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Eggs, anyone? Backyard chicken update
By Gina Spadafori
May 25, 2008
I interrupt our holiday weekend of non-blogging for some important chicken news.
This morning I got up at dawn and took a quick run up into the hills to the former 4H leader’s house, the woman who got me started with Abigail (the Delaware), Beatrice (Rhode Island Red) and Charlotte (Barred Plymouth Rock). She had more young laying hens she had decided to sell.
I was too slow in my response to her to snag the Gold-Laced Wyandotte, but I now have three additional layers, named:
- Hester (Barred Plymouth Rock)
- Hazel (Rhode Island Red)
- Harriet (Buff Orphington … that’s Harriet, pictured)
The Buff Orphington is a new breed for me. The others are more of what I already have. The original six hens are now spending part of the day in the main yard, digging through the grass for bugs. The dogs leave them alone as long as I’m out with them. (I surely wouldn’t trust them all together without my supervision!) With a few words and a handful of grain I can get the hens — the original six, anyway, but I’m sure the new three will learn soon enough — running back into their secure run for the night.
Chickens are the coolest!
By the way, I think the Americunas knew I was upbraiding them for their lack of a work ethic. I’ve found a beautiful green-shelled egg every day since Friday.
Update: I may have erred in naming the new Plymouth Rock “Hester.” The other hens seem to think she has a scarlet letter on her.
Next day update: I have had to separate poor Hester from the rest of the flock. She is now on the other side of the fence in the regular garden area while everyone adjusts, glaring at Hester through the wire. Charlotte, the other Barred Plymouth Rock, hates Hester most of all … she’ll start in on her and then the Americunas jump in like a street gang on top of the brawl. Sheesh.
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Our beloved Americuna, “Pat” gave us an egg nearly every day of her season. The season would start usually in Feb. and go through the summer to end late October.
Sometimes it takes a little while for things to get going!
Congrats on the chickens!
VC
Comment by vickie carr — May 25, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
‘tis the season for eggs, my Umbrella cockatoo decided to lay one for us this weekend! The egg-to-bird size ratio is quite amazing…
Comment by JamiJo — May 25, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
I have to admit that Hazel and Beatrice are my favs! wink wink
Comment by Carol V — May 25, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
The Rhode Island Reds sure have their fans!
I’m finding myself rather partial to the Barred Plymouth Rocks. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 25, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
My mom grew up with chickens, and I remember her mentioning the name…Buff Orphington.
I think she said that they were her favorites.
Wow, you have quite a flock there, Gina!
Wish I lived where I could have a few. Oh well. I enjoy my kitties and tropical fish.
Comment by Marcy — May 25, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
“With a few words and a handful of grain I can get the hens [..] running back into their secure run for the night.”
When I lived in Mexico I rented a house adjacent to the owner. He put a homemade ladder up to a tree every evening and all the chickens would troop up the ladder to perch for the night.
Comment by CathyA — May 26, 2008 @ 6:00 am
Gina —
With all these hens, you need to get a chicken tractor (a moveable pen) so that they can eat up all the bugs in your yard and garden.
Chicken tractors can be as simple as a roll of fencing (with attached water bottle) that fits 3 chickens or a larger open-top pen that can fit in other areas. It’s fun with the roll as the chickens learn to work together so that they can roll the tractor to where they want to go.
Get those books done, Gina — land in CA isn’t cheap and you have to start expanding to retired racehorses! ;-D
Comment by Dorene — May 26, 2008 @ 6:08 am
I looked into chicken tractors … too much additional hassle. I tell ya, it would just end up rotting in the corner of the yard.
They seem to be cool with access to the fenced garden area and the fenced backyard. And they naturally head back into their enclosure when bored or called.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 26, 2008 @ 6:27 am
Too neat, you’re making me want to get some chickens, which I’ve been thinking about for a couple of years now.
This is a cool website, in case you haven’t seen it:
http://www.mypetchicken.com/default.aspx
Comment by Caveat — May 26, 2008 @ 6:05 pm