The First Molt

This is what the backyard looks like!  You would think something got in and attacked the girls.  But no they are just molting.  It is an ugly picture!

It is not a good look for any of the girls.  Some have lost all the fluff on their behinds.  Some are losing the feathers around their necks.  And then there is poor Judy (no picture will ever be taken of her), she has missing feathers in splotches all over her body.  Looks like someone that was asleep went after her with hair trimmers.  She hides under the bushes so no one can see...so embarrassing.

EffieGrace looks the most presentable of the bunch.

Guess I am going to have to look up how long this phase will last.  Research is a good thing.  Another thing, while they are molting there is no egg production...or very few eggs.  In the last two days I have gotten 6 eggs.

Open For Business

The girls love it!  The Cluck-Thru is a huge success.

They come running like crazy birds from underneath the hosta and the burning bushes.

All I had to do this morning was open the window and they came running.  

Yesterday I threw together some makeshift steps for them.  Hoping to find someone giving away pallets so we can build a little box for them to stand on.  The box will also cover the window well so leaves can't accumulate there.  Along with snakes.

She Wants Us To Do WHAT?

This lady ready is crazy.  No wonder some call her the crazy chicken lady!  You'll never guess what she is teaching us to do now.

She knows that we love frozen corn.  So now for an early morning treat while all those little yahoos are eating breakfast she opens the kitchen window and calls us.  We all know her voice.  And we know when she says 'here chick chick'...there will be a snack that we love involved.

She has made us a little log ladder to climb us on because we were all scared of that plastic see through thing under the window sill.

I hear that one of her friends from high school (something about her twin) called it the Cluck-Thru.  I'll see if I can't talk her into getting it on a video for you to see.  I think we are learning very fast.  You know we are pretty smart chickens.  And she loves us so.  We decided that it was up to us to make her smile everyday because you know that she is getting up there in years...and besides that she takes really good care of us.  Just the other day we weren't laying very well (some of us are molting and when we do that we don't lay eggs during that time)  She got out all of her chicken books and read up on what herbs to put in the nesting boxes and run.  It smells so good in there who wouldn't want to sit for a while and maybe plop out an egg or two.

Weeding Helpers

We Needed A Little Break

Little Afternoon Snack

 The girls were having the best time with the watermelon.  Chatting, eating, and sharing as a good bunch of girls should do.  Quiet and peaceful surrounding.  Then all of a sudden they all cut loose...

Guess who I found with her head buried inside the watermelon!  Watermelon all over her mouth.

So before I went to bed last night I turned the water melon over because there was still plenty in the bottom.  And this is how I found it this morning.  Something came in last night and continued the eating it.  this made me make a quick head check of the girls.  All accounted for!

I Feel So Special...Really

How many of you have friends that can't wait until your birthday to give you the special gift they found for you?  I do!  I get a text from Ronda, my use to be neighbor, still out of the neighborhood neighbor, asking if I was home. Nope be there in a few.  She says I'm coming down and I have something for you.  My minds starts turning...what could it be.  And I just now it is something for the yard because Ronda and I connect that way.

It is a rooster and hen boot scraper.  Nope no boots will be scraped on this puppy.  It is to pretty and cute to be pooped on!

Come to find out that the shop in  Northside that we missed our last two trips there.  Looks like I will be making a trip back up to my new favorite little gem in the area.

Just look at all the cool stuff they stock.  And the lady makes it!

 

Couldn't find her on FB but she has a really cool blog....be sure to check it out!  I can't wait to visit the shop the next time I have a fist full of dollars.

 

 

 

Ha, Ha, Ha, You Naughty Chickens

Luke and I fixed 'em.  Yes we did.  Can't get to vegetables now.

 

 

CAUGHT!

We now have no tomatoes....red or green!  Thanks to these two.  I did find one little tiny green one way up on the top of the tomato plant that I hope they can't reach.  The good thing is that our Tower Garden in on the complete other side where the chickens never go.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Evidently there is a new dusting place...in the pea gravel around the campfire.

And then I find Susie in the flowerbed where she knows she is not allowed to go.

Tomato Eating Chickens

I don't know who is the worst, the dog eating tomatoes right off the vine or the chickens doing the same thing!  I can't win!