The girls were really unhappy about the snow today. They only gave us 11 eggs. They have been averaging about 14 this week. They are still eager to get out of the pen in the afternoon and run around a bit. But then they are just as happy to go back in when we want them to. If they are left alone outside for about an hour, they come running to us when we show up with scratch. They will then march right into the pen to get their treat. Sometimes one or two are not paying attention to the program and have to be picked up and hauled home. Generally they have been very cooperative. We have now fenced off most of the flower gardens they like to dig up, so they are concentrating on the compost piles, the vegetable gardens that are still open to them, and the nice litter under the trees. The posts are up for a large fence around the vegetable beds, so we will soon be able to keep them out after we plant, or selectively let them in one of the three gates to forage in particular beds as needed. We will be adding some more raised beds for the use of coop members. Work has begun on the back and side pens. Frank is working on the new trenches. Peggy is working on post holes. Jeanne has finished painting the back of the coop and Matt is busy designing the juvenile coop annex for the new chicks we plan to add soon. Wendy has gone back to work and the girls are having to adjust their schedule a bit, but are getting used to the slightly later timing of the opening of the coop. But they miss her. Boots is still on the morning route however, racing around the coop until Matt comes along to continue the morning run. We looked at the chick choices yesterday while picking up feed. Too many of course. I suggest we send a delegation so I don't come home with more than the ten we think we want. I found a large plastic bin for brooding today. We just need some big cardboard to put around the outside to keep them in and we are ready to brood again. We can get some that are already three weeks old if we want, or start again with the cute little ones.
It seems that the egg eating and pecking are focused more on the blue eggs than any others. Two of the Araucanas are now laying often under the ramp, perhaps to hide their eggs. They seem to get pecked more than the others. This week we have managed to avoid outright eating of eggs, but that is because we collect a dozen times a day. The buffs and a few others are willing to sit on several eggs until we get them out safely. Hopefully next week we can finish up the fixing of the back pen and get the side pen built. We should be ready to give the new ones their own quarters by the time they are big enough, and keep them safe from the big thugs until they can fend for themselves. With grass and bugs coming along now, the girls should be able to soon leave each other alone and maybe grow back some of those feathers they either lost to Pete's attentions, molting, or each others picking from boredom.
Peggy for the girls
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