This little toad was cute

At the sanctuary, we have about 100 chickens. First, let me state, I love chickens. After cattle, they are my second favorite farmed animal species. I love their language, their furtive and excited movements, and I adore trying to photograph them. They have friendships and arguments and are as quick to forgive as they are to squabble.

That being said, their less appealing behavior (for me) involves their murderous tendencies when lizards, frogs, toads and snakes get near them. Our biggest rooster (seen here with Olivia, the potbellied pig) is Matt - he killed a 4' gopher snake. Scary stuff, if you're a reptile.

So when one of the staff found this little toad in the chicken enclosure, we just had to move him to safer ground. And I had to take a picture. Egad, they are cute little buggers.