New Recreational Feature at The Coop

Chickens are weird. Some people find them beautiful and fascinating. I have even first hand knowledge of some one who lives with chickens inside her house. Not me! They are handy to have around for their ability to forage, eating their weight in flies and ants around the farm every day in summer. The eggs are a plus, but right now, it appears that some chicken or chickens have taken to eating their eggs. They are a lot of trouble, chickens are. They get worms and have to be wormed fairly often. They get mites and lice, which is gross to me. They require extra heat in an insulated coop for the winter, unlike waterfowl, who do well with shelter from the elements, nothing fancy. 

Anyhow, because I am humane, I try to treat the chickens as chickens would like to be treated. I am never mean to them (or anything, human or animals) and try to provide for their needs so they are content. Today, they got a fresh box of wood ashes, the new dust bath at the coop. The first to view the feature were not impressed, tasted the charcoal in the ash, and went on their way. Then the Columbian Wyandotte got the idea and plunged into the box and began to fluff herself in the ashes. The sheer joy she was experiencing drew a crowd and soon, there were others not so patiently waiting their turn for the ash box. They pecked at her to hurry her up and finally, with reluctance, she left. Immediately two more chickens jumped in and began the dusting of themselves. It was pleasurable to watch them experiencing bliss in their chickenness. What a cackle!