It has been far too long since my last blog. However, the days have been long and cold and I was focused more on the survival of the chickens the last few weeks. They dislike the snow and will not leave the coop when there is snow on the ground. Needless to say they were literally "cooped" up for a couple of weeks - going stir crazy! I felt so bad for them. I would open the coop door and they would just look at all the snow and give me this look, like you have got to be kidding me. I feel their pain, in fact, I think we all do. This winter has been the longest and coldest winter I can remember. And I am SO ready for spring and so are the chicks.
Anyways, once the snow melted last week. I opened the doors and it was like they had been freed. They ran around the yard, pecking at the grass and pooping all over the place. It was good to have them out again.
And once they had their freedom, the egg production immediately went back up. For awhile we were only getting about one egg a day. But you have to realize that optimal laying conditions is 12 hours of sunlight a day. Let's be honest, we haven't had those days in awhile... But after they had been out for a few days, I started getting 2 a day, then 3 and today I had 4 eggs! Very exciting.
But here is a funny story for you all. Earlier this week, I let the chickens out before I left for work (around 7:30am) and was planning to put them back in the coop after work. When I came home and went outside - I only saw 4. And then one appeared on the outside of the fence underneath the deck. Hmmm I thought that is weird! Poor Grey, how did that happen? So I went and caught her and brought her back in with the others. Not thinking much of it.
Well then just yesterday I let them out early and went back out around noon to clean the coop. It was starting to get sunny and the chicks came running towards me. But only 4. I did inventory and sure enough, Grey was missing AGAIN. I called for her, no chicken. Searched under the deck, looked outside the fenced area, out in the perimeter of the woods and NO evidence of a crime scene (aka a fox attack). I was starting to get sad. And mad at myself for not checking on them earlier.
But then I remembered, as I was sitting at my desk (which is in the front room of our house and has 2 large windows that face the front yard) I had heard something and I actually opened the blind because it sounded like a human rustling in the bushes. But I didn't see anything when I opened the blinds, but it dawned on me, maybe it was Grey. So I walked up and looked around. Didn't see anything.
Until I heard her little clucking noise. Her white feathers looked like a pile of snow in the bushes! This is how I found her....
I tried to pick her up and she pecked me. Hard. She was laying an egg in her own nesting box. She had pushed her way through the dead bush and made herself a nice little nesting area, complete with leaves and straw like fronds. I left her alone and after several minutes she started clucking away, announcing she had laid an egg.
The other chicks and Savannah were quite concerned. Look at them all standing along the inside of the fence.
She came walking back over like no big deal.... Can you see her in this picture? The small white blob on the edge of the mulch bed. She was even further up and around the front of the house when she was laying. I have NO idea how she found that bush or what made her venture out.
So today, I thought, I am going to watch her and figure out how she gets out. Well I ran to the store and came back and she was outside of the fence again! Just walking around, trying to get back in. I went to check the bush - another egg. I have NO idea how she is getting out of the fenced in area and I have NO idea why in the world she wants to lay her eggs there. But I guess she is bound and determined to have it her way. So I officially have an escape artist on my hands. At least I know she doesn't run away?!? I mean she is definitely not dumb, she knows where the food and water are and she doesn't go too far.
Anyways, as the snow begins to fall again, the 4 eggs gives me hope for a bountiful spring filled with sunshine and new baby chicks.
Anyways, once the snow melted last week. I opened the doors and it was like they had been freed. They ran around the yard, pecking at the grass and pooping all over the place. It was good to have them out again.
Can you find the chickens in this picture? There are 4 that I see.
All my chicky babies out enjoying the sun!
And once they had their freedom, the egg production immediately went back up. For awhile we were only getting about one egg a day. But you have to realize that optimal laying conditions is 12 hours of sunlight a day. Let's be honest, we haven't had those days in awhile... But after they had been out for a few days, I started getting 2 a day, then 3 and today I had 4 eggs! Very exciting.
But here is a funny story for you all. Earlier this week, I let the chickens out before I left for work (around 7:30am) and was planning to put them back in the coop after work. When I came home and went outside - I only saw 4. And then one appeared on the outside of the fence underneath the deck. Hmmm I thought that is weird! Poor Grey, how did that happen? So I went and caught her and brought her back in with the others. Not thinking much of it.
Well then just yesterday I let them out early and went back out around noon to clean the coop. It was starting to get sunny and the chicks came running towards me. But only 4. I did inventory and sure enough, Grey was missing AGAIN. I called for her, no chicken. Searched under the deck, looked outside the fenced area, out in the perimeter of the woods and NO evidence of a crime scene (aka a fox attack). I was starting to get sad. And mad at myself for not checking on them earlier.
But then I remembered, as I was sitting at my desk (which is in the front room of our house and has 2 large windows that face the front yard) I had heard something and I actually opened the blind because it sounded like a human rustling in the bushes. But I didn't see anything when I opened the blinds, but it dawned on me, maybe it was Grey. So I walked up and looked around. Didn't see anything.
Until I heard her little clucking noise. Her white feathers looked like a pile of snow in the bushes! This is how I found her....
The other chicks and Savannah were quite concerned. Look at them all standing along the inside of the fence.
She came walking back over like no big deal.... Can you see her in this picture? The small white blob on the edge of the mulch bed. She was even further up and around the front of the house when she was laying. I have NO idea how she found that bush or what made her venture out.
And sure enough, I went to go check. 2 eggs. One warm one, freshly lain, and one frozen one from earlier in the week when she had escaped.
So today, I thought, I am going to watch her and figure out how she gets out. Well I ran to the store and came back and she was outside of the fence again! Just walking around, trying to get back in. I went to check the bush - another egg. I have NO idea how she is getting out of the fenced in area and I have NO idea why in the world she wants to lay her eggs there. But I guess she is bound and determined to have it her way. So I officially have an escape artist on my hands. At least I know she doesn't run away?!? I mean she is definitely not dumb, she knows where the food and water are and she doesn't go too far.
Anyways, as the snow begins to fall again, the 4 eggs gives me hope for a bountiful spring filled with sunshine and new baby chicks.
Stay warm. Peace, love and chickens.
