Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Secret to Chicken Happiness only costs a buck

Now that I'm back to blogging and gardening I thought I would do a little PSA on the Secret to Chicken Happiness. I'd like to think my girls are happy with their little chicken lives. They have clean bedding, fresh water, plenty of food and I don't think they spend much time worrying about predators, but none of that is the key to a really and truly happy chicken.

But if you really want a to send your chicken into a frenzied state of happiness, you've gotta give them a treat that will put them on the quick train to chicken nirvana.

For my girls it's the white curdled dairy product of the gods - cottage cheese. They particularly like the Breakstones 100 calorie single serve cups of cottage cheese mixed with fruit that you can buy for a buck at the grocery store. If I was the type that routinely bought cottage cheese for myself, I'd just give the chickens the leftovers, but since I don't, I buy one of these every couple of weeks as a special treat. Clementine likes that they're only 100 calories, because being a full-figured gal already, she has to watch her waistline so she can still fit in the door to the coop.


I once had a young cashier ask me if they were any good. I responded "I don't know, they're for my chickens, but I can ask them and report back to you." She was about 16 and gave me that look that teens give that lets you know you're a big loser in their world. I think she may have slightly snorted and there was definitely an eyeroll involved.


Clearly this young cashier has never had a truly happy chicken.


They key is to mix the fruit and the cottage cheese together for them because they're lazy and will ignore the spoon if you set it down next to the cottage cheese with instructions on how to mix it together.

When they're finished pecking each tiny fruit-splattered curd from the inside of the cup, they'll be covered from comb to wattle in goo and spend the rest of the day ba-gawking happily in the sun.

Ahhh... a zen chicken moment - for a buck.
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26 comments:

  1. RobinMarch 2, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Nothing like happy chickens!! Boy, I wish that we could have some chickens here.

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  2. Jeff VandiverMarch 2, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    Wow, I was expecting it would be the noodles that you frequently give them....Never in a million yeras would I have thought about cottage cheese...

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  3. DarlaMarch 2, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    The cashier has probably never even seen a chicken! This is a cool post, your chickens are so spoiled.

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  4. Annie*s GrannyMarch 2, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Oh, Kate, I'm so glad you're back! Nobody can start me off with a big smile quite as well as you can :-D

    I *heart* Clemantine. She's a bit like my Annie. You've gotta love those full figured gals.

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  5. meemsnycMarch 3, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    Hahaha, that is awesome. Who knew that they would like cottage cheese!! I love the story about the 16 yr old cashier. Haha

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  6. Daphne GouldMarch 3, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    *snort*

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  7. PhyllisMarch 3, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    I've never given my chickens cottage cheese before but they are nuts over plain yogurt. The literally lick the bowl clean :)

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  8. JuliaMarch 4, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    Oh but what I wouldn't give to have chickens!

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  9. MelissaMarch 5, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    I'm so glad you're back to blogging! My son sold his egg business, and I miss the chickens terribly.

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  10. suburban farm girlMarch 6, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    That is so cute! Can't let my hennies know this is happening. I might have a non egg laying revolt on my hands :)

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  11. Casa MariposaMarch 6, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    That's awesome! Baby carrots create the same happiness in my dogs.

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  12. Jean CampbellMarch 16, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    I was sitting here thinking how unusual to buy cottage cheese for chickens. Then I remembered that we buy Kraft American Cheese slices for the delight of the dog and sometimes the cat. The cat would rather have those smoky dog treats that are soft and chewy.

    I was checking my list of fav Blotanists and am glad to see you're blogging again.

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  13. MikeMarch 28, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    I have never fed my chickens cottage cheese. Will have to give it a shot.

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  14. suburban farm girlApril 16, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    Thank you for your idea! I cant say ive been feeding my girls cottage cheese. If anyone is going to get it in this house its me and until I do noone else will. HOWEVER I have been making them super milky porrdige every fortnight or so. THEY LOVE IT!! I come home from that place called work and their crops
    are bulging!

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  15. donnaApril 30, 2011 at 8:20 PM

    It seems that now days, everyone has chickens....except me, of course.

    As always, you make me laugh.

    donna

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  16. AnonymousMay 26, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    I'm a new follower and I can't wait to try this. Right now my girls favorite treat are Ramen Noodles but they aren't very exciting.

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  17. PeggyMay 31, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    Those are some happy, well spoiled chickens! :) I'm curious....how did you come to find out that they like that particular variety with added fruit when you don't like cottage cheese?

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  18. JasminJune 5, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    can't wait to have my own chickens! and give them some cottage cheese :)

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  19. sandstormJune 21, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    That's amazing! MY mom has 5 chickens and loves them dearly. I think I will tell her your little secret and see if hers will like it. They eat pretty much everything else (including my shoe laces). Thank you for sharing this. Please take a look at my blogs if you get chance it would be greatly appreciated.

    Blah blah blog

    Building Regulations for Conservatories

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  20. ToriOctober 31, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    I hope you'll blog some more. I'm in your neck of the wood and am also nearly a black thumb here in FL. Not so in VA... *sigh*

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  21. Organic Tomato GardenJanuary 1, 2012 at 6:20 AM

    Wow! Your chickens are really eating well! :)

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  22. Garden SeedFebruary 3, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    Thanks for the post mate you have written it very well.

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  23. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2012 at 12:23 PM

    OH, MY!!! I just discovered your blog through searching for "growing leeks in Florida." (I'd just made leek and potato soup - first experience with leeks and liked it so much I decided I want to grow some!) PLEASE come back to regular blogging!! I have only read a couple of your old posts but I feel as if I have "met an old friend!!" I LOVE your blog!! The fact I also live in central Florida is just an added bonus.
    Storm

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  24. Annie*s GrannyFebruary 7, 2012 at 12:43 PM

    @Anonymous, everybody loves and misses this blog. I have begged and pleaded for it to come back. KATE...COME BACK! WE LOVE YOU!

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  25. ErsulaFebruary 11, 2012 at 7:33 AM

    Hahaha "they ignore the spoon..."

    Please start blogging again! You're funny and I love reading your blog. =]

    From BYC

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  26. girls bedroom furnitureJuly 8, 2012 at 5:36 AM

    Hey
    Gardening Without Skills
    It is a bright light! Thank you for sharing your talent and wholesome information about with us.

    ReplyDelete

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