A few weeks ago while staying home for the weekend, Timothy claimed that he was awakened early in the morning by a chicken clucking and squawking around on the back porch. Assuming that he was just suffering from the effects of a few bad meals at the Georgia Tech Cafeteria, we humored him and went about our business. When he said the same thing the next day, we began to wonder if there was some validity to his claim.
A quick talk with our neighbor brought up a reasonable solution. We have quite a few wild turkeys in the woods behind our house and they will often come walking through the neighborhood. Perhaps a juvenile turkey was hanging around near the backyard. We figured that young turkeys and chickens might sound similar.
Yesterday, I walked around the house to take some photos from different angles (required for the renter’s insurance policy rider). While taking a picture of the right side of the house, I noticed something moving in the lower right corner of the photograph (click the picture to expand):
As I walked over to the house, the culprit ran under the fence into the backyard. We stared at each other, mutually wondering what the other was doing here, and I took her picture as she ran around the corner of the deck stairs. There really was a chicken in the backyard, somehow scratching out a meager existence during the cold winter months. According to the font of all knowledge (the internet), there are indeed feral chickens that live in warm climates, but apparently, they can survive in North Georgia too.
A few years ago, Virginia (our late golden retriever) wouldn’t have permitted such a squatter on the property. But since we’re in the process of reducing our food inventory, it might actually be a good thing to have the bird in the backyard. If things get really desperate, it’s good to know that there is potential for at least one more good meal.
The chicken is still here…she actaully found a plastic easter egg and has made a nest for it on the side of our yard!
And just when I thought that chickens were smarter than turkeys. Remember the neighborhood covenants – even past presidents aren’t allowed to raise farm animals in their backyards!