The choosing of chickens.

I am going to buy some chicks to up the number I have.   I have some hens that are getting older, so they aren't laying like they were, and I am getting more folks interested in "farm raised eggs". 

So I am looking at different breeds to add into my group.  I have mostly mixes.  I had, starting out, Rhode Island Reds, that's what my Grandpa E raised.  Which is fine, but they tend to be aggressive, and I really don't like having my fingers bitten, or having a rooster decide to try and attack me. 

So.

I have a Faverolle rooster, (Anyone into Christmas music?  Faverolle hens are the 3 French Hens mentioned in the 12 Days of Christmas.  Your trivial trivia for today...)  They are much less agressive.  They are also not as readily available in this area.  But I might order from a hatchery.  Then again...?

I also have Cuckoo Marans, from a disastrous attempt at having a hen set on babies... Yoiks.  Anywho, they did fine, and are pretty nice birds... Except.

They are bound and determined to hide eggs.  This sort of defeats the purpose of having them lay eggs for me to sell...

I also have some Golden Wyandotte chickens, very laid back, BIG birds compared to the rest of my flock.  Not bad. 

So, I am going to do a bit of research, and come up with a laid back bird, that lays pretty well...  While eggs are my main concern, I must say, I think the little Polish Crested chicken that are for sale at my local feed store, would be a fun addition. 

So, updates on cluckables as I figure out what ones will be added...

New knitting needles.

I have been tinkering a bit, making some home made knitting needles.  Not exactly high tech, it's two chopsticks, with a little work on the tip, sanding, painting, if needed (to get some of the gouges corrected), and a finial.  Well, I was looking in some of my beads the other day, and found these chicken beads.  And some egg beads.

So, after a bit of help from Husband, (I wasn't exactly sure how to drill a hole in the bottom of the bead so it would be even), I came up with some Chicken Knittin' needles.  There are also 2 egg beads, that I am thinking I might dye brown.  Then again, I might not.

But, it does answer that great philosophical question.  In this case, the chicken came before the egg!

 

(And are you amazed? Yes, Virginia, I was able to load a picture!  Will miracles never cease?)

Eggs...

The hens are FINALLY starting to lay.  It has been the usual fits and starts, one egg, then a few, then none...

However.

I went to pick up eggs, and because some of the younger ones haven't quite caught on to the "lay in the nest box" thing, I check to see if any random eggs are about. So, while looking, I went to the feed bin.  Next to it, is the bin for the shavings I cover the floor with.  Behind that, up against the wall, is the empty plastic bags from the feed, and the shavings.

This is not your typical place to find an egg.

But, there it was, more or less balanced on some of the plastic, between the bins.  How it didn't get knocked down, or just plain fall off, I will never figure out.

But, I managed to pick it up, and it is now in the fridge for future use.

I am also keeping a curious eye on my birds...

Eggs. Wait... What?

First, however, just a note, Dad went, had surgery, is home, and is doing way better than we expected, so he will be out and doing things he's not supposed to to get back in the swing soon.  Yay!

Our chickens are back laying eggs again.  The one on the left is from the Rhodies.  Darker, slightly larger brown egg.  The more pinkish one is from the Blondies.  As well as the mutant thing on the right. It is an egg.  It just has a tail, a flat spot, and looks more like a blob of intestine.  It is very... unique.  In short, what was that poor chicken doing to come up with that egg???

Oh, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!