Best Laid Plans

Tonight’s column has given way to a needy chicken. Ruth, our Welsummer hen, has been with us since our first year of having chickens during the pandemic. That makes her the grand old lady of the flock.

Unfortunately, Scotch, the rooster, has been picking on her. I had noticed a raw spot above her tail earlier in the week. Tonight I caught him in the act of pecking at her. Having had enough of his bad behavior, I brought her inside with me after dinner for a little spa treatment. She’s had a bath, a pedicure and I’ve treated the spot on her back. For dinner, she had a special treat of plums and scrambled eggs. She seems happier. In fact, I’m not entirely sure she’s ever going back outside.

She spent some time perched on my shoulder and then she flew onto my bookcase.

Ruth, pictured on top of last term’s Supreme Court decision in Rahimi, the gun case

Then she spent some time on my lap. I finally gave up working and played chicken videos for her.

Now she’s sleeping at my feet and I’m exhausted!

I’ll be back tomorrow!

We’re in this together,

Joyce