Chickens Part 6: Discoveries

Chickens provide an awful lot of comic relief around here.  I thought I would share a few of the things that have had me chuckling recently.

My discovery

The only one who LIKES to go out to feed the chickens and check for eggs (besides myself) is my little guy.  I thought he was just being helpful.  You know, taking to heart the responsibility for their well-being.  It struck me as odd, though, that once when I went out with him, the girls didn’t come running to the door for him like they do for me. 

Then one day I discovered why.  Apparently he has been practicing his aim.  I caught him firing pieces of bread at their backsides.  No wonder the chickens move to the back of the pen when he brings their scraps!   Sheesh!

Middle Man’s Discovery

My middle man lost video game privileges for his lack of kindness and respect around the house.

Last week, when I asked who wanted to take the scraps to the chickens, my middle man immediately jumped up, totally surprising me.  Taking the bucket, he said, “I will.” Then he leaned forward and added with a meaningful look, “with kindness and respect.”  I about lost it, lol!  Guess who would REALLY like to get video game privileges restored?

Turns out, feeding the chickens “with kindness and respect” is a great way to put a smile on mom’s face.  But it’s not the magic wand he was looking for. 

My Husband’s Discovery

Yesterday, my little guy went out to check for eggs and saw an egg way behind the nesting boxes.  Just out of reach.  Having to leave for soccer training, I left a note for my husband to retrieve it out of the coop when he got home.

When he did, he found ELEVEN more eggs in a makeshift nest in the back!  And a whole bunch of them were blue ones!!  It would appear that one or both of the new girls have started laying!

Now we just have to bring them up to speed on WHERE they are supposed to be laying them! 

My husband removed the makeshift nest and put the only golf ball I could find in one of the nesting boxes.  We read that doing so can help the chickens know where to lay their eggs.  A friend from the Philippines recommended the same thing.  She said that growing up, they had free range chickens and her mother would always leave one egg.  That way the chickens would “know” where to lay them and her mother would know where to FIND them, lol!  Makes sense!

This morning I snuck out and lifted the door on the nesting boxes and saw two girls doing their thing.  When I came back out later, there was another hen busy at work.  Yay!  Hopefully, they won’t get confused again.  And hopefully, I didn’t annoy them so much with my checking they move to the back again!!

By the way, we’re having quiche for dinner!

What funny discoveries have you found lately?

If you are new around here and wish to catch up on the chicken posts you missed, you can do so here:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and part 5.  It’s been a learning process!!