Brrruck-a-cluck-er

We started our chicken raising three summers ago.  Fifty straight run Buff Orpingtons under heat lamps in the basement.  They lived in the basement for...oh too long.  When they started hopping up the stairs into the kitchen they were unceremoniously extricated to the almost finished chicken house.  The twenty five or so roosters were taken to the poultry processors in the fall leaving only one rooster.  But he was a mean-ol-rooster and so he was replaced with a new rooster.  Last year we received about twenty various colors of baby chicks.  And this year we received some more.  They were hatched in the third grade classroom.  But since only about half were hens we decided to increase our flock with more baby chicks.  We ordered twenty five Partridge Rocks.  They are currently in the garage (thankfully not the basement) getting bigger.  In a few weeks they will join the others in the "big house".  Our original hens will go to the processor this fall.  They will be a little tough being that they are almost three years old, but they will be good for stew and soups. 

I will admit that I am a little torn about taking them.  Probably too sentimental.  But they were our first hens.  And they have done a great job at producing beautiful brown eggs.  I've been selling them at the farmer's market and to neighbors.  There's nothing like a free-range chicken laying lovely brown eggs.  The yolks are almost orange and the flavor is exceptional.

Today I'm thankful for our hens... all of them.... in their various colors, shapes, ages, sounds and sizes. We now have spotted eggs, dark and light brown eggs and about three green eggs every day.  A rainbow of colors. So beautiful.  Hopefully, our new chickens will add even more color to our egg basket.

Today's Journey Joy - Hens

Peek-a-boo

It is toasty warm today... 90 degrees as I write. The humidity must be up there as well. Sticky hot. King Two-Toes, our kind and faithful Buff Orpington Rooster is staying cool in the Virginia Creeper vine. He is a good rooster. He has never threatened anyone. Calls his girls home in a timely manner. Hops to their aid when they need him.

We had thought about replacing King Two-Toes. (Although I keep calling him, "Mr. Two-Toes".) We even purchased some baby cockerels. But I've changed my mind. He doesn't seem to be suffering in his condition (two toes on one foot and the other foot can't bear much weight...hence the hopping). He is alert, active and friendly. My kind of rooster. He won't quite let us pet him, but he is still kind.

Sometimes a disability is an asset. Sometimes.... events or "problems" or concerns have a way of teaching... or helping to grow... grow in a way that is new, unforeseen, even unwanted. A kind of pruning. Lord, help me to embrace life's new adventures.... even when they are not my will. Help me to see and experience life in Your plan.

Today's Journey Joy: Embracing Rooster different - ability

What to do with carpenter ants?

A week or two ago my adventurous husband cut down the dying soft maple tree. It kept dropping small limbs on our driveway (where we park the cars). It also easily broke and had numerous danglers. The tree was a beautiful shade tree and every year the helicopters would go flying from it. But there were also signs that all was not well. There was a large crotch area where rain would enter into the tree. After almost every rain there were saw dust-like substances coming out of holes. Probably not good. So, my wise husband, the JD tractor, and I, all had a hand in bringing the ole tree down.

It came down with a crash and a big thud. Big black ants crawled everywhere. They were going this way and that way. Some carrying little larvae, others just running for their lives. But with a quick little call to our chicken friends..."here, chick, chick, chick, chickens!" the question of what to do with all those ants was answered.


Red, our only Rhode Island Red chicken (who believes she is top on the pecking order) found something a little more substantial in the tree debris. Some great big wiggly larvae. Could it be a cicada bug? I don't know. I remember that we found a lot of them last year in a dying hackberry tree. The chickens liked them too. Anyway, Red grabbed this wormy guy and ran with it. It took her several "bites" to down the whole thing. Pretty efficient way of getting rid of bugs.

Today's Journey Joy: Watching chickens enjoy a good meal