Chicken Update
The chicks I got in late March are now nearly full grown. They’ve been living in the same coop as the three older hens for about the last six weeks. They have a separate “den,” essentially a box made out of scrap particle board with cinder blocks covering the entrance, where they can eat their own food (first “grower” and now “developer”) in peace and escape the hens’ wrath. To get inside the den, they sneak through and around the cinder blocks, something the fat old hens can’t do.
One of the funniest things about my five chickens is that they are all different breeds. I have a Wyandotte, a Black Australorp, a Rhode Island Red, a hatchery-created breed called an Ideal 236, and a Polish Crested, which might be the freakiest-looking chicken of all time. Here’s a close-up of its face, as seen through a cinder block:
As my garden continues to burn out and fade away, I have become even more dependent upon eggs for sustenance. Much to their credit, my hens are producing, usually at least two eggs a day. In fact, I’m getting a little sick of omelets. Who’s up for a trade?
Self-Sufficiency Meter: 30%
Tags: Chickens
June 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I’ll take you up on your trade, but I can only offer favors in return.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
That’s one funny-looking chicken, alright! And although I’d love to trade, shipping eggs to California is probably not what you’re looking for…
June 27th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Nice to see one of the survivors of the batch you bought in March during “the visit.” How does her egg production compare with the others or is it too soon to tell? Try this: Fry an egg over easy and then put a slice of good old American cheese on top until it melts a bit. Then add two slices of bread to your frying pan. You want the bread to be soft and warm not crusty and cold. Put the egg-cheese item in between your slices. You can add peppers or tomatoes. Makes a great sandwich.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Because the Polish Crested came from a “straight run,” there’s about a 50% chance it could be a rooster. Only time will tell….
June 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
110. That’s the over/under on the number of days before you’re eating chicken soup.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:15 pm
We are certainly up for a trade and will get more fresh veggies on Thursday! Sorry we’ve been hard to get a hold of lately! Will you be around on Friday morning?