I've been having to play detective work around here the past few days... and it hasn't been going well.


Something has gone missing....


... and it's not my chickens that are missing...


Thank goodness after poor Rusty's mishap, we still have one very sweet rooster, Mr. Rudy... and he has been doing just fine...


... and my sweet chickens love me as much as always, but still... something is missing...


While I love my chickens dearly, and spend as much time with them as I can ...


And they bring me never-ending entertainment with their antics..


By the way... Mr. Rudy has begun showing love to his ladies... now that is quite, well... natural behavior let us say... but somewhat unnerving when you first see it happen!


Mr. Rudy has been doing his job, and keeps his girls close by him but still....


My 6 little banties, my egg-laying girls... are up to some tricks... and I'm not happy about it.



Because one of two things has happened.  Either they have quit laying eggs, or...



... they have found a really good hiding place from me, and that, my friend, is why I got into detective work today.


Egg detective work, that is.



And I came up EMPTY!  No eggs! NONE.  Zitto. Zilch.


I followed my chickens around in the yard for the better part of an hour or two.  We climbed tree branches together.


Goldie pecked my shoes to see if I brought any food with me.  She knows I always bring treats when I come.  She was perplexed because I didn't bring food.  So, she pecked my shoe instead.


I adore Goldie.  She adores me.  She is the first one to come running when she sees me coming.  Or maybe she just likes treats.  But I like to think she likes me {smile}....


So I climbed trees with Goldie to see if she would show me where the eggs were.


And I talked to Rudy and asked him if he could help me find the eggs. No luck.  Blank stares! Everyone was innocent, and no one offered any information.  And all my 6 egg laying banties happily pecked away as we walked, without a care in the world... or any interest in showing me where their hideout might be.


And then we met this cute little guy.


He followed me through the trees happily chattering.  The dogs weren't with me, so I didn't have to worry about any bad language... lol!


He found a treat on the ground, and climbed up high on the branches of the pine tree to sit with his back against the tree and enjoy it.


He didn't seem to mind getting his picture taken either.


It's not often they stay in one place for very long, so I was lucky to capture these shots of him!


He took off and peered at me behind another tree branch.  Was that a wave? lol!


In my trek through the woods with the chickens, I gave up on my detective work, and instead just enjoyed the walk with them.  I found this old tree stump full of old acorns and pine needles, and suspected my chipmunk friend probably had many a lunch right here!


All the chickens were happy and content to munch on bugs, leaves, dirt, and whatever else the forest floor offered up.


Our neighbor's horses wondered what was going on across the fence.  The hens stopped at the fence line, looked at the horses and then turned around and went back into our woods.


Our neighbor's place.  I just love the striking red barns against the backdrop of the sky, trees, and grass.



I stopped to just look up.  The contrast of the blue sky, and pine trees was incredible.  Such beauty abounding in all directions! I was enjoying the moment, in spite of the circumstances behind it.  God has a way of doing that in our lives, I've found... and I've learned to just enjoy the moment... it usually comes in the midst of a difficult set of moments... but it's meant to be enjoyed anyway.  And, so that is what I did.


Our introspective Mr. Rudy... who offered no clues as to what his girls were doing with my eggs.


But I forgave him because he is so sweet, and kind, and is not the kind of rooster you have to be afraid of.  I'm so thankful for that!  He even enjoys getting his picture taken!


At the end of our walk, look who showed up... Mr. Simba.  I think he had been secretly stalking us through the woods.  Cats are like that.  I'm glad I know this cat, because he loves me too.  I just hope no other cats were following us.... lol!


Mr. Simba thinks it is fun to chase the chickens and hear them squawk.  Such a bad boy, but he really looks innocent, doesn't he!


I went to the house to get some treats and brought them out for the chickens after our walk.  Goldie came running to see me.  She thinks I always have treats.


And after all that detective work, and even treats... I still came up empty.  And so, I figure I'm not a very good detective.  I think I'll quit.  Turn in my resignation.

The mystery continues.  I'm stumped.  And breakfast with my daily freshly laid egg may be on hold too.  I hope they feel sorry for me soon, and clue me in.  :)

But... I got to enjoy a beautiful walk in the woods with the chickens, climb trees and tree stumps, and walk through thick brush, and got to visit with the chipmunk too.  All was not lost!  Perhaps I'll pick up my detective work another day.  But for today, I will be thankful for the sweet moments I enjoyed with the "girls" on such a beautiful day.  :)