It’s Bill, 11/8/26: Chicken Tending
That’s right, Chicken Tending is the title of my 101st blog. Who knew when I started blogging almost 2 years ago that I’d be tending chickens. A friend of ours gave Patricia and me this opportunity when she asked us to take care of her 2 dogs, 3 cats, 27 chickens while she was traveling on a 4 night trip. Of course, we said “Yes!”
Our Adventure Begins
After having a modest Saturday Halloween night, we had to Fall Back 1 hour and meet at our friend’s home at 6:30 AM Sunday. Chickens have to be let out of their coop at sunrise and be fed and watered, locked in at sunset. The dogs and cats have their own meal plan.
Our friend left for the airport at 7. The dogs, Paisley and Petunia, stood by the door, barking. They couldn’t believe it, their Mother left them with her friends! We organized, had some tea and coffee and looked forward to our adventure, just like Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit.”
We threw tennis balls with ball throwers. The dogs loved playing, obediently bringing balls back, dropping them at our feet, panting happily, waiting for another throw. And another, and another. After enough playing ball, we took a long quarter-mile walk around the hayfield with views of Johnson Bay and Lubec. We repeated this twice a day for 5 days. We loved it as much as the dogs.
Sunday afternoon I worked on my computer. After we played with the dogs and walked, I started watching “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Later, I let the chickens in at sunset. After a wonderful, simple dinner, I read “The Hobbit” aloud.
Meet the crew: Petunia (with Bill), Paisley, and Finn, who holds his own amongst the girls at Squirrel’s Nest Farm.
Becoming a Chicken Tender
Our friend heats her home mostly with a wood stove. Having years of experience building fires, I had the stove warmly heating by 5:45 AM. There was a plentiful supply of split wood, well stacked in the back hall. Patricia puts the kettle on, I made coffee in a French Press for her, black tea for me.
Breakfast first for the animals. I feed the chickens, Patricia prepares the dogs’ meal of rice, pork, hot water, making a bit of a stew. The cats have their usual meal arrangement. Later, I bring water for the chickens and greenhouse plants. After breakfast, the 6 bird feeders were filled. I became a chicken tender.
During the day, Patricia works in her home or travels. I go to West Quoddy Station, checking back during the day on our wards. We tried to fit in a reading of “The Hobbit” aloud in the afternoon. This was our daily routine. We had fun.
Bill embracing his new role as chicken tender. The hens seemed to approve as long as he kept them fed!
Movie Nights and Dragons
Monday, we watched “Uncle Buck” with John Candy. My son calls me Uncle Buck. Tuesday, we followed the elections. Wednesday, we finished “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” I joked we had some kind of dragon thing going on between the Dragon Tattoo and Smaug, the dragon in “The Hobbit.”
Our friend is home now. Patricia is home, I am home. It’s good to be home.
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