Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Hey Ladies!


It's been awhile since I talked about our sweet little hens, those lovely ladies that live in our back yard, Fran, Suki and Chick Chick. Chick Chick also goes by the name of Tweet Tweet, depending on what the wee lass is in the mood for. There is the slight chance that this has caused a minor identity crisis in the blond gal but, she seems to be thriving nonetheless. In fact, all three are thriving and if I do say so myself, looking perfectly plump and gorgeous.

Whilst they spend a good amount of time lounging in The Poultry Palace, they also get to stretch their skinny chicken legs in the yard about twice a day; where they hunt and peck in search of tasty bugs and what not. As our yard is not fenced in, these daily exercises must be somewhat supervised. Sometimes though, I can not spend hours outside with the gals so I peep at them through the window, making sure they don't wander too far.

There have been a few times (alright, more than a few) that I have had to make the mad dash and retrieve our wayward chickens from the neighbors yard. There was one day in particular I recall searching high and low and in between for our flock. They were nowhere in sight. I ran down the road and around the corner, all the while sing-songing, "Ladies, come on chook chook chooks!" As I headed back home to find my daughter escaping down the street, I thought, 'Dear Lord, I've lost the chickens! How do I explain this? Where, Oh Where could they be?'


I found them in the end in a corner behind the shed and a bush. I was quite relieved let me tell you. I would have never forgiven myself had they vanished entirely.
Honestly, they are good girls who almost always come when I call, "Hey Ladies!" I'm sure having a bucket of fresh vegetable scraps at the ready is motivation enough. Of course I'd like to think that they think of me as some kind of surrogate mother hen. The engineer calls me "the chicken whisperer," but what I whisper to the chickens is a secret between me and them.

With the addition of a timed light in the Chicken Chateau, all three are laying the most wonderful eggs.

We are getting 3 nearly every day now, which makes the evenings when I'm stuck for dinner ideas a little less panicky, for there are always fresh and trust me, the most delicious eggs waiting to be used.

I love having chickens, they really are a treat, just mind your step in the yard.

16 comments:

Floss said...

How wonderful! Ben has been talking about getting hens with a light - he feels it's not worth it if we only get eggs part of the year - so it's interesting to hear that this is working for you.

Oddly enough, our chicken keeping will probably have to wait until I no longer need to visit my mum in Edinburgh. a) I would find it hard to leave them and b) she is totally against them, remembering the ones her mother used to keep, and I think I'll just wait and get some later. Sounds like callous pragmatism but she herself is very phlegmatic about people planning things for when she's gone. Good grief, from chickens to death. Blogging can lead some strange places at times.

Brittan said...

Oh how wonderful! I cannot wait until we are in a place that we can have our own chickens!!! Until then... SIGH!

Mom L said...

I love knowing someone who can keep just 3 chickens! And boy, have they grown into beautiful, plump ladies. I hit the link just to go back and admire the beautiful little red hen house again...did you ever put up curtains? I'm sure you made the hen napkins for their kitchen...

Nancy

Katiebee said...

They are so pretty! We live in an area where coyotes are so...no chickies for us. Your pictures are wonderful, especially the bowl of eggs!
Have a great day!

Farmgirl Cyn said...

We have been using a light in our henhouse and tho we do get eggs year round, they still slow down thru the winter months. That's ok tho...we currently have about 6 dozen in the fridge! (we typically give our extra's away but since having knee surgery a few weeks ago, that just hasn't happened)

74 Lime Lane said...

We have three lovely ladies too that keep us in eggs in our suburban backyard. They are all reds though so it makes it difficult to tell them apart. And they sure do love a full scrap bucket!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos. They are really gorgeous girls. It's my dream to have some ladies of our own in the yard... when we actually HAVE a yard. Some day... xx

Mare said...

The girls are just beautiful...I love their little round chunky bodies and their feathers are glossy and so clean...i wish i could keep chickens...

Lola Nova said...

Well, all your sweet comments about our ladies have gone straight to their heads! They are now demanding hand embroidered kerchiefs for their little necks.

Mom L - yes, I have not fallen for 'the more chickens the merrier', 3 is just the right amount for our family of three :)

Thank you everyone!

june at noon said...

What a lovely group of ladies! Love the idea of having feathered friends in the back yard. (I've always fancied having goats, myself.)

Unknown said...

Wow! It is crazy, but I have 3 chickens and they look like they are the same kinds as yours! (I have a Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red and Black Sex Link.)
I love them so much, they get along with my dog great, too.
Thanks for sharing your photos! I am hoping to get some photos of mine up soon on my blog.

lifeshighway said...

Having grown up on a farm where we had more like 30 chickens, I have still not recovered sufficient chicken-love to own any in my adult life.

Although your pretty ladies due tempt me.

Anonymous said...

Just came across your site through Dottie's challenge.

Those really are some gorgeous hens. And eggs too! :)

I am hoping this will be the year we can get a little flock of our own... I would love to have my own egg supply!

Pia K said...

they are gorgeous! and fresh eggs, lucky, lucky you!

i spent lot of time with many hens at the neighbouring farm to our country cottage when i was a child, those were not happy, pretty and plump hens and that farming family's attitude towards animals made me very sad.

i've always been intrigued by birds, but i also find then a bit creepy, something with the creepy little legs, yes that's sort of a phobia of mine:) but i am grateful towards hens in particuler, it's them who turned me into a vegetarian some 20 + years ago! after watched a horrible documentary on chicken farming it was no meat anymore for me. thank you hens!!

oh, and after this long comment i also want to add my best wishes of a great weekend for you, family and pretty hens!

Dindrane said...

Such gorgeous ladies! Their elegance and fine breeding come through in every shot!

I also love that red hen journal cover in the last shot. I would never have put bright red with robin's egg blue, but it's perfect!

Aussie-waffler said...

I am sooooo jealous of your beautiful hens. At one point in time we looked a purchasing a hobby farm which had a Taj Mahal Chicken House with a beautiful chicken run, and oh how my mind did wonder off into days of happily collecting eggs from my spoilt and happy brood. But alas, we did not buy the hobby farm and I still have no chickens... but never say never is my motto.