feral

I am very sad to say that our sweet girls left mid-November. They've gone back to "the farm" from whence they came and the weather turned right ugly just after they left, just to seal the deal in my mind. They were rentals, and although I'm sure they thoroughly enjoyed their summer "vacay" with us, we were wholly unequipped to keep them over the cold, wet, miserable winter. As we have exciting things (a wedding!!) in the works for next summer, we won't be hosting them again next year. What a fabulous experience they were in what was otherwise quite a taxing summer! Having our own chickens, in a larger, better thought out and more permanent set-up, is definitely a thought on the back-burner. We can "DoOver" this chicken thing!

As sad as I was to say goodbye to our girls -- and I was S-A-A-A-D! -- I was unbelievably thrilled to meet up with several free-spirited poultry during our recent visit to Maui! They were everywhere and I thought -- "Cool! Wild Chickens!" -- parking lots, beaches, roadsides, parks, they were there! Crowing, tending young, laying eggs... they were just THERE. They weren't afraid of people as they moseyed around -- like a feathered version of the laid-back surfer crowd.

But upon returning home I tried researching a little about our feathered friends and their origins, only to find that in Hawaii they are referred to as the "feral chicken problem"!! When I think of "feral" animals I picture snarling, hissing, potentially-rabid and always mangy-looking creatures. Not chickens!   Ah well, to-may-to / to-mah-to, I guess it just depends on where you're from!

 photo cred: my guy

 photo cred: my guy

 photo cred: myguy

photo cred: my guy