The Chicken or the Egg

(What's the Word June 5---Fusion)

I have kept a few hens in the backyard for 15 years or so. They are not only fun to watch, but they provide us with fresh eggs. In the Spring, there are usually more eggs than we can eat, so I'll sell some cartons to people I know. Many people will pay decent money for fresh eggs, but the few dollars I get doesn't even begin to cover the expense of raising them.

This year we had something special happen. Our neighbor's rooster decided he liked our backyard better than his own, and since no one could catch him---not even the dog---we let him stay. All my hens have names. His name is Rooster.

Day 1

Rooster did what roosters do, and surprise, we now have one very adorable chick. Funny thing about hens, though, is they sometimes set on a nest with no eggs. This is called brooding. Opal was being broody, while Rocky was getting all the action, if you know what I mean. So I stole one of Rocky's eggs and stuck it under Opal. Opal is a white hen and Rocky is a black and white striped hen, so it seems kind of funny to see this little grey and white chick running after its white mother.