Several weeks ago, Mr. Man and I were weeding in the backyard when I noticed three tomato plants I didn’t plant. I quickly pointed them out so they wouldn’t get pulled along with the weeds, and we’ve left them to see what would happen. I’m not sure where these came from... a passing bird perhaps? One of these “volunteers” has more tomatoes than any plant I put into the ground this spring—without any amendment to the soil, and we are talking Georgia clay here. Maybe the seed that can survive under such conditions is stonger than those I planted—in excellent soil amended with compost and planted in the location of our backyard that receives the most sun. Whatever the reason, the cherry tomatoes it produces are wonderful and I’m grateful for the addition.

Hens Without a Rooster

It’s a cool, quiet afternoon; the chickens are strutting around the yard, stopping here and there to scratch back the mulch to look for small bugs. While one may wander a few feet away from the others, they are never very far apart. And when the small flock moves on to another area of the yard, instinct takes over and the stray is quick to catch up; there is safety in numbers.

When my Rhode Island Red, Penny, suddenly raises her head toward the sky—obviously hearing something I have failed to hear—I look up to see what has drawn her attention: a hawk. The girls quickly huddle together behind the feather grass; forming a group, they take on a larger profile. The hawk squawks as he flies on toward the park. The girls slowly relax and begin to emerge from the shield of the grass to continue foraging.

Penny (that’s Buffy in the background)

Without a rooster to signal the girls of impeding danger, I worry that they are oblivious to predators. Roosters do more than just fertilize eggs. They are fierce protectors of their hens and are constantly on the lookout for danger. I have heard that when you have a rooster-less flock, one of the hens will step up and take on the role of “leader.” Is this the case with Penny or was it just dumb luck that she noticed the hawk? I certainly haven’t seen any “dominant” behavior, even though she is the largest. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Letty eating sunflower seeds

Marley wants in on the fun

Chasing Chickens

The Girls

A chicken’s day is quite boring when you live in a 9'x4'x6' enclosure. What’s there to do really—sit up on the perch, scratch around for bugs, take a dust bath, eat, take a nap in the shade.

Buffy is the last to brave leaving the Coop

The highlight of the day is when the door to the coop opens and they are invited out into the garden where more interesting dining options await them—carrot tops, cucumber leaves, tomatoes—and trying to keep a chicken out of the vegetables is impossible unless you stand guard.

Letty

While they are pretty entertaining, most of us have other things to do after work than sit in the garden and shoo the chickens out of the vegetables. Devising a gate or fence to go around each raised bed is a must.

Gate around the tomatoes, eggplant & peppers

Not to worry, there are plenty of other delicacies to be found—worms, grubs, ants...

The Girls in the Garden

And hopefully soon, they'll be big enough and brave enough to find their way outside the garden and into the yard.