Bad Girls!

Our chickens are sweet, funny, inquisitive and I love spending time with them. I really do love them and can’t imagine not having chickens but some day, I won’t have chickens. I’ve promised Vince that when we leave here, I won’t have chickens again. That may just be his way of hoping I’ll stay here longer.

But, there are days when I look at them all and I think . . dumplings; chicken and dressing; chicken salad!

I was up by the house and I looked out under the tree where the chickens hang out and I thought . . that’s an egg!

I went out to investigate. Sometimes they do get a little excited or try to “hold it” too long and they will lay an egg in the wrong spot. I wondered if a hen had established a nest. They get frustrated with me taking all their eggs and then they leave the coop and go out and hide their eggs from me.

Two more. OK . . that wasn’t an accident. Someone has established a nest.

Two more. OK . . that wasn’t an accident. Someone has established a nest. 10 more eggs! That’s a total of at least 13 but no hen. I have no idea how many hens I have so either she gave up . . didn’t like being left out by herself at night, or else something got her when she was out by herself. I tend to think she gave up because if something got her, it would probably have left some cracked eggs too.

All these eggs had to be thrown out. I didn’t want to leave them out there and attract predators. That’s a lot of eggs to throw out but I have no idea how long they’ve been out there or how long a hen sat on them before abandoning the nest so . . they were thrown out.

Another thing . . last night Vince was gone and I was home by myself and I hate being home alone at night. I went out just before dark, it appeared all the chickens were in. I closed the doors. Then I walked over to make sure all the water was off and look what I saw!

I fussed at her and herded her towards the coop.

She was hightailing it to the coop with me right behind her saying . . Get in that coop!

I opened the door on one side and she went running in. They were all secure for the night and I was able to get in the house and get myself secure before it was completely dark.