Fancy Louise, the little white hen with wonderful feathery feet, laid her first egg last week. It was perfect! And delicious, so thank-you-very-much-for-breakfast, Fancy Louise. Also last week, she developed a troubling independent streak. Once the easiest chicken on the farm to catch and cuddle, she is suddenly impossible to wrangle at bedtime. And if by chance she is in the coop yard when it’s time to close the door, then by gosh she bolts. She bolts heard! Head down, feathery butt shaking, beak forward. She makes a point to not be where she’s supposed to be. She relishes in disobedience, and it hurts my feelings. Egg-laying and independence-declaring. Are these things a coincidence? I think not. It’s okay, though, because of the free eggs.
In other poultry news, we have relocated Ethel the Las Vegas show girl to the chicken condominium. Pacino is dealing well with the move, though I have had to promise him regular face time. Ethel has a picturesque little white-feathered companion who so far has no name. Good thing, by the way, because this little hen might actually be a rooster. Feel free to brainstorm ideas for him.
Handsome cut windows in two sides of the condominium and covered them with chicken wire. I scraped the big, spacious box clean and added fresh shavings plus rose petals, wild flowers, and cedar limbs for fragrant nesting. I also tied up some scrappy tassels so the chickies have an interesting view.
Hopefully this coming week we will get to welcome Lucy to the flock, compliments of our friend, neighbor, and book club girl Seri. Lucy is more of a punk rocker than a Vegas entertainer, and she is awesome. You’ll see that for yourself soon.
The thing about chickens is how mission-oriented they are, despite their appearance of randomness. Their behavior is more predictable than you might think. So, keeping this in mind and knowing we have some sunset behavior to correct (Fancy Louise is not the only offender), Handsome and I are starting a new routine. We are ringing a bell every time we distribute snacks. It’s the Pavlovian thing, obviously.
So wish us luck! And send cozy thoughts in Pacino’s general direction. He needs a baby to love. But don’t we all?
Signed,
Nesting in Oklahoma
XOXOXOXO
Love the coop decor! Their eggs will be Grade A in a fancy house like that! No cheap eggs around there! Keep it up and you may score a golden egg someday!
I keep hoping they will lay eggs with glitter on them already. or at least some ric rac.
OMG You make me want CHICKENS! Love the decor. They deserve it!
oh I hope the city approves backyard chickens for you soon! They are the BEST. Love them. And you with your green thumb… you’d be cooking fresh eggs in a heartbeat. xoxo
LOVE the scrappy tassels! I’ve been wanting to add some decor to my coop too. {Husband thinks wallpaper in a coop is ridiculous. Whatever.}
I like the bell idea. We’ve fallen into the habit of my in-laws, when we give them food we call, “Heeeere, chick! Chick! Chick!” Do yours come running? It’s the cutest thing.
Thanks Heather!! I say go for it. Wallpaper? Why not!! You know, our chickens DO like us to call that. “chick chick chick!!” They love it, haha! Running chickens are hilarious.
La descripción de ELASTIC en su comentario se ajusta mucho más a la realidad que el entusiasmo emprendedor de Marc. Por otro lado, en cada lugar existen diferentes exigencias o reglas de juego que el emprendedor tiene que aceptar y superar. Está bien buscar otros lugares en los que resulta más fácil emprender, pero eso es como escapar de las dificultades de tu propio paÃs en lugar de luchar por mejorarlas. Es hora de emprender masivamente en eso: en mejorar la sociedad.Interesante. Te gusta? 4 0
Your chickens are so sweet! And I must say, I adore the tassel you made for them! Even chickens need a little decor! 🙂
ahhh thanks!! I love any craft I can make without going to the store, ha! and I LOVE my chickens… xoxo