There used to be a joke phrase that was used a lot back a few decades ago, to the effect of, "Bob? Oh yeah, he left town and finally bought that chicken farm out west!" It was a commentary on leaving the rat race. But I have discovered for myself just how fascinating and, yes, calming, watching chickens can be!
For one thing, they are wonderful mothers. Watch this mother hen as she scopes out the guy with the camera, and then goes to her chicks and gathers them around her. It's just like a family, isn't it? Some of the chicks seem to want to communicate with her, beak to beak. Others are scratching at some straw in the corner. And then there's always one; Junior, standing in the food dish and madly pecking while he has his chance to beat the others to supper. He's probably going to be a big one!
This "broody" hen had been setting and we put her in with new chicks from the market. She took to all ten of them! Note the two that fall from under her wings as she lumbers over to the corner. At night, she seems twice her size, with ALL of them under her wings. Not one chick in sight. Just the contented muffled peeping of a family, snuggled together...
Check out this video: A New Family..
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