Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[cheeka]

 

[cheeka]

it has a tiny yolk!

now it's part of the blown Marans eggs collection that I have yet to give to my friend... I may end up having to ship them to her...

 

[mortie]

That egg is adorable. At first I tended to agree with you...my girls are ladies too so they probably will not fart, they'll have fairy eggs. Sounded good.

Then I realized...wait a second. Watch any one of them for more than a few minutes and one is likely to be treated to a scene that is wholly un-ladylike. I don't know any true lady that poops right out in the open, in mixed company. So now I'm not sure. Maybe she did fart and you're just giving her too much credit. It is a nice thought though. I'll have to see when I get a little thing like that, how my ladies are behaving.

Last night I put a golf ball in each next box. I know they don't make them lay sooner but I wanted them to know that these were the official laying sites. I watched them when they went to bed and each one in turn peered suspiciously into the box. I went to bed myself, dreaming of fresh scrambled eggs.

I just knew today would be the day. I sprang from my bed and rushed downstairs, not even bothering to change my clothes. I picked at the breakfast my hubby had lovingly made. My thoughts were elsewhere. I kept glancing out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of a chicken in the run. I saw one come out of the coop. If she'd been in the coop at this hour, it could only mean one thing!

I polished my egg skelter and placed it carefully front and center on the kitchen counter. This egg might not fit in it, but I would do my best. Perhaps I could fashion a little hammock for it to make it fit....I put my shoes on and grabbed a piece of toast I had saved from my breakfast and headed out the back door. The girls, as usual, came running to the end of the run when they heard the door. The were making that cute sound they make when they see me. That "Bwwaaaaaaaaaaaah" sound. I tore chunks off my piece of toast and shoved them through the chicken wire, not wanting to rush over to the best box right away. Best to savor the moment. While I was standing there, I decided to check the position of the half of the plastic egg one of my kids put in there months ago that now the birds are playing with. I couldn't see it anywhere....weird.

Finally I walked around to the back of the coop to where the nest box is. I held my breath as I fumbled with the latch and closed my eyes as I raised the lid which let out a creeeeeeeeeeeeeak as it always does. I opened my eyes to behold my treasure!

2 golf balls. Although one of them appears to have been sat on.

So as it stands this morning:
No eggs.
No squatting.
Breakfast shared with the birds.

 

[cheeka]

well Nuts! mortie... I was rooting for you and didn't peek at the end til I actual got there to read it.

even tho' I turned the alarm clock off, I still wake up everyday before it goes off, and today was no exception... as I was snuggling with the multitude of critters that hog my bed, the power went off! at first, it seemed like no big deal, I thought it would come back on within a short period and fell back to sleep. nope. it stayed off on the whole mountaintop for 11 hours! I kept thanking Peach for being a broody hen rather than an electric incubator - today is day 20. can you imagine the disaster? our temps today topped out at 61°...
I decided to spend the day down at the creek. kinda felt bad for blowing off free range for the babes, but it was drizzly and windy, so I honestly think they were more comfortable in their runs. I brought in plenty of clover and grasses before I left and it was all consumed when I got home. and I'm skipping the fireworks, one, because I hate the traffic jam afterwards - it's a 20 minute drive that takes 2 hours after the event. and the booming can be heard even way up here, so I kept the dogs company which helped them stay calm. if I don't react at all to the noise, they stop after the first couple of booms.
two routes to do tomorrow with a double load for each because we didn't deliver today. I'll be safe despite the distraction of hoping to find chicks under Peach when I get home!

19 Eggs today

 

[subhanalah]

61 degrees in July!

 

[mortie]

Did you like my little story? Most of it was true...except for the whole expectation of eggs part. I know better lol.

I'm pretty sure these girls are holding off til next spring.

 

[mortie]

Today is a very special day. It's the girls' sweet 16 (weeks) birthday! To celebrate, I made them a fantastic pie. I got a watermelon half and scooped out some (not all!) of the watermelon and filled it with yogurt, grapes, blueberries, cut up apples, some hot dog, a little graham cracker....you name it. All the things they love. As I walked to the door with it, I gave a little nod toward my skelter as if to indicate "Today is the day, skelter. Today is the day you get an egg!" I marched outside and flung wide the run door. The girls streamed out clucking softly in anticipation of their treat. I presented it to them, and they lost no time in getting beak-deep into it. I wished them all a happy bird-day

and thanked them for the eggs I knew I would find tucked cozily into the box. First though, because I know they are young and inexperienced, I cast an eye over the run. I looked carefully in all the corners, knowing that these first eggs can be small. Seeing nothing, I made a mental note to congratulate the girls for getting their eggs in the nest box on the first try! Then I sauntered over to the next box and creeeeaked open the lid.

2 golf balls and a feather.

 

[mortie]

Don't tell her, but we did lay her some eggs. We just ate them before she got out here because she was too slow with the pie.

 

[mortie]

Wilson! What the heck. Give me back my tablet...and you better not have eaten any eggs. Do you know what happens to egg eaters around here????

 

[mortie]

Man you guys can't keep a secret AT ALL can you?