Winter and Eggs

Now that it's winter the girls get a lot more treats, such as scratch (dried corn), grubs, kale, and sunflower seeds. They get extra because they can't go out as much (or won't) with all the snow, ice, and cold and need some form of entertainment.

 All five girls are laying now. The day before yesterday we got our second double-yolked egg. Honey's eggs are a light pinkish color, while Ginger's are a darker brown. Coral and Black Pearl both lay light brown eggs,  but Coral's eggs are medium sized and Pearl's eggs are small. Lily lays pale green, large eggs. They're only laying at this time of year because of the lights in the henhouse and run. Here are some pictures (the lighting changed the color of the eggs in the pictures, making them more yellow except in the last one).

Coral,

Black Pearl,

Lily,

Ginger, 

and Honey.

The rainbow of eggs (Ginger, far left, Coral, second from the left, with the end pointed towards the camera, Pearl, middle, Honey, second to right, Lily, far right) all together.

Eggs!

 The first piece of news: Lily laid the first egg! The second: She laid two of them! While I have heard stories about the first eggs of some chickens being wrinkly, or oddly shaped, these two are perfectly egg shaped and a beautiful pale green.

It's been nearly five months since we'd started keeping chickens, and this is a very proud moment for me, Lily, and everyone who has helped take care of her.

All this about eggs is making me hungry.

But I have to stay on task, and finish the rest of this post. 

. . .

Anyway, the other chickens have been enjoying the mix of black oil sunflower seeds, millet, other seeds, dried soldier fly larvae and dry, lightly crushed peas.

They treat it like candy and devour it as fast as possible whenever they see it.

(Especially Honey and Lily)

The Girl's First Snow

 It's been three days since the first snow. It didn't last very long. However, the five inhabitants (Excluding the two or possibly more spiders) were intrigued by the the cold wetness.

Heading for their favorite bush.

Two adventurers.

A pair who were formerly enemies (That was due to Honey's unwelcoming manner towards Lily).

Lily looks good with the snow. Good chicken.

By the way, Honey's feeling better.

But back to Lily.

Coral's striking feather pattern stands out as well.

Snow is good for chicken tracking.

This picture shows that they were eating here (See how the tracks go around in a circle.)

But whatever they were doing, they strongly protested going back inside the coop.

At least Pearl did.

. . .

Honey's Illness

 Lily was fine, Pearl was fine, they all were at least somewhat fine. Until now. Yesterday we started noticing signs in Honey: Loss of appetite, puffing up feathers and lethargy, to name a few. We think it might be coccidia. So we're adding medicine in their water now. We also mixed unsugared yogurt with a little water, as recommended. 

Get well, Honey.

Honey seems better today though,

not so puffed and hunched.

Good chicken.

 

Fall

Lily has a new way to relax.

We put up this roost so Lily could escape from Honey, who has been tormenting her continously. 

 !

But it's better now, and Lily sleeps in the henhouse with the others, rather than in the run.

Sometimes she eats with the group,

and sometimes by herself.

. . .

Coral has silver eyebrows.

You can't see them in this picture though.

. . .

I took a picture of Honey ruffling her feathers to get the rain off.

As well as a picture of the rainy fall weather.

Fall has arrived.

 

A New Addition To The Flock

 Meet Lily.

Lily is a "Color pack" chicken. She is 22 weeks old (five and a half months).

She also arrived at our home today.

I put some kale in the run to distract the other girls.

They enjoyed it very much.

Lily seems to be either molting, or was possibly pecked on by her previous 

flock. Does anyone know which it might be, or have a suggestion?

This concludes today's post.

 

Chickens Moving

 It happened. 

The girls are officially in the coop. However, we're planning to paint the coop red soon.

Magnificent Coral.

Honey, looking out the window

(Coral is in the background).

Last night.

This morning:

The last picture

(Honey ruffling her feathers).

. . .

A New Home

The coop arrived the day before yesterday. 

We painted it with paint primer.

There it ws, drying in the rain.

I wonder what the chickens will think of it when it's finished.

(Dry and painted)

Apparently the rain will not stop for a long time.

 

Aside from that, the chickens are doing very well.

Here are some pictures from last week 

 (before the rain started).

I hope it ends soon.

Dock and Plantain

Fresh out of the box.

Freedom at last. No pens, no restraints. . .

Well, maybe one.

The dog.

. . .

But mostly good times.

Sunbathing.

Recently Ginger's toes have been slightly crooked.

Does anyone know what's going on?