FREE CHICKENS!
(Page 3 of 4)
ROOSTERS ON THE RANGE
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Finally, it was time to put the young cocks into our big
barn, from which they could sally forth to raid the weed
and insect strongholds. That first day, however, saw no
brave recruits step from the dim security of their new
barracks. Nor did the second. On the third day we resorted
to tossing several of the spineless birds out into the
sunlight. They fought each other frantically to get back
in.
Clearly, something had to be done to bolster our warriors'
courage, so we picked some weeds and threw them to the
flock. Snap, peck, gulp ... they were gone. We laid some
more goodies in the exit hole. They disappeared! We put
some just outside the hole. Several white heads jabbed at
them. Eventually, we enticed a few of the birds out into
the open with the treats, and-from then on-it was "goodbye
feed bill"!
It was our assumption that chickens—given free run of
our 80 acres- could feed themselves just as wild pheasants
did ... and this theory proved correct. We lost nary a bird
after that to disease or deprivation (although our two
young pups did kill several in a "friendly game of tag").
And, as the birds grew, their range extended. By October,
the roosters had grown brave enough to wander 400 yards and
more in every direction. Toward evening our various patrols
would hike back to the barn to roost, but-at sunup the next
morning—they sounded the battle cry and, again,
deployed to the far comers of the farm.
TASTY ON THE TABLE
As a result of their "foraged" diet of vegetation, weed
seeds, and insects, our chickens grew the deepest-red combs
and wattles we'd ever seen. Their tail plumes rose in crisp
arcs and waved proudly at the rear guard. Their -long neck
hackles draped them in vanity, while they strutted with
heads high, challenging all comers.
Since this proud company could lay no eggs to earn their
keep, they had to pay their way with meat on the table ...
and we began to thin their ranks. Several,, roosters had
already become delicious. spring fryers, and the others
were soon sold, given to friends, or wrapped for the
freezer.
