For Love of Anything CHICKEN!

By now most of my family is well aware I am hooked on Chickens - just love 'em!  Collecting AnYtHiNg ChIcKeN is something that comes along with my addiction.  Just gonna share with you my most recent acquisition.  Hubby's remark was "Oh yes.  We sure DID need THAT ONE!"  Just take a look.....

I do not know precisely WHAT it is or where it came from, but who could resist that liner-rimmed EYE!  Just LOOK at it!  My guess is that this is some sort of early Carnival Prize.  It was created in 2 halves, attached together, painted with some type of oil based paints, and the maker thought enough to press in marks to identify it for future owners. 

 It appears to be made of a combination of salt and other minerals (yep, TASTES salty!) and measures about 3 1/2 in. tall.  (Carnival prizes in the 1900's were made of "chalkware", which was a type of gypsum plaster and other ingredients, and most were quickly airbrushed and sent off to the Carnies.  They were cheaply made, generally 6-8 inches tall or better, but these prizes were given to girlfriends or proudly displayed by the winners to prove the Carnies could INDEED be outfoxed!)

I've been at a loss in my research on this little hen, but I just HAD to have it - one of the many mysteries in life that I may always wonder about - not unlike: 
Which came FIRST - the CHICKEN or the EGG??

Signed,

the ChickenWrangler

WELCOME SUMMER 2012!

Yes, we're still alive and 'clucking' out back in the woods - it's been a while since my last post.  Winter was milder than we first thought it would be - not much snow to speak of - and the spring/summer weather has been something to CROW about! (Click on photos to enlarge!)

I did get several new peeps in March - - 30 of them!  At this point in time I am down to 8 pullets, 5 of which will be going to their new home July 1st.  3 will be staying here with us.  I must say this new flock is the bravest of any I have had to 'wrangle' so far.  Their enclosure is a 6ft tall chain link fence.  Every morning I would have to open the gate and chase between 1 and 3 pullets back inside their pen.  Curious, I went out at night to capture this roosting scene -

And no WONDER!  Just look at them - CAUGHT by CAMERA!  The guilty little snots!  Guess it will be time for wing clipping soon enough!  They prefer this height to the roost bar hubby installed for them.  The highest point is the safest point to roost - they are not DUMMIES, you know!
.....Well, time to hit the roads for the day - have to put vittles on the table for the girls!
the ChickenWrangler