ll notice that she is NOT chasing the chickens all over creation with a wide open mouth and teeth bared like some other canines that live on the farm. Not to mention any names…
The chickens don’t even seem to really notice her.
They are busy eating grasses and bugs. I hope they get a bellyful of ticks as Jon and I both had Lyme’s last year.
They seem pretty happy to be on the fresh grass and have been making a TON of noise as a result. But not nearly as much noise as when I picked up this hen!! I had to put her down immediately so that Bea wouldn’t think it was in distress. What drama queens these chickens are!
Just love seeing these birds out in the open and knowing that they are safe!
