3 Nesting Hens

I woke up this morning and being a nice fall day, I wanted the chicks to come out and free range in the yard for a while.  As I went to their run, they weren't in there.  I went and looked in the coop, nothing!  Then I opened the door and saw all 3 of them nesting!  Later on, I went and collected eggs and gathered 2 eggs... it seems like Princess Aurora is still working on her first egg.  I have heard of people building 5 nest boxes only for all the chickens to use one.  I was happy to see each nest being used this morning and that each chicken has enough room to do their business!

3 chickens nesting, Left to Right,  Princess Aurora, Mermaid and Belle.

21 weeks

The chickens are still nesting around the yard and in the mulch. Here is a funny photo of them all huddled and buried under the kids slide.  

While all three are nesting, I discovered that Ariel is the one laying the daily egg. She lays her egg around noon each day.  Not that I want to pressure the other two, but I have promised lots of people fresh eggs and Princess Aurora and Belle better get going on laying some eggs!  ;)

Ariel makes a friend

Ariel and Hannah playing at the water table.

One of my daughters friends came over this evening and was very excited about petting the chickens. :)  Cute!

2nd Egg

The egg, a symbol of life

Firsties!

On Thursday September 6, our chickens laid their first egg!  We have gotten 1 egg a day since then and I don't know which chicken the egg has come from yet.  The egg I gathered today around noon, was still warm!

Its funny how simple and natural the egg is, but how excited I was to find it!  I am looking forward to sharing the eggs with family, friends and neighbors.

Here is a video of my daughter finding that first egg!  :)

Not all those chickens who wander are lost

If you are a J.R.R Tolkien fan, you would enjoy these Bag End inspired Hobbit homes for your chicken!

http://nerdapproved.com/approved-products/your-chickens-can-live-in-the-hobbit-hole-of-their-dreams/

I truly wish I was creative enough, and skilled enough, to build a coop like that. However, for the $1700 price tag, my chickens would need to be laying precious eggs of gold.  Be sure to check out the link to see the details of the great looking hobbit hole coops.

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Coops/Hobbit-Hole-Chicken-Coop-Small-Up-to-5-chickens-p1232.aspx#

20 Weeks and nesting

20 weeks old

So, the chickens have been acting a little funny lately. I keep coming across these big holes in the mulch around the yard. One afternoon, I finally caught the chickens in the act of making their holes. At first I thought it was cause the chickens were hot, but it hasn't been that hot around Golden lately.  I am not a chicken pro, yet, but I am thinking they are starting to nest and hopefully lay some eggs soon.

Just to be ready, I got a bale of straw from the Golden Mill and have it in their nesting boxes. I even put a couple golf balls in the nest to inspire the chickens.