Fowl play

It occurs to El Cabrero that farming is a kind of game or series of games between humans and the plants or animals they deal with. Generally, the humans want things to stay in or go to certain places, while the latter want to transgress.

One popular game among our poultry population at this time of year is the hide-the-eggs game. Usually a few hens each spring manage to hide a clutch of eggs long enough to hatch them.

This spring, one chick was apparently separated from its mother and needed rescue. We tried putting it with another mother and chicks, but it got some nasty wounds after being pecked at.

(Chickens don't seem to good in the intra-species solidarity department.)

As a result, we now have an inside chick, probably a baby rooster. He thinks the Spousal Unit is his mother and is a pretty demanding brat. Because of his inordinate fondness for cheese, we've given him the name Wisconsin (Whiskey for short).

All we need is another tenant on the Island of Misfit Toys.