Meanwhile.... Chickens!

Our first All hens laid an egg day!

This was a few days ago, on the fifth. Yesterday again all eight chickens laid eggs. Maybe this doesn't seem blog-worthy, especially in the light of current world events. My prayers are with those suffering from abject cruelty all over this planet; strife isn't limited to one nation or continent.

Yet much hope and goodness remain! And in my realm, a sliver of that golden sunshine are eight chickens, less than seven months old, laying eggs as well as enjoying free range freedom for much of the day.

Camilla leads most of the posse a day or so ago. Photo courtesy of my husband.

Well, most of daylight. We're only getting nine-plus hours currently, but in those hours, the hens are foraging without supervision and they are LOVING IT.

That system has been the norm since maybe the second of January? Here it is, already the eighth, and I can't even recall what day we said, to ourselves of course, "You know, I don't want to stand out in the rain, or even sit under cover while they poke around the yard."

Hence the decision was made; those hens, all eight, were going to have free run of the place. Which had been our plan all along, however we didn't think it would occur until April, May perhaps.

But we also didn't assume they would start laying eggs back on the last day of November either.

DUDE!

Anyway, they loved it, so did we. A few times we've corralled them back into the coop and run, when errands emerge, or we want to go out for lunch, lol. They gripe, but being of small brains, they pretty easily acquiesce to our request. Especially when my husband bandies about the rake. That's the key; out comes the rake, back in go the chickens. And a few times they've been the grateful recipients of scratch or new straw.

So, how does eight eggs figure into all this chicken-lore? Well, seven hens had been laying successfully for at least a couple of weeks. One Barnevelder was having a little internal issue; her eggs were soft-shelled. And being produced so late at night that she laid them on the wall-shelf, where they sleep! Chicken, don't do that!

Eight eggs from 5 January. The middle one on the far left was from our unsure hen, hence the speckles of poo that have since been washed away, lol.

Those eggs were found on the floor of the coop under the roost, and until we actually retrieved one from atop the wall shelf, we weren't exactly certain where she was laying. We didn't do more than pray for that little hen, which might sound weird, but if I'm praying for peace in this world, why not pray for a chicken too? I don't only pray for chickens in laying distress. I also pray when I have to catch a chicken, usually Owl or Nadia, who have slipped from the coop, lol. And every time I ask God to let me collect that hen, I always manage to scoop her into my ready hands.

Back to eight eggs per day... Our star layer is Camilla, who else? (My husband just got back from checking for eggs, one from Camilla waiting, hahaha!)  Other than two days, she has produced an egg every day since Sunday, the thirtieth of November. Nadia is now a daily layer, Owl as well. Cami lays nearly every day, the rest of the Barnevelders too. Which means The Triplets and Welsummer. One of that group of four was our last to lay successfully, but we'll never know which hen. Not that it matters, only our own edification I guess. I'm so grateful all those hens are healthy and doing exactly what they are happy doing; we leave open the coop door so they can mosey back to the nesting boxes, as well as the shelf. Cami still likes to lay her eggs there. Box #1 is the fave of Camilla and a Barnevelder. (As a humorous aside, Camilla gave a severe dressing down to that Barnevelder last week while that hen had the audacity to be using the box when Camilla wanted it. Ridiculous poultry!)

Two Barnevelders like Box #3, while Owl likes the last box on the right. So far none are broody, although the Barnevelder who shares with Camilla tends to sit on her eggs a good while, as does Cami. And when they emerge from the coop, finding none of their sisters nearby, they squawk loudly enough that I hear them from the house! Often I go out, calling to them, leading them from the covered coop area to wherever the rest of the flock is hanging out. Owning chickens is, at times, a time-suck. It's also turned into a tasking I enjoy, as watching them hunt and peck, scratch and run after one another is astoundingly life-affirming.

Eight hens roaming as they please, bless their hearts.

But they're just chickens, you might say. How can chickens be life-affirming, especially in the chaotic, violent world we inhabit?

All I can say is this: If you follow your heart, living as you believe you are being led, then even hens have their purpose, far beyond eight eggs a day. This time a year ago I had no idea chickens were in my scope. And yeah, scooping poop gets tiresome. Yet gifts fall into our possession, some of which we have pined for, others so unexpected all we can do is smile and give thanks. I pray that a precious treasure lands in your lap today. And that it doesn't have poo attached to it, insert smiley face here.