Lesson 1296 – Broody Rudd

Remember Rudd (pronounced Rude)? Our splash marans that was attacked by a fisher cat and who almost had her head pulled off?

Well although she has fully recovered from her injuries, these days, she’s giving us new troubles. Our free range chickens had figured out that their favorite place to lay eggs is under the blackberry brambles (“brambled eggs” – not going to miss the opportunity to say that this time) It turns out that Rudd has gone broody on us and she’s decided that sitting on the eggs under the brambles is the place she ought to be.

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Lesson 1294 – Updates on the flock and some gorgeous flowers

I know that I’ve been a little absent from this blog lately, but man have we been busy!

A few updates on the flock:

Lately, we’ve been hit with some very hot days here in New Hampshire. I’m not worried about the flock; chickens know how to cool themselves down. They’ll take dirt baths and naps in the shade. It’s a lazy life of staying cool.

Nope, not dead, just cooling off.

I know some people who give their chickens fruit infused ice water and while this is a lovely thought (heck, *I’d* like to drink that!) when it’s hot, even when it’s scorching hot, all you really need to do is make sure your flock has constant access to plain old water. Chickens like kids, will drink when they are thirsty and won’t when they’re not.

Our chickens free range during the day so I don’t have to worry about circulation. If you keep your chickens in the coop during the hot days, just make sure that they have some kind of ventilation. A screened window, a fenced-in yard, and even a screened gap near the roof all work.

Pippin (our dog who is as much a member of the flock as the chickens are) recently had a tooth abscess that sent him (and me) to the vets at 4 am early last week. After a few days of antibiotics, he went in for oral surgery and this itty-bitty dog ended up getting 12 teeth pulled. (I know, YIKES!)

After he came home, we were tempted to change his name to Gumby but Pippin it remains. (Although we can’t help but laugh at how he keeps trying to find his missing teeth by feeling around his mouth with his tongue.)

After a few days of misery, my good boy Pippin has returned to being his old self. My writing buddy is back where he belongs in his (it used to be mine) comfy chair right near my desk. Writing is always easier with a dog by your side.

And then this past week, we ate at a restaurant that had vases with beautiful flowers on each table. Here’s the one that was on our table. Enjoy.

And lastly, I realized *after* the fact that I had missed the perfect title for this post – it should have been “Brambled Eggs.” Of course it should have been! Oh well, next time.

 

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 1293 – Eggs and brambles

Lucky us. We’ve found yet another outside nest where the chickens are laying their eggs.

Unfortunately it’s in the middle of blackberry brambles and you literally take your life in your hands when you go out to collect them. This is the price one pays for having free range chickens, you’ve got to work for the eggs.

Emma, who is the champion egg-picker-upper for our family, has figured out a system. She takes the hiking staff I’ve had since college (which has gone with me on many adventures) and holds the brambles aside while she tries to gather the eggs into the basket with her free hand. She’s discovered that you have to be quick, a little flexible, and of good balance. The time she fell into the prickers was not her finest moment.

I know that Emma’s method is mostly effective because every day we have new eggs to eat or give away.

Lesson 1247 – The first fart egg of the season

Even though I’m calling this the first fart egg of the season – because we are finally digging out from under our deep litter in the hen house and are uncovering all kinds of things – it’s technically the first fart egg that we’ve *discovered* this season. It certainly could have been laid last fall when our newest crew began laying eggs.

Fart eggs – a name that brings endless joy and chuckles to our teens – is a trial egg. It’s the result of a young hen who is just starting to get into the business of laying eggs.

When a hen first starts laying, her eggs tend to be smaller than normal. Eventually as the bird’s body gets used to what’s going on, the eggs will get larger and larger until they become full size.

Lesson 1125 – The Good Egg

This morning I was having an online conversation with a friend. At the end of our conversation (where several positive things were decided) I signed off by telling him that he was a “Good Egg.”

He returned with this:

Thanks Wendy. “Good Egg” has long been a high compliment in my book. Did you use it before you started the chicken raising?

To which I replied:

Nope, only after I realized how much work, time, and effort goes into creating something that is given away to nourish others did I ever truly realize that the term “good egg” is a true compliment of the highest order.

 Well, it’s the truth.

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 955 – *sigh*

Just wanted to let you know that our household has joined the millions of other unadorned households around the world. What was once this:

Has now become this:

Lesson 953 – If I could turn back time

In the fall we have a family tradition where if you catch a falling leaf and then put it under your pillow, the Fall Fairy stops by during the night to leave you a new pair of (often beautiful and) warm socks in preparation for the coming winter.

I post this picture now because when looking back through my photos, I saw it and thought, oh to have the days of Fall again. Yup, I’d rather have a brown yard, that needs to be raked (but where I could still wear shorts and a tee-shirt) than this these days.

Lesson 952 – The crow of the cock

(the video should work now, thanks for letting me know there was a problem)

At the Poultry Congress (and I swear, I’m almost ready to stop talking about it) I managed to capture some roosters crowing. In the following clip I want you to notice a few things:

• As it is with the Grinch – the noise, the noise, the noise, noise, noise, noise! – Poultry shows are *very* loud. I actually feel sorry for the birds who must be overwhelmed by the end of the day (I know I was.) Most of them spend the night in their cages.

Lesson 951 – 100% Male

This duck is supposed to look like this –

Those red bumps around the bill are called “wattles”,  those of the male being larger and more brightly colored than the females. Their purpose is to allow the males to attract attention from the ladies.

Apparently, this bad boy is all male.

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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com

Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.

Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.

Lesson 950 – Born behind bars

I’m getting to the end of my Poultry Congress photos but I do have a few left that I wanted to share (and thanks for all the feedback on how you appreciate seeing the different kinds of chickens – this is nothing, if you are intrigued by these photos then make it a point to visit your nearest Poultry Congress, you won’t be disappointed.)

When Chickens are kept in cages for hours at a time, the inevitable sometimes happens.

Try as you might, (and I know from experience with my 6 kids) when you’ve got to push, you’ve got to push. Ain’t nothing gonna stop that train once it’s left the station.