Lassoing a Chicken

Our poor chickens. No wonder they don't seem to be producing as much as I think they should. Travis came in yesterday laughing so hard, I thought he was crying. He went out to do chicken chores and Tulip, our sweet little Buff Orpington hen was sitting in the favorite place to lay eggs. When he came in to collect the eggs, she refused to move and decided to peck at him - I don't think she was finished doing her business. Anyway, he thought it would be fun to see if he could lasso her around the neck and drag her from the nest -- gently, I'm sure! Well, he did it - he lassoed her and she freaked out and started running around the hen house - squawking and going crazy. This brought in several on-lookers to see what was going on. If Travis thought it was tough to lasso a chicken, he realized the tough part was unlassoing one! (is that really a word?) After much effort and flying feathers, he grabbed her by the legs, flipped her over so she would calm down and undid the lasso and tossed her - again gently, I'm sure, out the hen house door into the yard. She partially slid, partially tumbled, mostly on her back down the ramp into the fray of the chicken yard. At this point - all of the chickens were sure that they were next and completely lost it! Travis left smiling and happy that his work there was done! Boys!