The Almost Weekly Egg Report

Eggs number have dropped severely this week. The only reason I can think of is that the hens must be beginning to molt, although there is not nearly as much precious missing of feathers as I would have expected. Every warmish day this past week - which was pretty much every day - the hens and Doodle Doo were out in their yard happily pecking about. It is a lovely sight seeing them busily puttering about outside. When the chicks were babies, I would always chant to them a little chick-chick song as I approached their pen for feeding time and while I was filling their feeders. As they got older, I gave it up - though I am not sure why - perhaps just feeling too busy or just going through my chickens chores a bit too automatically. Recently I re-instituted the little chant, thinking it might jog some old and fond memory in Doodle Doo's little pea-brain and help him take a non-violent approach to my entry into the chicken coop every morning. And guess what? It seems to be working! He has not gone after me once since I have been singing the old song. He comes up close to me, as if he is thinking about leaping at me, but then he just goes about his business. Two points for that bit of rooster psychology, eh? Tomorrow, two newcomers are coming to join the roving band of fowl. They are coming on probation, as they have a bit of a tarnished reputation. That is all I'm going to say about them until they actually get here. The rest of this story is going to stay secret for a while. Stay tuned....photos and further revelations to follow.