Chicken Thieves in Haigler

Al and Cal were buddies, they were also chicken thieves.

Two old Germans in the town of Haigler, Nebraska each kept a flock of laying hens. One was Reinhold Keller who happened to be Al’s grandfather and the other one was John Zweygardt (known as Little John, as Big John lived a few miles in Kansas.)

Al and Cal on a certain night would steal a few hens from one and put them in the other one’s chicken house. After a few days had gone by they would reverse the act; of course they never got the same chickens.

When the two old gents would meet at the post office one would say “Mine Gott, I am missing some hens das morgen,” the one that had too many would never admit it. I guess the one with too many would enjoy collecting extra eggs for a few days until the role was reversed.

One night the local town marshal, John Corder, stopped the boys and asked what they were up to that night. He was told we are stealing chickens to which John replied, “no one steals chickens any more.”

Cal reached in the sack and pulled out a hen which started squawking and said, “we do!" John shook his head and drove off.

Years later over a six pack or three of beer Al and Cal decided they were doing the old fellows a good turn by keeping their flocks from getting inbred.

-- Submitted by Cal Freehling

PS: Cal says this is a true story and is told with permission from Al. He says they pulled many "stunts", some of which cannot be published until they both die!. haha