Bert!

Bert was found wandering around a Sioux Falls neighborhood this spring. She was friendly and not afraid of humans, so she made herself at home with a nice family who knew they couldn’t keep her. Amber and her son went to great lengths to find Bert’s home; canvassing the neighborhood to see if anyone had lost a chicken. There were no takers.

When Bert arrived at the farm, she joined into the flock without a problem. She held on to her wandering ways and spent most of her summer hanging around the pizza cooking area cleaning up any cheese that Loren might throw her way.

Bert soon discovered the barn where Charlie and Harold live. She spread her wings and left the flock to move in with the big guys. It became clear that Bert wanted to have a flock of her own. Twice this summer we found her sitting on a clutch of eggs. For one reason or another, those eggs never hatched. Then Bert disappeared.

I was fearful that she had wandered too far and been taken by a bird of prey or small rodent. I never thought to look under the pig trough, but it has been the perfect place for Bert to hid her eggs and sit. She eats with the pigs and has access to their water.

On December 20th while I was feeding the pigs I heard the distinctive chirping of a little chick. I bent down to look under the trough to see Bert’s first little offspring tucked under her wing. The little guy ran out to get some corn while mom sat still. Are there more chicks to come? We hope so!

Bert’s chick