Maybe?

So, Maude's eggs are getting lighter in color. Does this mean we MIGHT have a chance at colored eggs after all? I'm going to have to do some research into this. Above is a photo that shows her two smaller, lighter, whiter eggs (the two at lower right) next to the big brown ones the other two ladies are laying.

Good News / Bad News

The good news is that Maude has FINALLY started laying eggs. The bad news is - THEY'RE NOT COLORED! They're brown. Boring brown. I had no idea an Easter Egger could even lay brown eggs. Now, I know I've been whining about her lack of laying, so I should just be thankful, but I was so looking forward to some nicely colored eggs. :(

Good Chickens!

(except for Maude) Two eggs a day this entire week! I'm going to have to do some baking this weekend.

There may be some hope for Maude yet. I've observed her fighting for more food AND spending some time in the nesting box. Either she's just mimicking her friends OR she's getting ready to lay us some beautiful blue and green eggs!

Golden Spangled Hamburg

So, we've been thinking of getting more chicks, but just THINKING. We would definitely have to make some improvements to the yard so the chickens couldn't have access to our patio. Three chickens pooping on the patio is bad, six would be intolerable! (There is a 3 chick minimum when ordering online.)

In researching new chickens, I came across the Golden Spangled Hamburg available from mypetchicken.com and was intrigued. I love the way they look, and they are supposedly excellent egg layers, but they are fliers and may be able to exit our yard.

(Isn't this a fantastically unusual looking bird?)

The other option would be to buy one or two chicks at the feed store, which is probably the better option. We really just want to introduce some new blood to the flock so poor Maude isn't picked on so much.

Pecking Order

I think the photo says it all - chickens first, dogs second.

Dinnertime at my house involves everyone (sans cat) giving me pleading looks from outside the screen door. The chickens know they get a scoop of food when I lock them in at night, so they've taken to running up to the door when they see me come home at night to beg for food. The dogs always get let out while I prepare their food, so now there are five sets of eyes beseeching me for food as I attempt to get settled in, feed the howling cat, prepare the dog food and then take a scoop outside to get the chickens herded back into their coop. Good times.

Hailing Hens

Yes, the white stuff is hail. HAIL. In Los Angeles. Luckily the hens were smart enough to run for cover in the Eglu. Wanda and Lottie are peering out from the entrance but it isn't really visible in my blurry photo. (I wasn't going outside for a better shot!)

Get IN the coop.

Every night, without fail, I have to herd, toss or coax the chickens from the top of their coop to the inside of their coop. This has grown old. (Sigh.)

Note how sad and alone Maude looks (facing away from the camera.) I think she's depressed and that's why she won't lay eggs.