Annaka takes a chicken for a walk.

I have been working on getting an area prepared for a small orchard. The other day I set out to dig a couple holes to plant two peach trees. This is in addition to my two previously planted apricot trees.

Annaka started off helping me by sitting in the grass next to her pink backpack and eating a cookie. In the grass because the dirt was dirty and I had to carry her over the dirt to where the grass began. Eventually the cookie and her attention ran out and in her roaming way she trekked off through the thigh high grass. I noticed that she headed in the general direction of the chicken coup and our free range chickens. I didnt really think much of it as I could see and hear her.

At this point I have to give you a general lay out of the house. The house looks out onto our field. Then on the left hand side is some bushes/trees and the chicken coup. On the far right hand side of the house is where I have started the small orchard. The distance between the orchard and chicken coup is about 60 yards or so.

After a few minutes I noticed that Annaka was starting to head back towards me. I was happy that she was getting closer as she can dissappear quickly. The closer she is the easier to watch her when she gets into something she is not supposed to. I turned my attention back to what I was doing... finishing the planting of the first peach tree.

A few more minutes go by and I see that Annaka is still plodding along through the grass. But this time I notice a little surprise. I really dont know how I missed seeing this before but in her arms is one of our reasonbly large brown chickens. She had somehow caught a chicken and picked it up. She had then carried it almost 50 yards back over to me! In my mind it is amazing she caught it in the first place as they are free ranging (running free) . I laughed as I watched her plod her way towards me carrying it as if it was one of her more heavy baby dolls. I asked her what she was doing and she told me, matter-of-factly, that she "had a chicken". Well, she most definately did have that chicken and the poor thing wasnt going to escape either.

Naomi ran out and took a picture of us as we traveled back over towards the other chickens to return Annaka's catch. Sadly, of the 3 pictures only one of them is below. The other two that didnt have the fence in the way were accidently deleted by me. I am still miffed about it. So, that being said enjoy the image even with the fence in the way.