The Long Dark Breakfast Time of the Soul

What? No eggs? Strike is back in full swing. They have good feed, good treats, no sign of disease, clean coop, so honestly I am at a loss!

Yes, they are older now, and yes I expect one or more to have stopped laying, but all of them and all at once?

Something's up, and for some reason I can't put my finger on it. No matter. I love my flock whether I get eggs or not.

Most Sunday mornings I cook breakfast for herself and I. This morning I am faced with the prospect that I might have to use …

Store bought eggs.

*sigh*

In other news, I came home the other day to a most disturbing post on my facetubes. My neighbor down the street, who has kept a few chickens for years before I ever moved in, posted a photo to my account. The photo was of a little black hen in a carrier with words asking if I was missing a hen! I obsess over my flock and felt pretty damn sure that mine were accounted for, but never the less, the photo sent my flying out door to take a beak count!

"Outta my way, Not-My-Cat!" I shouted as I passed the beggar on my porch. Out to the run in a flash, stooping down to spy all of my dark biddies milling about, and with a great sigh of relief, all were safe and sound.

Coq Au strode up to my vantage point and glared from the other side of the fence.

"Well?" He asked.

"Well WHAT?" I enquired back.

"Well, you're out here. Make with the treats."

"Make with the treats??? How about you talk to the girls about making with the eggs, and toot sweet!" I replied in my frustration and heightened sense of anxiety (quickly fading, as I confirmed that my hens were all safe).

"Fine." I said, and distributed some dried soldier flies and other tasty morsels.

"Here's your treats, but I'd like to remind you that not only do I love my chickens, but I love 'chicken' if you catch my drift."

It was an empty threat and he knew it. My comment went ignored as he pecked away at the treats as the girls swarmed around to collect their due as well.

So, back to the house with a calm demeanor, I replied to my neighbor's inquiry that we were all present and accounted for. Back and forth posting, she and I tried to sus out where the hen came from. Mine were fine, hers were fine, the neighbor one street over was fine … I tagged a person or two from a few streets in the opposite direction that I either knew, or suspected had a few backyard poultry, and nothing. Chickens don't range all that far, even when lost, so it does lead me to wonder just where it came from!

It also dawned on my me just how many people in the area keep at least a couple of hens!

Anyway, I offered to adopt her if her owner can't be found, but as it turns out, I reckon I'd be about third in line, so regardless, the hen won't be homeless. Although she'd be a welcome addition over here, integration of a new hen right at the onset of winter could be tricky. Regardless, I am glad that whatever her outcome, she will have a safe home.

Chasing Chickens and The Last Mow.

This time of year it's the dark of the morn' that the flock gets its treats. This morning they drifted out in the darkness as they sometimes do for their warm oatmeal and vegetable. This morning there was a left over slice of pizza for them to chaw on (a VERY rare treat, indeed, and certainly not something they should have with any frequency!)

This is the morning that I've decided to do my last mow of the season and also let the flock out for some mid autumn foraging.

They had been demanding more 'out' time and the lack thereof may have contributed to their early autumn egg strike.

Out into the yard they gratefully went and spread themselves liberally over the lawn in the early sunlight of a late October day.

Samhain is the last harvest, and dear reader, you may recall my last 'mowing' post where I made mention of having left some sections of grass to go to seed. My timing paid off well, the grass has dropped its seed, and the chickens were delighted to benefit for scratching around on their own late season harvest.

By now their quite 'use to' the sound of the mower and show no direct fear, so as I started with the edges, they kept right on pecking and scratching away to their great content. As I drifted ever inward, Coq Au began to become concerned and led the bulk of the flock to the front and safer environs of the knotweed.

Hermione, Myrtle, and Petunia were completely at ease right where they were, thank you very much, and stayed in the general area of my mowing. Following their hearts delight, they drifted over to the neighbor's yard and not wanting to interrupt my own task, I was obliged to push that mower in their general direction. I can't recall herding chickens with the mower before, but it turns out that it works.

As the mower drew nearer with its roaring engine, Petunia and Myrtle began to scurry away while the unflappable Hermione defiantly stood her ground. A few mere feet before I was becoming concerned that she might let me bump into her with mower, if I were inclined to do so but of course would do no such thing, she finally took the hint and with waddling gait that make her appear like she's wearing feathery bloomers, she joined Petunia and Myrtle. Coq Au emerged from the knot weed to scold the strays and collect them back to the safety of the rest of the flock.

A few tasks, hook up the heat lamp, and my autumn chores will be done for the day.

Trade Agreement Reached!

Well, after some hard negotiations concerning feed rations, treats, more outside time while weather allows, we finally have movement on the production front!

I came home to find not one, but TWO eggs! From there we will rebuild our MIGHTY MIGHTY egg empire!

Judging from the size, I'd say Lily laid the upper one in the picture, and one of the more reliable Australorps laid the other. Been so long, hard to tell which girl laid which!

Soon enough, we eat well again. Medals and honors all around!