The Almost Weekly Egg Report

The Almost Weekly Egg Report', 'TA DAAA - Here they are. Introducing Mr. & Mrs. GooseyGander! They arrived mid-morning today, hissing and honking all the way. Their owners are looking for a foster home or at least respite care from these two big birds as they have been hissing, honking and harrassing their little two year old son. When I enter the pen to give them food and water, they do plenty of hissing and honking at me, too. I am wielding a broom to keep them at bay. So far, so good. It is our hope that they will become acclimated here and then assimilated into the present group of roving fowl. They are beautiful Pilgrim geese. May their anxieties lighten up and their personalities sweeten up in the days to come. Amen.

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.

The Almost Daily Egg Report

Well, it's official now ... this is the Almost Weekly Egg Report instead of almost daily). Since the last blog, the egg numbers have gone up a bit, 7 one day, 8 on two days and.... (drumroll, please) on February 11 we were back up to a dozen for one day!!! That was the day that the temperature got to 50 degrees and the bees were even out enjoying the warm sunshine. Speaking of the temperature, it has been bouncing back and forth between cold and mild quite a bit - like King Winter is really yanking our chain. But the feeling of spring - the hope, the increased birdsong, the longer days - is definitely here and not going away. Big Henny Penny continues to do well. Doodle Doo was especially feisty yesterday evening, attacking my garbage can cover shield several times. His days are really going to be numbered if he keeps that up. Last week we had a nice bit of snow, just enough to give me a lovely cross country ski session along the creek on Sunday. But since then, it has mostly become crusty and icy. Got out the red construction paper this morning to make hearts for my three Valentines. Happy Valentine's Day!

The Almost Daily Egg Report

On Sunday afternoon, Big Henny Penny seemed well enough to rejoin the flock in the henhouse. I grabbed her and put her in my carrying box, but before I could pop the top on, she flew out and made it to the other side of the garage. Speaking in my best, high-pitched, sweet-talking, you-are-the-best-hen-in-the-world voice, I slowly crept up behind her, grabbed her again, put her in the box really fast and put the top on the box even faster. I have learned a lot this past year about how to catch various fowl! Out at the henhouse, no sooner had I put Henny Penny inside, when Doodle-doo immediately begins chasing her around and around, even hopping on her back and pecking her head a couple of times. There were also a couple of wing-flapping confrontations with a few of the other hens. After a few minutes, things seemed to settle down. I guess what they say is true - that it is not that easy to go home again.

Yesterday, it was up to 40 degrees (OH MY GOODNESS!) and numerous hens were outside for the first time in about a month. It was lovely to see them pecking about the yard again. I was hoping we might see some more eggs, but there only seem to be about half a dozen eggs per day coming down the chute these days. The glitch is gone, and I was able to upload the photos of the new gazebo today. The weather report is for a bit of snow and freezing rain tonight - the first precipitation in a long time now.