Field trips for Chickens!

Rhubarb and Rutabaga on a Field Trip!

 by Sharon Gaughan, PCLF Education Program Director

What great fall weather we had this past weekend – cool, but not cold – and sunny!  The kind of weather that invites you outdoors to rake the leaves, cut back some of the native perennials, and plant the garlic – if you’re a gardener (which, of course, I am).  And the kind of weather that invites you to scratch around in the fallen leaves and the native perennials (but hopefully not in the newly-planted garlic) looking for insects, worms, and seeds – if you’re a chicken (which, of course, Rhubarb and Rutabaga are).

When I’m physically present at the Learning Farm, “the girls” are allowed to roam freely in and around the Children’s Garden for much of the time.  But on weekends when I’m generally not around, I feel badly that they’re “cooped up” in their small chicken tractor.  So, on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons this past weekend, I invited Rhubarb and Rutabaga on a field trip to my backyard! 

They traveled comfortably in a large dog carrier, in the back of my Subaru wagon.  As soon as the dog carrier door was opened, they strutted into my yard as if they knew exactly where they were and what they were there to do (they had, in fact, visited my backyard once before – but only for about an hour a couple of weekends ago).

We spent 3-4 hours on each afternoon working side-by-side on the tasks before us.  The girls were busy digging, scratching and eating nearly the entire time.  They became particularly excited when I decided to dig up a section of sod to expand one of the garden spaces – WORMS!

At one point, holding my hoe in a horizontal position and contemplating the configuration of my garlic planting, I was taken by surprise as the hoe became several pounds heavier.  Rhubarb saw in the hoe handle the perfect perch, and had jumped up onto it.  As I steadied the hoe against my legs, I watched Rutabaga – not wanting to be left out of the fun – walk over, jump up, and join Rhubarb on their newly-found perch.  They didn’t stay for long – in fact, both jumping down in perfect unison, a synchronized chicken-ballet.

Late in the afternoon, when I sat down on the garden bench for a rest and a snack, the girls came over to join me.  They stood preening themselves for a few minutes, then Rutabaga jumped up onto the bench beside me to investigate my snack.  I wasn’t sure that salted plantain chips were the best snack for a chicken, so I declined to share.  She jumped back down and off the two of them went to dig and scratch some more.

What a fun and entertaining way to get my yard work done!  Granted, I may have gotten a bit more accomplished without the chicken distractions – but how much more enjoyable it was to have those distractions while I worked!

Fortunately, I have a tall privacy fence which keeps Rhubarb and Rutabaga safely inside my large backyard.  Unfortunately, I live in Wildwood where keeping backyard chickens is not allowed.  So for now, I’m limited to borrowing the girls for a few hours on occasion.  For now…