Spring had arrived, and I was engaged in a battle of wits against my chickens. Worst of all: The chickens were winning. Rather than laying eggs in their nest box-the clean, cozy nest box I lovingly filled with fresh straw each week-my hens were disappearing into my Oregon backyard to do the deed in secret. No matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find the chickens until after they hid their treasure. Which meant I couldn't find "my" eggs at all.
Hiding eggs is a trait my flock inherited from their ancestors. In the wild, the safest nest is the best-concealed nest, yet I was still surprised that my domesticated cluckers would connect to their untamed roots like this. I felt betrayed. I'd given them a beautiful coop and a garden filled with warm places to sunbathe and shade for rest. Why wasn't what I provided good enough?
This story is from the April - May 2023 edition of Country Living.
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This story is from the April - May 2023 edition of Country Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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