August 17, 2015: Growing Up and Laying Eggs

After Amelia died, Gabby seems to have been pushed into lowest of the original 3 by Fearless. Gabby, in her easy-going way, is just taking it but she does let the other ones know they rank below her.

But, there's war between Jasmine and Kiwi. Both positioning themselves as leader of the Young Flock. Jasmine outweighs Kiwi by about double, but that doesn't stop Kiwi from squaring off eye to eye with her in a real game of 'chicken'. It's hard to tell who gives first. And, I'm not sure which one has the top position yet. Wherever Kiwi is, Jasmine goes. If Kiwi jumps up on a perch to sit next to me, Jasmine jumps up on the higher perch to sit behind my head. Kiwi can fly up onto my arm - Jasmine is to hefty for that, but it doesn't mean she doesn't want to be noticed and cooed over [by chicken auntie - "Pretty Bird"]

Most pullets start laying generally between 5 and 6 months so we really have until the first part of September to be on track

In our egg producing arena,  Jasmine is first! She laid her first egg a week ago, at age 20 weeks.  In true fashion, a pullet [chicken under 1 year] starts laying a small egg and they will gradually get larger until reaching the size for their breed and hers have started out at soup spoon size. 



Jasmine should eventually lay a large, dark brown egg.

.......... She got the dark brown right!

And she has only missed 1 day out of 8.

Way to go, super-Chick. 

I'm not sure who is next. I watch the growth of their combs and wattles. Jasmine's grew pretty fast and got dark red as well, which I also know is a sign of a healthy layer.

Hosta might be next, Lilly is big and looks ready but her comb is still small and light red.

The 2 Buttercups have a ways to go, I think.

                   See all their current portraits on the Chicks page.

Here is group nap time.  At least for the New Flock....The 3 Old Biddies are still maintaining their distance and cool reserve, so they nap and dust bathe separate from the New Girls.

I have even added ice cubes to their water founts to tempt them with cool water.Right now it is so hot here (100 degrees this past weekend) that everyone is hanging outside in one of the cool pastures, dug into their own depression in the ground. Wings are spread open and they actually 'pant' with beaks apart. Chickens definitely do not like temperatures anywhere near their own 103 degree body temperature.