The nicest thing just happened while doing chores which proves to me, again, just how awesome our animals are.

I overslept a little this morning and when Ed took the boys down for the bus I took my time eating my breakfast. Well, with daylight coming earlier this meant the goats and cow gave up on their morning grain so they took off for the pasture. As I went in the barn Moo saw me and walked over waiting for her special bucketfull outside, where she won't be bothered by horns. But the goats weren't in the barn waiting on me which meant she would have to deal with them when they saw her. I could have walked around hollering for the goats to come but I simply started dipping the bucket into the barrel. As soon as the chickens heard that they ran outside and started making a racket telling the goats, "She's in the barn! Hurry, you're missing breakfast!" I could barely see them in the field and they couldn't see me but I saw them stop and then heard them start talking, "Do you think she's really in there or are the chickens crying wolf?" "I don't know, let's give it another minute."

When they didn't make a bolt for the barn Moo walked around into their earshot and started her demanding and very loud mooing that clearly means, "Hurry up and get into the barn!" Immediately all twelve took off full speed for the barn. As soon as they were in Moo walked back to her special spot and enjoyed a quiet breakfast. Fizzle was also alerted and met me at the gate to her pen. As soon as the graining was done the chickens received their breakfast of leftovers from last night which was the favorite - spaghetti. Since it looks like worms it is so fun to watch 30 or so chickens "chase" the noodles and pull them from each other.

And I never had to utter a sound or walk from my normal path.