The Secret Life of Chickens

I am a city girl. I have never lived or spent time on a farm. I don’t think I’ve ever even visited a farm and growing up I hated the zoo; it was stank! Since moving to my “casita,” I’ve had the opportunity to be around a lot of chickens. The chickens are one of the few animals I don’t have a problem with, unless it’s in my kitchen sink or running and making loud noises in the wee hours of the morning. The chickens seem harmless and on top of that they taste good! Actually, I need to figure out how to ask my landlord if she would sell one to me because with all these chickens running around, it’s expensive to buy in the "Super", which is similar to a bodega. I paid $8 for two chicken breasts a couple weeks ago… 


Why did the chicken cross the road...

Either way, being here I’ve developed an interest in watching chickens while sitting in my kitchen/dining/living room. They are very fascinating creatures! Who knew?!? I think my roommate thinks I’m crazy because I often tell her excitedly to come watch. One day I saw the “gallina” running around the tree like she was running for her life, so I stopped to watch. The “gallo” then came around the other side jumped on top of her and began pecking her head. I watched in horror because I thought for sure he was gonna kill her as feathers were flying all around! Not to say I wouldn’t have went out, picked it up,  tried my best to feather it and cook it after, but it was still something I had never seen. My landlord’s daughter told me a few days later that that’s where the eggs come from and here I thought I was witnessing a murder!

This guy loves the camera!

I saw this happen again a few days later with the same “gallo”, but this new “gallina” was a little smarter. As the “gallo” chased down another hen trying to make more “huevos” the hen flew up to the leaf of a banana tree.  She was not trying to be caught! I went to the other room and by the time I got back you better believe that rooster was right up there too. Whoever said chickens don’t fly had never seen these chickens! I guess every male species is persistent when it comes to “chasing” a female.

At night, things get even more interesting even though I can’t see the chickens. Some nights in the wee hours of the morning it will be very quiet; the dog isn’t barking and the iguanas aren’t scratching on the roof. All of a sudden you hear running footsteps going “muy rapido”. I don’t know what it is until the “gallo” starts clucking like it is dawn and time for everyone to get up. While I can’t see them, I imagine the rooster is out chasing another hen because that’s the only time they run, other than when they are scared of humans or iguanas. Other nights the chickens start a chorus randomly. I hear the ones in my yard and then it seems as if all the other chickens in the neighborhood join in. Sometimes when I listen really carefully I can hear the chickens from around the corner. The chickens never cease to surprise me…

 

You’re probably reading this and think I have far too much time on my hands to pay attention to the chickens. You’re probably right, but I’m probably gonna be an expert on chickens by the time I get back to the States and will be thoroughly entertained until then…



A favorite hiding spot when the rain starts suddenly.

This one made it past being a scrambled egg.