Potty-training

Oh, the dreaded words....

Dan tried a little this weekend, but it ended up more on the floor when she was running away from the potty than in it. Lovely.... Just thought we'd try before Annie. Doesn't look like its going to happen.... :)

Chicken Mama

So, apparently, the chickens are alot more attached to me than I knew. I had no idea.

Every day, I go to the new house with June (yes, we are still living with my parents for two more weeks!), we get the chickens' eggs, say hi, and sometimes give them cantaloupe or watermelon rinds for a special treat. Usually, Esmerelda pecks my ankle while I am looking for their eggs that they hide in the hen house in the hay (I kindof yelp and play-kick her away, well maybe really kick her sometimes if it hurts...) Miss Penny says hi and Kink Tutu and Madame Cluck pretty much ignore me. They all cluck cluck cluck (although it is really more of a chortle- not sure when the cluck sound happens...) when I approach, but the previous scenario is their typical behavior when I go into their domain.

SO, I was expecting no change when I was gone and Dan was picking up their eggs. I was the Kappa rush advisor (10am-midnight) this past week and then met my San Antonio girlfriends in Chicago for this past weekend. Needless to say, I was not able to visit my ladies. Every day, I would ask Dan which eggs he found because of course, I had to keep my egg journal up to date. Well, day 1, he found two and then the next 6 days, NONE! I was getting a little worried about their diet or thought maybe they were sick, but I came back sunday and then yesterday- one egg, and today- tada! three eggs!!!

So, my conclusion is: the chickens cannot lay eggs without their mama- not Dan, not June, but ME! I feel very loved and important to add some ladies to my brood and will not take this new responsibility lightly.

Growing up

One and a half years old today!

Three is NOT a crowd...

Hooray Esmerelda!!! Her pretty copper eggs are here!

Another Egg Layer! (and gatherer)

Today, I checked the nest boxes and TWO more eggs! Madame Cluck laid her third blue egg (three in 6 days!) and Probably Miss Penny, but maybe King Tutu laid her first. Miss Penny and King Tutu will both lay light brown eggs, so I will just have to start noticing who is nesting and domesticating more and I will figure out the culprit. I am keeping an egg diary to track their egg frequency, so it is important that I know who laid and when. :)

I am trying to teach June how to gather (or at least hold) the eggs, but she really wants to bang them together and throw them. Not sure when this learning curve will even out.....

Dan leaves to hike the Enchanted Forest in Washington State on Sunday with two guys he hiked the Appalachian Trail with. He will be gone for a week ( :( :( :( ), so I might attempt to make the hens' roost on my own.

http://www.raising-chickens.org/chicken-perches.html

Isnt't it weird that that is what they like to sleep on? Birds of a feather....

Oh! And we ate Madame Cluck's first two eggs- delicious and very normal! ;)

Uncle Love

June has been loving some uncle time lately. Two of her uncles (well, my cousins) are currently in town and have been hanging out with us over at the parental's casa. Every day, she yells- Chappy! and Bobby! all day long, looking for them, and making them play with her anytime they are around.

But, they are more than happy to comply and give her all the attention she needs when I am trying to get some work done. We will be sad to see them go in a few weeks....

The never-ending chicken saga!

Dan finished the next boxes for the chickens a few days ago and not a day too late! Yesterday, Madame Cluck laid an egg and today, another one!!!!!

I know they are hers because she lays bluish eggs and here one is- perfect! I am going to eat it just for her sake and all the stress she had to go through on her first one, I am sure.

So, pretty soon, don't be expecting any gifts from us except eggs- hopefully there will be a lot! Now, we just need Esmerelda, King Tutu, and Miss Penny to follow....

***side note- we did figure out King Tutu is a girl, but Queen Tutu just doesn't have that ring. For the time being, she doesn't seem to mind....