At a family wedding in July, Cousin Wendy said, "Ya know you'll be getting about a dozen eggs a day with all those chickens." !@#*@!#!!! Uh-oh! Since it is just Steve and I in the family, what were we going to do with 7 dozen eggs a week at top production? Originally Steve wanted the poo for the compost pile as much as I wanted fresh eggs.
I did some quick math in my head: 7 dozen eggs a week, selling 6 dozen even at inflated California prices of $ 5 a dozen equals $ 30...jeeze, wow, wouldn't even pay the gas to deliver the eggs.
In the practical man-fashion, Steve suggested that I find homes for some of them. So, tearfully I made up a
"For Adoption" sign and went back to Wilson's. A nice couple with 2 boys adopted 4, another gal took 1, and my new friend and chicken mentor, Barb, added the last 2 to her flock of 50.
I kept one of each of the 4 breeds, plus 1 Golden Lace Wyandotte - as they were 2 favorites all along.
Chicken TRIVIA: Did you know it takes 24 to 26 hours for an egg to form and be laid?
Early on a couple of the pullets [which is what you call a hen less than 1 year old] developed personalities that dictated their names.
Introducing the girls and you can see their photos on The Chicks page:
Curious was so-names because she was one of the first chicks to come to the door of the portable pen Steve made for me when they all outgrew their cardboard 'nursery box'. And she always wanted to know what I was doing.
She is a Plymouth Barred Rock, with the beautiful black with white barred feathers. Curious is easily the Dominate Eater, a real hog-ess for goodies.
The next one I named was the runt of the 12 original chicks, but she was always undaunted by her sisters and wanted to get to know me. She quickly became Fearless, because she was. Sometimes I call her Mademoiselle FiFi when I am feeling "French". She is a Golden Lace Wyandotte and was definitely destined not to be given away.
Breed-sister to Fearless is Dolly. She is named after the pet name my father-in-law Art calls all his favorite girls.
It seems to me that Dolly is Chick-in-Charge, pecks Fearless away from tasty morsels and is really regal in demeanor.
Okay, I am going to stereotype here and say that Blondie truly fits the blonde persona. She is a bit standoffish, loves the bling of my wedding ring or any other jewelry, daintily scratches through the straw, and always has clean, perfect feathers. Blondie is classified as a dual purpose breed - egg and meat. But NO WAY will she or her sisters become my Sunday dinner! She is actually finally warming up to me.
Lastly, is Gabby, the Cuckoo Marans with dark charcoal gray feathers and muted white bars. Guess why she is called Gabby. Yep...she's a chatterbox ... always a dialogue of different vocals. Now, I think she is Coop Mistress because whenever I am inside the coop building, she's in there as if to say, "Whatcha doing?" "Ohhh is that new straw?" "Hey, there's an egg over there!". Gabby is my best layer and she was the FIRST to lay an egg in October, picking the first next box nearest the little chicken door and will 99% of the time always lay in that box. She's not a big hen, kinda scrappy and can eat everything without gaining an ounce [you know the type ... Cousin Stephanie!]. She's in the middle of the flock and well-tolerated by all.
My next post will catch everyone up with what's happened this past year - a couple of Mysterious Illnesses and a broody hen.
I plan to write once a week and maybe post a recipe or two on another day. You can sign up to received posting notifications, if you'd like to keep up with the Chianello Chickens!
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