Chickens, was Melamine

Back when we had a bad raccoon problem, and my chickens couldn't go out much, I raked up leaves for them. It certainly entertains them, and me, too. I have a chair next to the coop so that I can watch them, and I often sit on the deck just to watch them play in the garden.
Our church has a BBQ a couple of times every year. I work "the line" and we pack up about 1200 BBQ plates that include bread along with the half-chicken, beans and coleslaw. I have everyone save the crusts from the loaves of bread. I came home with the equivalent of about 12 loaves last month, maybe more - all I could fit in the fridge, anyway. In addition, my Dad saves bread from his dinners at the retirement home, and sometimes the rice and potatoes, too. The chickens go nuts. I love to watch them play keep-away with the bread and potatoes (though like you, I hate when they're doing it with a mouse). I also save the tortilla chips for them when we get take-out Mexican, and the leftover tortillas when I make it at home. I don't make it into crumbs, but let them peck and chase. I figure it gives them some needed exercise and entertainment. 

I haven't thought about asking at our local Subway. Sounds like a plan.
Chickens are so much fun, and I can't fathom why people think they're stupid. I've found them amazingly clever at getting what they want, and avoiding what doesn't work, or what's painful- unlike my cats. I've stepped on/kicked so many cats that try to grab my shoelaces as I'm walking, and Gray and Diesel both will flop on the floor in front of Dreyfuss, even knowing that the tottery old dog has stepped on them before. They always act surprised when he does it again. They scream and run away. What's up with that, anyway? 



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----- Original Message ----- From: "Jesse Bell" <justjess01@gmail.com> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:34 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] {Disarmed} Our Home-Grown Melamine Problem



Ya know...I just rake up the leaves to watch the chickens go nuts.  My
husband thinks I'm a bit crazy.  And I'll put a couple of trugs full of
leaves in their chicken coop to scratch around and play with.  I just get
amused watching them get all silly about a pile of leaves.  Not much
different than watching your kids rake up the leaves, only to turn around
and jump in them.
I get my grain from a local mill as well.  And there is a Quiznos (like a
Subway) across the street from where I work that just throws away their
bread at the end of the day.  Sometimes I'll go over there and ask for the
leftovers for my chickens...and THAT is a banner day for them.  Talk about
noise....man, they come RUNNING when they see the big bowl of bread crumbs
coming their way.  I give bread crumbs to my ducks and "Lady Chatsworth"
too.  And I give them scraps from the kitchen as well.  They love that
stuff.


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