Egg # 2

Do you remember the cartoons where the chicken squawks and clucks as soon as she lay her egg?

It's true!
 Cleo struts around and squawks for a good 5 minutes. Bel starts clucking with her and  Beyonce (the Diva Dog/Gardian of the pack) is barking and running to the door.  Soon we are all doing a dance to the universe in thanksgiving and jubilee. Really, some one should take a movie of this. It's as good as any birth I have been to.

Bel is starting to spend more time in the coop so get ready for even more fun in the family nest.

the little poached egg

Thank you Cleo!

News: Cleo laid her first egg!

She was so proud of herself. She clucked and squawked and strutted around. She was in the coop,now to get her to lay them in the laying box, but one hurdle at a time! It may be small but its a first!

Now what should I cook???

Hu-man Chicken Haters Club for Humans previously abused by chickens

Since I started writing this, I have discovered that there have been humans who were abused by chickens when they were young and vulnerable children trying to do their job of serving their family chickens. I decided to follow up these allegations with an investigation.

The following is an interview with the spokes-chickens for National Council of American Chickens.

Kluks: I have here Belina and Cleopatra Chicken, who both have taken vows of abstinence from the cocks of their species.
Bel and Cleo, do you see any relation between abuse of human children and the vows of abstinence that chicken egg layers have to take in order to provide humans with the eggs they want?
Bel: Why no Kluks. Bauk! Many humans assume that we hens just need to have a cock around to keep us happy. We have chosen to live this way for the most part. Bauk, bauk! It is a matter of a few sick or probably previously traumatized chickens who can't handle being around the little hands of humans taking their eggs from under them.
Cleo: Bauk! Yes, I agree that some chickens have been abusers, but for the most part, we like our humans and we want them to feel safe with us. Bauk! The real problem is over crowding and superiors who just move those chickens known to be abusers to a different part of the hen house.
Kluks: So you say there has been a cover up?
Cleo: Bauk, yes, I'd say so, but then you humans also need to look around and realize that it's not just us chickens at fault. Bauk! There are many other species that don't treat humans very well. Bauk. LIke look at the geese for instance.
Bel: Yes Cleo, but let's focus on our own right now. Bauk! We feel real bad about the human children who were traumatized by chickens and we want to help heal those wounds.
Kluks: But what about the responsible chickens?
Bel: Those chickens need help. They need to be kept out of the hen house and away from the hands of young children. Bauk. Bauk. but we also need to look at the bigger picture.
Kluks: What do you see as a solution?
Bel: Bauk. We chickens need space. we need to run free and stretch our legs a bit.Bauk!
Kluks: But don't you think that will create more problems because of less control?
Cleo: No way Kluks. Then you can see who the problem makers are and cook them for dinner. Bauk. That will keep us who are not abusers off the dinner table.
Kluks: Will the chickens still be able to do their jobs though.I mean, will we still have the egg production?
Bel: Of course! Bauk! Bauk! If all chickens were given the chance to move around freely, we would be producing a better quality egg and more of them. Bauk.
Cleo: We want to live peacefully together with humans. Bauk. We want you to know are not all bad. Bauk Bauk.
Kluks: What do you want to say to those who were abused as children by their chickens?
Bel: Bauk. First of all, we feel real bad about the damage that a few have done. We have started a support group to help with the healing of these humans. Bauk. Please contact the Hu-man Chicken Haters Club's Abused-by-Chickens-Hotline. Bauk! We are not going to ignore this problem any longer. Bauk.

Kluks: Since this report, it has been found that not only hens are abusers but perhaps the biggest human abusers are, in fact, the roosters.

Hawk alert!

Today I was riding in a car coming to my home and my friend said "That was a hawk!" This hawk was not flying overhead, or sitting on a high branch of a tree, it was sitting on top of a car--yes, on the roof of your basic sedan. We had driven by so we backed up and rolled down the window. It still sat there looking ther other way as I fumbled with my cellphone to get a picture, then it heard us and flew off. It was literally only three feet away.

Yesterday when the chickens were out and about they started squawking their alarm. Beyonce (the diva dog) and I ran outside but didn't see any signs of another animal. Beyonce ran around the neighbors house.--the chickens had been  picking around in their garden--doing her job as Sasha Fierce, the guardian dog, but didn't scare up any cat or other creature. Bel ran up to Beyonce afterward though and the two had a bonding moment. It was sweet.

Could it have been a hawk?

Tonight my neighbor tells me that she has seen hawks sitting on the railing of my deck, b.c. (before chickens).


I wonder, if I put a plastic owl on top of my chicken coop will that keep the hawks away?

More photos

Chickens are smarter than most dogs and three year olds

The reason why I started writing this blog was because of this story:

The chickens spend some time each day outside of their run to fertilize the garden and get some exercise. They play games with each other. Bel starts running and gets Cleo to chase her. They play their own form of tag, but Cleo seems to be "it" all the time.

One day, Bel took off running around the big ash tree in the back yard. Cleo joined in and chased her around the tree. As Bel started to make another round, Cleo turned around and ran the opposite way and caught Bel by surprise. I have never seen a dog smart enough to figure out that if you change directions you can head your chaser off. Most three year old humans (and some adults) are surprised when they find themselves running into their pursuer instead of being chased by them from behind.

Conclusion: You'll catch a tiger quicker if you run into it head on and stop chasing tails.

Chicken tails

   

  ..... And that my friends is why the chicken crossed the road!

http://www.creators.com/comics/the-other-coast/21684.html

2008  3 AugustOFFBEAT COMICSThe Other Coast by Adrian Raeside

Thanks to KB

I am away from home--chicken-parent anxiety

First time away from my girls. It's just like being a new parent--well, not quite, but there is a certain amount of anxiety.
 NEED TO BE FED.
 NEED WATER.
 NEED SOME EXERCISE.
 NEED TO BE BATTENED DOWN IF IT STORMS.
 NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM CRITTERS.
oh, and they need their coop finished too.

Hope you are surviving girls, I'll be home soon.