Diaries of a House Chicken Part 2: Cabin Fever

24 hours since Poppy was moved into the house and the glamour of those Instagram accounts showing their house chickens or surprise chicken guest through the dog door suddenly faded. Chickens are super curious critters that are smart and a little messy (especially if you’re only giving them limited water). Add the fact that our house guest was on day 2 of an unwelcome fast? It’s a good thing our day started at church.

By this time, Poppy had figured out how to escape the now covered (with a sheet and clips) her holding pen. Yay. Our solution? Walking around the house with her or letting her walk on covered floors.

You’d think this would be enough, but no (we have seriously spoiled and independent chickens). The sunshine wasn’t enough to satisfy this hungry, hungry, hen and we’d emerge from a basement project to find her walking around the living room with her cat brothers looking on in disbelief and confusion.

Our next solution? Relocating her to the basement, with the tiny window open so she could hear her sisters while we assembled a piece from IKEA because every project needs a manager, right?

This solution lasted only about as long as her realizing the floor was scattered with fun things to peck at, like styrofoam and other bits from the massive rearranging project we’ve been working on. I’m here to tell you, both Chickie Parents are able to move in a hurry to swoop up whatever debris she was heading to before it landed in her beak.

Prior to bed we escorted her onto the patio so that she could see her sisters and let them know she’s doing well. Earlier in the day several had been on the highest perch which nearly looks into the window of where she’s been staying and they can easily be heard from the room.

Counting down till tomorrow morning to see what we can figure out with an earlier morning vet visit…