I'm so proud of Buttercup, my BO hen! She is at least 5 years old, and has arthritis. She has good days and bad, in terms of movement. Often, I just carry her to where she wants to go. She keeps the other birds in line using only a well timed stink-eye. I call her Big Mama.
Anyway, she came to live with me in early May, and laid one egg a couple days later. Other than that, none. I don't mind a bit, though. I love her. I figure, she has laid many eggs in her life, and now she can relax.
Well, today she was acting funny, and I got nervous. I probably fuss over her too much, but she's my special little old lady. So I watched her closely. She actually hobbled over to the nest box! I thought maybe she was going there to avoid the wind. Well, don't you know, she laid a huge egg! Not only that, but then she wanted to go broody, bless her heart!
I watched her lay the egg, then fuss with the wood chips until she was happy. Then she turned around a few times (which is no small feat for her poor arthritic legs). She settled herself on the egg, and even used her beak to push it farther underneath her! Then she was doing a cluck similar to the one my other girls does when she wants to go broody. I was so proud of her! Way to go, my old girl! I felt terrible taking the egg from her after all that. I let her sit for a few minutes, then I snuck it away.
Thanks for reading, I just had to share my chicken-mommy pride!
Well, today she was acting funny, and I got nervous. I probably fuss over her too much, but she's my special little old lady. So I watched her closely. She actually hobbled over to the nest box! I thought maybe she was going there to avoid the wind. Well, don't you know, she laid a huge egg! Not only that, but then she wanted to go broody, bless her heart!
Thanks for reading, I just had to share my chicken-mommy pride!
