Flip Flops

Mary took great care to make sure her toes were painted. She doesn't usually go for the gaudy or flashy nail colors - I am sure it was a subdued tone. She tries to look nice and take care of herself.

She didn't think anything of walking across the pasture this morning to feed the chickens in her flip flops until she opened the chicken coop's old red door. She is always greeted by pullets eager to express their fondness with a peck and some poop.

This time she was not disappointed in their rush of affection. Those shiny colored nails dangling there on her toes through the flip flops was an overwhelming hit with those birds. The pullets rushed her with bruising speed and laid some rather painful pecks on her feet and legs.

Thankfully she survived to tell the tale and all is forgiven.

But probably not forgotten.

PS
Mary wanted me to add that shorts and chickens don't mix either.

First Egg

Most folks never realize the first eggs laid by pullets are small. It stands to reason, but it is an obscure fact - great to share at parties if they are really dull. Matilda #78 is probably responsible for the smaller egg on the right. The larger "egg" on the left is ceramic.

Our pullets are 4 months old now - we suspect that within 3 -4 weeks most will be laying.

Mary where did you send the kids' shoes for bronzing?

Egg Freshness Test

This chart from Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens is great for determining egg freshness - regardless of source. The older the egg, the greater the air cell which will increase egg buoyancy.Have you ever wondered if significant difference exists between eggs of free ranging hens vs supermarket eggs? While I don't presently have hard data to argue either point, I can attest to the superior texture and taste of free range eggs. Freshness while significant, is but one factor affecting egg quality.

#78 comes of age

#78 aka Matilda, a Black Australorp pullet is the first of all pullets to have matured to the point of exhibiting mating behavior. Her comb and wattle are a bit more pronounced and reddened than her sisters at 3 months 21 days of age.

Earlier this week while feeding we noticed Matilda falling into a nesting position when touched. Today I picked Matilda up when she fell into this nesting position. After placing her back onto the ground she violently shook every feather on her body - from head to tail. This photo was taken about 10 days earlier.

These postures are a bit misguided towards me - but instinctive nonetheless. It is fair to note the presence of these behaviors in maturing pullets do not demand the presence of a rooster.

We don't have a rooster but egg production does not hinge on the presence of a male. In fact eggs are produced at the same rate with our without a rooster. The only difference is that with a rooster a certain percentage of eggs would be fertile.

Whoever said chickens are not smart?

Chickens appear to be very teachable and likely would make faithful pets (We have enough pets at Lazy Day Farm and were hoping for some egg production). We will see how things progress. The birds are about 14 weeks old - not quite ready for laying yet, although we have one Australorpe hen that might be maturing a bit faster than others.

They seem to be observant and more than active. It's difficult to get a photograph since their heads are in constant motion.... but i noticed these Black Australorpes found my shoe laces interesting. Both shoes were untied in no time.