The photos in this post will not enlarge because I am trying out using the Thumbs in IPhoto. The Thumbs will take up much less space in Blogspot and will hopefully allow me to post longer without running out of space. For example 40 KB vs 2.1 MB and they upload much faster.
Then I finished clearing the leaves and debris off the pen roof so the sun can shine in the coop freely and also shine in the pen and dry it out. I shook the plastic bag and called the hens and they all came except for two. The ditzy Dark Brahma and the skittish Wyandotte both didn't have a clue as to where they had left the entrance to the coop. I guess the only way they get home at night is to follow the other chickens. Morgan and I herded the two hens toward the door where I picked them up and put them in the pen. Then I counted up the chickens and kept coming up one short. Sixteen! I finally thought to look in the nest boxes and found this white brahma. Ok! Seventeen!
All is well. I knew there weren't any eggs in there earlier because I had just put in more shavings. I wondered if she was getting ready for bed or laying an egg? Morgan and I went back to the house for about a half hour. Surprise! The Light Brahma really did lay an egg. It was almost 5 pm. I knew some of the hens laid in the afternoon, but I didn't realize they laid them so late.
Success! I found chicken tracks in the wood ash in the tub. I haven't seen them dusting, so I don't know if they just walked around in it or actually had a bath?
10 comments:
a lovely post Callie. So pleased they used the bath, would be great to see them in there. Loved the little foot prints. You have inspired me to get my girls one. I plan searching all the old junk yards this weekend.
Best wishes
Di
This bath thing is interesting! Ours have a hole they dug in the pen that they scratch around in to dust.
We don't burn wood so we wouldn't have ashes but I could get some from my friend. We do have 2 hens thst don't lay until around 3 or4 in the afternoon. :)
It is funny how some chicken seem...less bright than others! We have a few of those too! Love the dust bath!
Hi Callie ~ Those light brahma chickens sure are pretty. Glad they found the dusting tub , hopefully they'll use it soon.
You might want to try a heating pad on your ear , my Mom used to make a warm cornmeal mush with onions , wrap the mush up in a towel and place it over my ear when I was younger , it always help the pain and cleared it up. I think the warmth helps unblock the tubes that were filled with congestion and causing pain. Hope you're filling better soon.
~ Many Blessings ~
You might want to increase the size of your font, older eyes have to work a little harder to read it as it is. My second observation is the chickens have not bathed in the dust yet, no depression in the ashes.
I enjoy your chicken adventures, thanks for sharing.
Your photos were great! You are much more proficient at posting than most of us. I want to know how you put "here" in some of your posts and it links to another. Saves space and looks better than putting the URL. I have much to learn!
Your flock looks healthy, now take care of yourself!
Lee
Laying at 5 p.m. is late! Mine girls are late morning to noonish layers. But by 5 p.m. they are doing some last minute scratching before they get ready for bed! Days are slowly gettting longer, but by 6 p.m. some of them are already roosting. Her first for the season, maybe?
~Randy
This was a fun post! You go girls!!!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
Some of my chickens lay in the morning and some late afternoon. I guess each on is different.
BTW, love the ladder roost. Adds some interest for the hens. So cool!
Have a great weekend!
I enjoyed reading this. Mine are still so little, it is interesting to read about the big chickens too. Dust bath looks like a success and I must keep this in mind. I do hope your ear feels better soon.
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