Found Two Things In The Yard

The girls love to dust and just chill under the burning bushes in between what hosta are left.  Then yesterday I found this.  A first for me.  So now I guess I need to start checking the yard after I put them to bed.  I'm going to take a wild guess and go out on a limb and say that the same bird that sometimes lays in the run might just might have dropped this lovely little light brown egg in between the hosta.

That Darn Old Summer Heat

I noticed the girls with the smaller combs walking around with their mouths open.  Maybe even panting.  I immediately went to my chicken library to do a little research.  Here is what I found...

1. Chickens do much better in cooler weather that hotter weather.
2. They don't have sweat glands.
3. They use their combs and waddles to release body heat.
4. Chickens will drink two to four times more water in the summer.
5. Water should be around 55 degrees.
6. Adding ice cubes to frozen water bottles to their drinking water is a good idea.
7. Provide deep tubs of water for them to stand in and for them to dunk their heads in.
8. Give them homemade electrolytes.



So I whipped up a little treat for them...

 

Some really cold watermelon rinds, nasturtiums, lemon balm, and mint

They weren't too sure at first.

Keithetta Renetta lead the way showing everyone else that it was okay to eat.

She was such a pig.  But you will notice she is one of those birds with a small comb.

 

I guess I'm adding to more water bottles to the freezer.  Already have frozen bottle for the rabbits to rub us against.  And the search is on for a small hard sided ghetto pool for the girls to soak in.

Alaire Finds A New Way To Feed The Girls

"Hey Wammy, look at the new feeder!"

 

I think they just might like it

Playing In The Yard

Dancing on the fence.

She should have been a model.

High steppin' it in the clover.

Listening for the bugs.

Just hanging out doing nothing!

Time to preen a little.

Looks like somebody might just need a little bath soon.

Nice cool water on a rather hot day.

Never ending entertainment.  Hmmm....must be spending too much time watching the girls because the house sure is a mess.  Maybe tonight I'll clean after they go to bed.

My Girls In Watercolor

The entire story behind this masterpiece can be found on our family blog...The Ellis Family Cincinnati.  click on the link

Now That's An Egg For Ya

Talk about your Easter Eggers!  Check out how green this egg is.  I wonder if it had anything to do with all the watermelon that she ate?

Chicken 'Dump" From My Phone

Thought I would add these pics from my phone to the blog so we can see how far we have come and how far we need to go.

Huge treat block that I thought was such a great idea.  Maybe if I had chunked into chunks it would have been better.  Lesson learned.  The girls liked it but it was too much at once.  And note to self...store it in a container each night.

Esthelle looks so thin.

Dusting anywhere they want even though Mark and I build the nicest dusting pit for them.

The chicken chairs are the best!

RayJeana making a statement.

Dixie and Ethel love to pick at mu shoes.

Ethel is the queen of the broody hens.

Wonder why EffieGrace has her feathers all ruffled up?

Judy does have her mean look on.

Dory likes Mark.

Sunny trying to tell me something.  Probably..."get that camera out of my face."

Love her lacy feathers.

Little Ms Sunshine

asleep in my lap

Susie thinking she could be, wants to be, please let me be, broody.

She's at it again.

Susie and EffieGrace guarding Ethel while she takes a nap.

Ethel is really mad now...just look at those neck feathers.

Go ahead and guess...broody again.  I think she may have a problem.

She growls at me now when I move her from the nest.

When I have a broody hen I let the girls out to rage in the yard and I have to close the door to the run because they tend to sneak back in and get on the nest.  Susie was trying every way in the world to get it.  It was her egg laying time.  I finally let her in and when she finished her egg song I let her out.

All because of this one.