The Little Red Hen

 The Little Red Hen

Several days ago on a hot afternoon I went out to check everyone's water. The day before I'd propped some plastic tubs up against the runs that are connected to the Poultry Building, well they had blown over so I went to pick them up and to my horror found several black chickens and Little Red Hen underneath one! Poor Little Red Hen was sprawled out on the ground, dying from heat exhaustion! I quickly snatched her up and put her in a bowl of freshly filled cold water. I let her soak in it while I finished watering. Then I took her back to the house with me and laid her in the shade underneath the porch, on the porch swing. She laid there for the better part of the afternoon in the cool drinking some water every now and again. I never expected her to make it, to be honest. I've seen too many chickens die of heat exhaustion, and she had all the symptoms of it. However she proved us all wrong and the next morning I went out to find her bright eyed and bushy tailed! After a hearty breakfast, she was back on her feet, like nothing had ever happened. She has now resigned herself to sleeping on the back of the porch chairs at nighttime, digging giant holes in the flower beds (I'm convinced she's digging to China!!), scratching in the raised beds, pooping all over the front porch, begging for treats at the window while we work on our computers, and last but not least, being underfoot all the time.

One of her many daily activities:

Now, this is wholly unrelated to The Little Red Hen's story, but for convenience's sake I'm posting it along side her story.

A couple days after Little Red Hen's incident, her boyfriend, Lil' Don got harassed by these two bad boys: 

I found him hiding inside the coop, too scared to even come out to eat or drink. He therefore got brought up to the yard as well.

His favorite napping (and snacking) spot:

At night I find them both snuggled up together on the porch chair:

A pretty bush that is blooming lovely flowers at the moment. I keep expecting to walk out there and find a little fairy asleep inside the petals. Me, odd? Nah!

 Lil' Don has fully recovered from his traumatic experience and has joined his girl in ruling the front yard. They keep Rusty and Mother Duck (post coming up on that soon) in check, eat Rusty's dogfood, nap by the front door, follow you around the yard while you are working, tripping you because they are constantly underfoot, and the list goes on.

For laughs, Little Red Hen staring down a piece of grass:

Have you ever had a near-death experience with an animal, but were able to save them in the nick of time? 

Blessings - 

~ Aspen