Broody

How to get a Buff off her duff? One of our Buff Orpingtons, Layla, has gone broody all of a sudden. She's about a year old, so maybe it's time, but none of our Red Star hens ever showed the slightest inclination. She's been holed up in the nest box for several days now, sitting on a handful of infertile eggs. I told her I fully sympathize with the desire for babies, but it's just not happening 'round here. She's so gentle that she didn't fuss much when I picked her up and retrieved the eggs, but a few hours later she was back in there on some more. Maybe the mailbox-turned-nestbox has her convinced there will be a "special delivery" soon!

What a Week

Wow, am I glad this week is over! It's been quite a doozy. After almost burning down the laundry room due to a dryer vent problem a few weeks ago, we thought the worst was over. Turns out, that overheating somehow damaged the dryer (even after replacing the electrical cord, downsizing the breaker, and putting in a new, better dryer vent) and allowed it to short out several days ago. It "went to ground" (whatever that means; the electrician kept repeating this as if it explains everything) and popped light bulbs, caused outlets to stop working, and worst of all, blew out the control boards in both the washer and the dryer. And let me tell you, frontload washers and dryers have very expensive parts.

As if that weren't enough, we had horribly gusty winds Thursday and into last night which took off about 15-20 shingles on the back of the roof. It's mostly where the new addition and roof penetrations are, so we suspect the shingles were weakened by that. But it's going to rain Monday and Tuesday, so we have to get someone out here Sunday.

Then, in the midst of those terrible winds, we almost cooked the chickens. We had placed a heat lamp in the chicken coop to give the girls a little warmth. But the post that the lamp was clipped to got blown down and the lamp scorched the pine shavings. If the lady who boards her horses behind us hadn't seen it smoking, we might have lost the chickens, the coop, and the shop!

To compound our animal concerns, DaVinci has not been eating well for a month but has been guzzling water lately (and experiencing the frequent bladder urges you would associate with that much liquid). After an exam and thorough workup, the vet found that he has a significant hypothyroid condition and wants him on a twice daily medication, probably for the rest of his life! We'll test it out for a month, but we're not ones to subscribe to lifetime drug regimes as a solution.

And to top it off, I've hurt my back and am hobbling around with a forward tilt like an elderly person. I strained my low back muscles carrying several 80 lb sheets of subfloor upstairs for the new closet (with Jeff of course, but somehow hurting myself over 40 lbs doesn't sound as noble). Anyhow, I've started to notice the abundance of dust and dog hair accumulating on the floor, now that my eyesight is directed downward. And just when I'm least capable of getting down there to do anything about it, too! But thankfully it's Friday and the Sabbath and weekend are upon us.

Coop de Jour

Our little "rag top coop" has a new top! (Sorry for the puns; we've been having a lot of fun at the chicken coop's expense.)

One of our last projects before Jeff is back teaching classes full time was updating the coop. It was built badly, un-plumb, out of square, etc. by the previous tenant, but the posts were set in concrete and it had sides and a door. We had fixed the wire mesh several months ago when the chicks needed an outside home, but it still had no roof. We had tarped it for a little protection from the strong winds, sun, and rain, but that was a very temporary fix at best. So using (almost exclusively) scrap materials laying around the farm, Jeff designed and constructed a proper metal roof.

Just a little shot of the joists and roof underside

After all the effort he put in, I'll be reminding the girls daily that it's time they repay him in eggs!

Scriptural Chicken

I love the rich color and flavor of our free-range chicken eggs.



I'm thinking of incorporating a little chicken humor into our future egg carton labels ('cause when we have seven layers, we'll be giving away or selling a fair number of eggs)! Maybe something like:

Happy Chicken

The baby chicks are growing fast, and we hope it won't be long until they are out enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. They'll have a perfect leader to teach them how, as Atomic Cluck has mastered the after-lunch nap. We came upon her in the middle of her little respite, leg and wing stretched out as if sunning herself, eyes closed, basking in the cool, moist mulch under the cannas. Could there be a happier chicken?

Chickens Little

Our new babies have come home to roost! I picked out two Buff Orpingtons, two Americaunas (which lay the colored eggs), and two Silver Laced Wyandottes. I had to go to two different places to get the breeds I wanted, but I've been calling all over town for over a month now trying to get the right combo of chicks at the right age. I wanted to raise them all together and I wanted pullets (females), so that led to some careful planning. Ordering from the hatchery required purchasing 25 or more, and we definitely don't have the time or space for that kind of operation!

The smallest one, an Americauna that is only three days old, fell asleep in my hand!

We made them a cozy home and brought Atomic Cluck in for an introduction. She got extremely still and just stared at them. Then she hopped off my lap and ran out into the yard calling over and over. I have no idea what's going on in her little brain, but it was certainly unusual behavior. Once they are a little bigger and stronger, we'll start some supervised "play" time between them.

Earning their keep

The girls are producing! Today was the first day we received three eggs from three hens. We had been getting one or two each day, but I had only seen one hen for sure laying. Now we know they are all busy. If you have some great recipes involving eggs, please pass them on!

A funny aside: I remarked to Jeff how these eggs are slightly to somewhat smaller than the standard "large" eggs purchased in the store. I added that I would have to learn how to adapt them to recipes, and Jeff said "Just use more"!

I'm so excited to have brown eggs! I know all colors are equally nutritious, but
there is something so wholesome about pretty red hens laying lovely brown eggs.