For a good time, visit the Watson's

Jilda and I were drinking coffee on the back deck a few mornings ago. She had the cup to her lips but then dropped it down to the table abruptly. "Is one of our chickens out?" she asked. 

I'd stepped out earlier while the coffee was brewing to let our chickens out of the pen to roam around in the back yard for the day and when I did a quick count, and all if our chickens were present and accounted for. But when I followed her finger I saw there was another chicken just outside the fence pacing back and forth as if it were trying to figure out how to get in.

When I looked at it, I could see right away that it is a game hen. Those are small lean and mean chickens built for speed...and for fighting.

After coffee, I stepped down and opened the back gate slightly and then stepped back to the deck.  A few minutes later the hen was in the back yard with the others.

I'm not sure where I came from because no one in our community has chickens and I'm not sure how to get it back to its rightful owners. I mean, I could put up chicken posters, maybe put a notice at the vet's office, but that seems a little lame.

Maybe the word's out in the animal kingdom -- For a good time, visit the Watsons.