Thursday, February 5, 2009

I feel like a bad Mom

20 eggs!

About 2 months ago (maybe mid-December) I notice that Rhoda our only laying hen stopped laying.  I heard that in the winter hens either slow down or completely stop laying, because there is less light.  I was told that in spring they'll go back to producing.  But then everyone I know who has chickens said that theirs stopped in December but started back up in mid-January.  But mine hasn't!  Or at least that's what I thought.

When we went to Béziers our friends B&A watched our chickens at their house.  I was talking to Ben today and told him that our chickens aren't laying and he told me that Rhoda laid at  his house....what?  He told me that maybe she's not laying in her nesting box because she's free-range.  Sometimes they start to lay someplace else.  So this morning I decided to go and see where they might go to during the day.  I went up to the coop and Fanny & Lefty were still in there, but I didn't see Rhonda.  Then I heard her cluck, where was she?  Part of the coop is a shed where the pool chairs are stored.  I looked behind the pool chairs and there she was.  I went back and she was laying an egg.  She then stood up and there were tons of eggs.  OMG - she has been laying the last month or so but I didn't know it.  She was probably wondering why I wasn't coming to get her eggs.  I made her a nice fluffy bed  where she has been laying so it's a bit more comfortable for her.  I kind of feel like a bad Mom, not paying attention to her child.

I did the egg freshness test.  You drop them in a jug of water and if they float to the top they are bad.  ALL her eggs were perfectly fresh.  That's my girl!

17 comments:

M said...

ALL her eggs were perfectly fresh. That's my girl!

Oh, what a clever chook she is!

I didn't know that about the laying. {make mental note to file that for future reference}

Randal Graves said...

I think she was mad you didn't leave a radio or TV out by her bed.

screamish said...

poor baby! she'll forgive you...

islandgirl4ever2 said...

Hey, that's GREAT news!! I'll be looking for that FRESH omelette when we come to visit you in the spring!!! heheheh... In fact, I can pick up a brioche and make you guys some pain perdu.... YUMM!!!!!!
Take care, Leesa

franke said...

what a cute story!

Cindy said...

What a nice find that was for you! I keep thinking ours must be laying somewhere in the yard, but haven't found any yet. I hadn't heard about the fresh egg test... I'll have to try that come spring when we are getting so many eggs we can't eat them fast enough. I'm hopeful.

We're back to being totally eggless again this week. Gidget (our EE) seems to have gone broody. She is often sitting on one of the golf balls I put in their nest boxes to put ideas in their sweet little bird brains.

Enjoy those eggs!

La Framéricaine said...

That is an adorable story, ma chère copine! Happy omelettes, quiches, French toast, and soft boiled eggs!

Rowena said...

A chicken tale with a happy ending! I'm glad you got to the eggs before they went bad. And once again, how you make me wish that I could keep my own laying hens!

Our Juicy Life said...

Michelle - I am so new to this chicken stuff, but I must tell you I love them!

Randall - she is a spoiled girl. I thought she had just stopped laying, poor thing. Someone told me they were surprised she didn't go broody, which means she'll just lay on them and incubate them - that would mean loads of chicks.

Our Juicy Life said...

screamish - she forgave me when i came up with cheese and grapes, her favorite!

Leesa - she actually laid a double yolk too...her fresh eggs are the best.

Barbara said...

Hi Alisa ,

Awwhhh,
I don't know much about hens to give you advice, but that was cute of you to "pamper" her with a few treats.
It sounds like "hands on experience", and you will learn a lot more from your friends & neighbors than with anything on the net.
It must be great to have fresh eggs :)

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

you should make some meringues!

La Belette Rouge said...

You must be so proud of your chicky.

GeologyJoe said...

looks like someone has some cooking to do.

Our Juicy Life said...

Barbara - every morning they get treats - corn, grapes, oatmeal, pasta, salad, or whatever leftovers we didn't give to the dogs. It is great to have fresh eggs.

NJNRR - good idea!

LBR - I just love these chickens and I know that when we move back home or to wherever (france or LA) I will always have chickens.

GJ - the have already been eaten. We are big egg people - must have our protein in the morning so scrambled eggs are always on the menu.

JChevais said...

:-o I didn't know that about eggs.

Anna Lefler said...

Thanks so much for visiting my blog - yours rocks! (Love your banner photo...)

Take care and see you soon...

:^) Anna

P.S. My eggs are not fresh. [sigh]