They're Still NOT Our Chickens

 On March 12 I posted the following to my facebook page

To which I received this comment:

“I think most towns’ chicken ordinances say NO roosters within the city limits.  Just because of the noise.”

My reply was that we just don’t seem to fit into that “most town” mold.  Two days later we received a knock on our door from a very angry homeowner that I didn’t even recognize.  She came here to complain about our chickens.  I told her the chickens are not ours.  She didn’t believe me.  I get it.  They do seem to spend far much more time in our yard than they do their own and will follow Roland around as though he is the Pied piper.  Roland is allergic to feathers.  Go figure.

I don’t think I even knew they were there until the end of July – perhaps just before.  It doesn’t appear I made mention of them in my blog until August 2 – though I refer to the pigs more than the chickens.  Jenna and I had walked around to the house where the chickens live to let the owners aware that two or three chickens were in our yard.  We didn’t understand the term free-range chicken and neither of us seemed to be bothered that they were in our yard. 

I don’t remember when two or three chickens at the top of the hill became 15 chickens plus roosters invading our front yard as well as the back.  My problem is having them soil the deck which Roland says he doesn’t mind cleaning for three dollar eggs (which is how he averaged the cost).  They had discovered the bird seed that gets knocked on the ground and have gone beyond our boundaries and into other neighbors as well.  Our neighbors to the west have a problem with the free-roaming chickens – and I suppose I do too to a degree – but not enough to risk starting a feud with the neighbors. 

I just think the average mindset of those that reside (and have for generations) in this area as opposed to one who may have lived in West Valley, Utah where restrictions apply and the average person seems more uptight because of all the rules and regulations whereas there are several human beings who have just never considered how another person (neighbor) might react to their casual ways.  The neighbors to our west are NOT happy with the livestock who live in the area.

On February 15^th I mentioned that Roland had added to the bird food supply separating the flying wild fowl and getting a more enriched product geared to chickens to feed the neighbor’s animals though it really is not his responsibility to feed them.  He just has a good heart. 

He had purchased some coops where the hens can lay their eggs as we’d really not have them lay under the porch and have a rotten egg smell this coming summer.  We were told that we could keep whatever eggs we could find – not to go out and encourage it.  So it might appear that we are the owners and Jenna had asked, “How do you prove that something is NOT yours?”

I don’t know if posts on a blog would be any proof – especially this one that is after the fact of being called out on the chickens that are still roaming around.  The neighbors behind us have put wind flowers upon a fenced in garden in order to keep the chickens out. 

interesting, if not colorful, idea

Roland and Jenna said they would miss the chickens if they were to leave.  I don’t know if I would or not.  I would definitely not miss the crow of the roosters. 

I know it would be better for Bonnie if the chickens were gone as she seems to be intimidated by their very presence.  I don’t know why.  She used to go out in the yard with no problem, but I think it was easier when there were only a few of them and not a cackling army. I certainly wouldn’t miss the mess they leave.  But perhaps there are things that would annoy me more if they weren’t around – like bugs.  I fear if the chickens disappear we will have more flies – especially if there are rotten eggs beneath the back porch.  I suppose I would rather deal with their crowing and crap and than the flies for even a day.  I HATE insects.

Last night we went for a walk - Roland's idea.  Jenna and I had him hold onto Bonnie.  About seven chickens were behind us as we left the driveway.  Almost four made it to the corner but than two turned back.  We crossed the street at the corner, but the two remaining chickens turned at the corner and went a direction different from the one we chose.  How humorous it would have been if all the chickens had followed us for our entire walk.  

More Triggered Memories

 

            I have used the above picture in an earlier post.  My first post in February 2012 – the year I started my blog.  The post itself had nothing to do with the picture.  Let me relate what really happened and why Jenna is making this face.

            As I mentioned in a more recent post we used to walk everywhere – though Kearns offered more destinations than anything in West Valley or Myrtle Creek.  We did not walk to the library often as we had to cross a busy street, but Jenna had not taken a nap and would be in need of one and usually the walk to the library and back wore her out. 

            I would always hold Jenna’s hand when we were out on walks – especially when crossing streets – especially the busy one. She insisted on crossing 5400 on her own.  No way!  What kind of a mother would I be to allow my five year old cross 5400 by herself?!?  I forced her to hold my hand the return and may have even carried her across at one point.  What a brute, I know.  Anyway, she made that face because she was upset with me.

 

            Many times Jenna and I have taken walks that will trigger some kind of memory – for instance yesterday I posted about my first car.  The trigger happened when we first saw a Volkswagen Beetle.  It was the same shade of blue as the car the Gus drives in the TV series Psych.

http://imcdb.org/images/123/174.jpg 

         I told Jenna that it was a Beetle and when she started calling it a bug I told her that I thought the bug was bigger than the beetle – she thought I was joking about the names but shortly afterward a Volkswagen Bug came up the street as we were walking and I told her I used to have a Volkswagen Dasher.  I also shared a story about my sister Kayla who always seemed to have a fondness for the Volkswagen Bug and said she planned to buy one when she was old enough to drive (I think she was younger than 8 when this experience happened)

            My brother  and I planned to go to Trafalga Family Fun Center with a few friends.  I don’t remember how many went, but we had to take several cars in order to fit us all.  A friend picked me up in her Volkswagen Bug and we took Kayla with us.  I don’t remember all of what we did but do remember that miniature golf and bumper cars were offered in addition to water rides.  After we had returned home I remember telling mom what we did and she asked Kayla what her favorite part of the day had been. 

            “We got to ride in a bug!” she beamed proudly.  I had to explain that Janice had picked us up in her Volkswagen Bug.  I hadn’t thought about it as a highlight but it had been for Kayla.

 

            When we lived in Kearns I used to walk to the gas station near our house.  I would push Jenna in the stroller and go in to fill up my 32 ounce cup with soda.  Jenna always had her sippy cup which would sometimes need a refill – but I didn’t want to give her soda.  They had a watered down juice – I don’t even remember what it was.  I think it was Sobe some raspberry flavored liquid.  I saw it as a safe bet and would fill her cup half way and add some more water.  The gas station attendant never charged me for it but had always encouraged me to take it.  I’m guessing it wasn’t a good seller and he wanted to get rid of it.