Thursday, November 3, 2011

First eggs we found

 Wooden eggs at hobby lobby... $1 each

No longer needing to crawl through the hedges looking... priceless.


The chickens have been hanging out in the coop during these chilly days. It is so well insulated that just a few of the birds can make it nice and toasty inside.

 On Halloween we got our first treat!
One egg from each breed!
  The brown egg on top is the first one we found and the coloring suggests Zippy (the lone Rhode Island Red hen.) Barred Rock eggs, according to a family friend who is a chicken enthusiast, have more of a pinkish coloring. The faded sage colored egg is from one of the Americaunas (Easter egger).

 The eggs are a good size, and I just LOVE the colors!
  I honestly didn't think they would lay anything until January. My Mom's coon hound  keeps sneaking out and terrifying the birds. Thankfully he hasn't caught any yet. Her dog is going to take a LOT of training. My Mom is not adept at training dogs. Her dog, like every other creature my husband has encountered, is smitten with my husband.  


 With everything going on, we haven't gotten to planting the garlic. Still hunting for more employment, still trying to do what we can with what we have. 

 As the weather is too cold for crocs and clogs... my next younger sister sent me something fun... obnoxious converse! The Dr. Suess ones in particular seem to offend McGinty to no end. 


 We haven't gotten to the roosters yet. My husband will be making killing cones soon. For now they are ever excitedly devouring pumpkins donated by quite a few neighbors. They had the first one raw (and just LOVED the seeds).. the second one I may bake 1/2 of it so it is nice and soft.


 A few roosters figured out how to crack open dried radish pods and eat the seeds. I didn't even think about them getting into that when I pulled them down from where they hung to dry in the polebarn. It keeps them busy!

 Keeping an eye out for guinea eggs, and should we have any luck next spring we'll be potentially hatching some keets. We have someone who is interested in a few for their table. That would work out well for us even if we buy more keets. I seem to have the knack for selecting mostly male birds!


 Off I go... I am currently trying to keep busy twisting 14 gauge wire by hand to make a curtain panel for the front door. 


 Wishing you all the best.

 

9 comments:

  1. congrats on the eggs - they are beautiful!!!

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  2. Nice and yes they have such pretty coloring. What are you making the curtain for and why out of wire? You got my curiosity peaked.

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  3. Congrats on the lovely eggs...a truly "natural" food.

    I will be having a chat with my girls about pumpkin and squash seeds...they refuse to eat them.

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  4. Ty! We had them for breakfast today.. the yolks were almost orange! Too many pumpkins?

    Mine looove the stringy mess around the seeds too. The actual pumpkin flesh they liked baked.

    Mr. H... Your chickens just have a more refined palate with all the gorgeous veggies you haul in from your garden.

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  5. Very Nice... We do enjoy our fresh eggs and so do our friends!

    Thanks for joining my blog. I've linked back to you and will look forward to reading your "Ramblings"!

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  6. @ PP.. The front door has 3 windows, the bottom one is the puppy portal to the planet. We need a bit of privacy. I used to do some wire work a long time ago (mainly with sterling silver and gold)... and frankly... my sewing skills suck.

    Although.. I could be a total dork and make chain mail "curtains".. a loose decorative link..

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  7. Hiya Mama Bear!

    Yeah... I am a non-linear conversationalist. lol Welcome and I'm enjoying your blog btw!

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  8. Wow, gorgeous eggs! So jealous! Someday, we WILL have hens...someday...

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  9. Oh AJK.. endlessly funny birds!

    The Barred Rocks are exceeding my expectations and are laying a lot!! So far those 4 are offering up 5 eggs a week from each. The Americaunas (funny, clever, sweet, and they try to chat to you).. great at devouring bugs, great at foraging.. they are at 3 to 4 eggs a week each, but the eggs are much larger.

    They make slug, bug, grub collecting enjoyable. My little rooster boys inspected the dirt as I weeded. No grub was left behind!

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