so lucky
Garden Master
I was at the farm store yesterday and asked them if they wanted to buy a pair of Black Copper Marans, as they seem to always have adult chickens to sell this time of year, and I didn't see any. I was willing to just "gift" them with a roo (Roger) if they didn't want to buy a pair, but they said, yes, most likely, come in today and talk to the chicken man. So I came home and devised a carrier for them, consisting of a tote, half a baby gate, and two bungee cords.
Around 9:30 last night, I crept out to the chicken coop to catch Roger and one of the girls; hopefully the one who follows him around all the time.
Well, I should have had a video camera going, because we created quite a sight. Of course, it was dark, and I had a flashlight, but didn't want the chickens to be able to see well enough to avoid me. Let me just say: Whoever says chickens won't fight if you grab them in the dark is full of $%^&.
Eventually I got them into the tote, but found the bungees weren't strong enough to keep Roger from pushing up the edge. So I grabbed a concrete block that was being used as a step-up in the coop, and hoisted that on top of the tote/gate half. With one hand, as I was holding the gate down with the other hand. I can barely carry those concrete blocks with both hands. Adrenaline, super-human strength. Haha.
Of course, all the other chickens were getting pretty riled up during this, because Roger and Penny (I think it was Penny) were squawking to beat the band.
I started talking to them, and that seemed to calm everyone but the victims.
By the time I finished, I felt like I had been chased down and run over by a truck, but I felt triumphant, never the less. Of course, then I started envisioning Roger getting the tote to rocking, turning it over and the concrete block crushing someone.
Despite my worries, they were fine in the morning, and I took them to the farm store. It was pretty anti-climactic there, as they behaved for the chicken man like they don't for me. He paid me more than I paid for them, so I was happy.
And I'm really happy that I don't have to carry a big stick out to the chicken yard now.
Around 9:30 last night, I crept out to the chicken coop to catch Roger and one of the girls; hopefully the one who follows him around all the time.
Well, I should have had a video camera going, because we created quite a sight. Of course, it was dark, and I had a flashlight, but didn't want the chickens to be able to see well enough to avoid me. Let me just say: Whoever says chickens won't fight if you grab them in the dark is full of $%^&.
Eventually I got them into the tote, but found the bungees weren't strong enough to keep Roger from pushing up the edge. So I grabbed a concrete block that was being used as a step-up in the coop, and hoisted that on top of the tote/gate half. With one hand, as I was holding the gate down with the other hand. I can barely carry those concrete blocks with both hands. Adrenaline, super-human strength. Haha.
Of course, all the other chickens were getting pretty riled up during this, because Roger and Penny (I think it was Penny) were squawking to beat the band.
I started talking to them, and that seemed to calm everyone but the victims.
By the time I finished, I felt like I had been chased down and run over by a truck, but I felt triumphant, never the less. Of course, then I started envisioning Roger getting the tote to rocking, turning it over and the concrete block crushing someone.
Despite my worries, they were fine in the morning, and I took them to the farm store. It was pretty anti-climactic there, as they behaved for the chicken man like they don't for me. He paid me more than I paid for them, so I was happy.
And I'm really happy that I don't have to carry a big stick out to the chicken yard now.
Chickens, they make life interesting. Good for you getting rid of him AND getting paid to do it.
